For the next 6 months at least, Caleb Campbell will be serving the Army by being a football coach. That's much better than being over in Iraq or Afghanistan, but it really makes me wonder why he couldn't just play for the Lions instead. I get that the ruling is what it is, but to take Campbell's shot at the NFL away to go make him coach just doesn't make sense.
Campbell said he will serve as a graduate assistant football coach for the next six months at West Point or the U.S. Military Academy’s prep school in New Jersey – an assignment he received before the NFL draft. After that, he could go through more military training and be deployed.
Even in times where I personally would be angry beyond belief, Campbell is keeping a good attitude about the whole situation, which just shows how high his character is.
“It’s unfortunate that this happened, but there’s nothing I can do about it,” he said. “So I’m just going to drive on as I’ve been told and as I’ve been taught the last four years at the academy. …
“I would like to be angry in a sense, because it’s always been a dream of mine to play in the National Football League. But I also know that when I entered the academy that I was signing up to be an officer, so I’m more than excited to pursue this opportunity as well.”
Once Campbell does get done with 2 years of doing whatever for the Army, he will likely get a chance to pursue his NFL career once again. I hope he is back on the Lions' roster in 2010, and Campbell hopes for the same.
Campbell, a seventh-round pick this year out of West Point, can apply for early release from active duty in May 2010. He said he spoke to team president Matt Millen and “the Lions would be ecstatic to have me back.”
“I’m going to work out every day like I’m training in training camp,” Campbell told “The Dan Patrick Radio Show” on Thursday, as he drove from Detroit back to West Point, N.Y. “It’s still a dream of mine, and if they’re going to give me that opportunity two years later, I’m definitely going to take it.”
I've said this before but it never can be said too many times. I thank Campbell for what he will be doing in the coming 2 years with the Army, and should he get deployed overseas, I hope he stays safe. Once his 2 years of service are up, I would love nothing more than to see him back in a Lions uniform.