It's A Boy!
Friday, December 19, 2003
PhiladelphiaEagles.com
"We finally had the baby! Wednesday night at about 10:46, Tamiko gave birth to Nalen. We got to the hospital at about noon, so I had to miss the day of work. She actually went in labor about 5:30-6 p.m. and five hours later, here comes the screaming bundle of joy!
"He weighed 10 pounds, two ounces, baby boy. Yes, looking like a linebacker.
"I was involved. There wasn't much I could really do than than to be there and give my wife a lot of confidence and support. It was just an amazing experience. I was there for my girls, but my first boy, that's like me coming out of there, you know.
"It was a wonderful experience. My wife is a strong lady. To push out a 10-pounder, she showed a lot of character. I thought I was doing something by playing with a sprained ankle, but that's nothing compared to what she's been through.
"I slept at the hotel on Wednesday night and I'm going to sleep there tonight, too.
"The way I look at it is, I can't be distracted. It gives me even more motivation. It's just another mouth to feed. You just have to focus that much harder. It's hard to separate the birth of your newborn and football but somehow I'll have to find a way to do it.
"When I'm at home, I'm at home spending time with the family and when I'm at work, I'm at work. I kind of just have to block it all out and just concentrate on the task at hand.
"I suffered a sprained ankle at practice last Saturday and it was a little scary. I wasn't sure I'd play in Miami. But our trainers did a great job and I have to thank them for getting me on the field on Monday night.
"Sometimes you can't play with injuries and sometimes you can, and I just felt that it was the ankle, and if I put enough tape on there and get enough treatment, I should be able to go out there and perform.
"I was worried. The first two hours when it happened and I got x-rays I was worried. Then I was able to put more pressure on it and I got to thinking, 'OK, maybe by game time Monday I could be able to do something.' Then when I woke up Sunday morning I was like, 'OK, now what?'
"So I came in and got treatment, loosened everything up, was walking pretty good and said, 'OK, I've got a chance to play.' I felt great. I was really surprised.
"The game in Miami was a win, and that's the important thing I remember. It's just like every other game. Any time you get a win it's a big game, especially in the position we are in now, we just want to continue this.
"We just want to continue to take one game at a time. Do not look down the road, or look down towards the playoffs or anything like that. We just want to put ourselves in the best position coming into the playoffs.
"San Francisco is just like every other team in the league. Despite their record, they're tough. They're what, fourth in the league in offense, total offense? That says a lot about their team and that's a challenge for us, and we look forward to it. We have to just go out there any play it, play disciplined, and be focused."
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