By, Dustin Sullivan
Regardless of what level of sports you play, you put yourself on the line in return for certain rewards. In high school it might be a championship victory or a look from a Division I college. In college it might be a National Championship or being scouted by the Pro’s. If your talented and fortunate enough to make the professional level it might be a new signing bonus. Much like the newly signed contract of Buffalo Bills’ Wideout Lee Evans.
Being a Buffalo Bills’ fan Evans stands out to me in more ways than one. Sure, he is an oustanding athlete and plays his heart out every down, but there is more to him than that. He doesn’t showboat or receive 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalties after a touchdown. He’s there to win and is a complete team player. It’s obvious to any football fan that Evans isn’t placed into a premiere category with top receivers like Terrell Owens, Randy Moss or Chad Johnson. But listed at 5-10 and 197, Evans is a phenomenal route-runner, can throw a block and best of all can torch just about any corner in the league with his 4.33 40-yard dash time.
Friday, Evans sat down with Buffalo’s front office and they laid out a new contract for the speedy receiver. Although Buffalo has one of the youngest teams in the NFL, they are also one of the most hardworking. You never really seem to hear about any of their players skipping out on training camp due to contract reconstruction. Being only 27 years old Evans has taken on the task of being a leader for the teams offense. Many thought he deserved a new contract before the year started. Although they never sorted out the issue prior to the season, he still showed up to training camp on time and worked extremely hard in the off-season. Not only has it paid off, as his team stands atop the AFC East at 4-0, but his new contract worth $37.25 million over a course of 4 years isn’t much to downgrade either.
As for the remainder of the season, with young talent like second year quarterback Trent Edwards and Cal-product running back Marshawn Lynch, the young Bills are looking to continue their early success from the 2008 season.
All of these players are hardworking athletes who come week in and week out and perform at levels that are unexplainable. The fact that Evans’ worked as hard as he did before he was rewarded a new contract should stand out to younger athletes. It should let them know that even if you don’t feel like you are getting rewarded all the time for your hard work, don’t give up. It will all pay off in the end. Whether it is that high school banner you get to hang in your gym, or say a new multi-million dollar contract.