Inland Waterways » More than a surname binds Nasir and Herb Adderley

https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Paul-Hornung-Jersey , distant-but-oh-so-close cousins from Philadelphia who are separated in age by six decades but tethered tight by love, creed and football.The post-millennial and soon-to-be octogenarian make up one of the best stories of the 2019 NFL draft .Nasir, a free safety from the University of Delaware, is a projected high pick, maybe even a first-rounder like Herb, the Hall of Fame cornerback selected 12th overall in 1961, then starred for Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers.Nasir said he wouldn’t be the player or even the person he is today without Herb’s help.“He’s been such a tremendous influence on me,” Nasir said. “Obviously, on the field, but also as a man. He was always asking about school. He’s just a very loving individual, very supportive. He’s a man of God like I am. I just love speaking with him and I’m very happy to have him in my life.”Nasir first reached out to Herb after losing his grandfather, Nelson Adderley, who was first cousin with Herb’s father, Charles Adderley, in 2008.Raised by his mother, Ria, a store manager, Nasir never knew his father. So his male role model was his grandfather, who played football at Ohio State and in the Canadian Football League, and whose death hit Nasir hard.“I was really just out there on my own, raised by a single mom. Just me, my mom and my little sister,” Nasir said. “I just had to be the man of the house and he essentially gave me a male figure in my life.”Herb advised Nasir about school and sports, dating and driving, faith and family.And, of course, football.They started calling or texting nearly every day, and when they exchanged videos of their football games, the first thing Nasir noticed was how different the sport was.“I mean, that game definitely was a lot different back in his day Bart Starr Jersey , just the way you were able to tackle back then,” Nasir marveled. “But I really enjoyed watching film of him. I mean, he was an incredible athlete.”Herb popped in Nasir’s tapes from Great Valley High School and felt like he was looking into a mirror, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound carbon copy of himself.“Wow! There are so many similarities,” Herb recalled. “Body structure-wise, tendencies on the field, movements, athletic ability, body control. I said, ‘Well, doggone, he’s so much like me.’ But then, it’s in our DNA.”It wasn’t difficult for Nasir to relate to a man 58 years his elder.“Everyone around me says I’m older than my years, and I think that myself,” Nasir said. “I mean, I had to grow up faster than maybe a lot of people my age. I have a lot of respect for my elders and I know they’ve been through the ropes, and they’ve seen a lot. I love to learn and I know knowledge is power.”By the time Nasir was ready to get recruited, Herb reached out to his alma mater, Michigan State, to tell them another Adderley was ready to become a Spartan.“And they totally ignored me,” Herb said. “But Nasir told me that Delaware had called and he thought it was a good fit.”The Fightin’ Blue Hens wanted Nasir to switch to defense, too.“So, I’m thinking the coaches must see something in him the way Lombardi saw something in me,” said Herb, who was converted to cornerback in the pros after being an All-Big Ten running back in East Lansing.During one of Nasir’s calls, he told Herb he was moving to cornerback.“My goodness,” Herb said. “Which side?”“Left side,” Nasir replied.“And I’m thinking, OK Ray Nitschke Color Rush Jersey , this has to be part of the master plan,” Herb said. “Because now he’s playing the same position that I played and this is the position that I can help him the most at.”Nasir excelled at cornerback for two years, but deep down, Herb knew free safety was his natural position.“Why do you say that?” Nasir wondered.“Because that was my natural position,” Herb replied. “But when I mentioned it to coach Lombardi, he said, ‘I can’t do that because if I did, what’s going to happen to Willie Wood?'”Nasir proved Herb right when he moved over to safety for his final two seasons at Delaware, becoming one of the best free safeties in the country and one of the most versatile DBs in this draft.“He has everything it takes to be a great NFL defensive back,” Herb said. “It fills my heart with joy.”Herb said the reason Nasir has thrived under his tutelage is that the building blocks span generations.