There’s something to be said for following your dream. Exhibit A: Houston Texans running back Arian Foster.

    At a young age, Arian Foster decided he wanted to play running back in the NFL. During his high school years in San Diego, coaches often played Foster as a linebacker because they weren’t sure he was good enough to play running back. It wasn’t until his senior year at Mission Bay High School that Foster became the feature back.

    Foster’s college career at the University of Tennessee was a bit of a mixed bag too. He suffered through three different offensive coordinators in four years. He survived the train wreck that was the end of the Phillip Fulmer era. He is most often remembered by Vols fans as a persistent fumbler. Despite all that, he finished his college career at No. 2 on UT’s all-time careering rushing list.

     After college, Foster took a shot at his dream and submitted his name to the 2009 NFL draft. Teams were impressed with his yardage while at UT, but his 4.7-second forty-yard-dash didn’t impress anyone. And then the fumbling label came on again. Foster ended up slipping all the way through the draft without a single bite.

    Foster did eventually get pickup up as an undrafted free agent by the Texans in May of 2009. That lasted about four months and the Texans cut him. He was added back to the Texans practice squad a day later and eventually placed on the active roster for the Texans in November of 2009.

    After fighting for years for his dream, Foster has emerged as an overnight success in the NFL. His 2010 opening day effort of 231 rushing yards is eclipsed only by O.J. Simpson’s 250 rushing yards on opening day, 1973.

    Wherever Arian Foster’s career goes from here, one thing is for sure: he followed his dream.  Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” That sounds like pretty good advice to me.

 

Game(s) Of The Week

 

    There is a trio of interesting matchups heading into week three of the NFL season. Dallas will face off with Houston today at noon for bragging right in the state of Texas. So far, I haven’t been impressed with the Cowboys. Neither has anyone else and the Cowboys’ 0-2 record shows it. This could be a real statement win for the Texans and a backbreaking loss for the Cowboys.

    Also kicking off today at noon today is Falcons at Saints.  This one is always a heated rivalry, but it will be interesting to see how much Reggie Bush’s absence throws off the Saints offense. A win would set the tone for each team as both the New Orleans and Atlanta look to conted for the NFC South title. The home crowd in the Superdome should play a big part in this one.

    The last matchup of the weekend is the Monday night affair between the Packers and Bears. Green Bay has been the trendy pick to make a Super Bowl run this season, but Chicago is 2-0 and don’t look like they are going to lay down for anybody. If the Bears are serious, they need to win this one. Jay Cutler will need to have another near perfect performance for any Chicago success.