“It’s not doing the right thing sometimes, it’s doing the right thing all the time regardless of what you’re doing, no matter the profession or discipline,” Herb said, channeling Lombardi. “It’s that simple: being fundamentally sound and disciplined. And of course, having athletic ability, which Nasir has an overabundance of.”Nasir has rented out a room for two nights in case he doesn’t get selected until the second round Friday, and he’s still trying to figure out if Herb can get there. Hobbled by age and old football injuries, Herb requires a walker to get around. So if he can’t make it to Nasir’s draft celebration, you can bet he’ll be the first one Nasir calls.Both men know they’ll always be compared to each other, which might seem like a lot to put on a young man just starting out.“Nah,” said Nasir. “It’s a blessing.” GREEN BAY, Wis. — Whether it was earlier in his career at New Orleans or the past few seasons in Seattle, two things were common for tight end Jimmy Graham: production and victories.Both are in short supply in his first season with the Green Bay Packers. Graham enters Sunday’s game at Chicago with only two touchdown catches and the Packers with a 5-7-1 record.More Packers coverage from FOX Sports WisconsinPhotos of the Week: 7/21/19 – 7/27/19Packers rookie Gary’s biggest critic is himselfTop Tweets: Former Badger TJ Watt has impressive four-year transformationPHOTOS: 2019 Green Bay Packers training campPackers’ Rodgers, LaFleur ironing out offense, building chemistry“My numbers suck,” Graham said Friday. “That’s not what it’s about, you know? I just want to win games. If I have one catch for 2 yards and we win, I don’t care. Obviously, it’s not great when you’re not helping us win, and that’s what I see.”Graham https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Reggie-White-Jersey , who has played the last two games with a brace to protect a broken thumb, has caught 46 passes for 549 yards. That’s second on the team in receptions, and while the production might wind up being better than it was last season for the Seahawks, when he caught 57 passes for 520 yards, Graham also led all NFL tight ends with 10 touchdowns a year ago. With Seattle in 2016, Graham caught 65 passes for 923 yards. With the Saints from 2011 through 2014, he averaged 89 receptions, 1,099 yards and 11.5 touchdowns.While the Packers probably weren’t expecting the 32-year-old Graham to duplicate that kind of production, they no doubt were expecting more than a couple touchdowns when they signed him to a three-year, $30 million contract in March.For his part, Graham was expecting to join a championship contender. Instead, the Packers fired coach Mike McCarthy after a loss to Arizona on Dec. 2 and could be eliminated from the playoff race on Sunday.“I’ve never lost this much, so it’s obviously not something I’m used to,” Graham said. “I’ll never be OK with losing. I love to win. We’ve got to get back to that. Last week was a great step in the right direction. We’ve just got to do what we can control and try to keep winning.”For the Packers to win back-to-back games for the first time this season, they will have to contain Chicago’s ferocious defense. The Bears enter the game ranked third in points allowed and first in takeaways. Chicago linebacker Khalil Mack has 10 sacks and six forced fumbles. Along with catching the ball, Graham will be part of the plan to keep Mack away from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.12<button class="view-gallery">View Gallery</button> Gallery:PHOTOS: Packers vs. FalconsJeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports | Jeff Hanisch“In this offseason, the tight end does a lot of stuff,” Graham said. “I’ve got a lot of responsibilities — just not running routes and out here catching the ball like a receiver. That’s just how it is. I’m just trying to do my job and do what I’m told. . Obviously, we’re going to play a great defense that’s got a great rush. I’ll be a part of stopping that rush, and that’s just how it is.”Graham caught only two passes for 8 yards in the season-opening victory over Chicago. He caught eight passes in the loss to the Cardinals but had only two receptions for 13 yards last week against Atlanta. He had a chance for a 57-yard touchdown reception but couldn’t make the play. The brace, he admitted, has been limiting.“You don’t want to shatter your thumb,” Graham said. “That’s not great, but it is what it is.”Notes: RT Bryan Bulaga, who spent most of the first matchup against Chicago blocking Mack, is doubtful with a knee injury. That means Jason Spriggs is in line for his second consecutive start. … CB Bashaud Breeland (groin/personal reasons) and defensive tackle Kenny Clark (elbow) are questionable. Due to the death of a close friend, Breeland was away from the team on Wednesday and Thursday, according to interim coach Joe Philbin.