The Steelers hate Burfict because he's too much like...a Steeler

[GMDino]

(12-16-2015, 12:09 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Yeah, Burfict is a terrible human being  

Yesterday, 09:45 PM  

From Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com

It was after Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict told seven-year-old Braylen Snider to pick out anything he wanted and put it in the shopping cart and after they couldn’t find an iPad for six-year-old Brice at Toys-R-Us in Florence, Ky., when Bryan Snider realized just how special the night had been.

“I’ve seen the guys do stuff like this before, but they always had cameras with them,” Snider recalled on Tuesday. “Vontaze privately messaged my girlfriend. He could have put it on Twitter so that everyone knew. But it was just our family and his family. It was awesome.”

Twitter can be a cruel place. But not a few weeks ago, when Snider’s girlfriend tagged Bryan’s favorite Bengal in a tweet wanting to know how she could get her family involved in the Bengals’ various holiday shopping sprees for children.

It was going to be a tight Christmas. Snider works for the city of Covington, Ky., as a landscaper and his girlfriend can’t work because Brice has a brain disorder that put him in a wheelchair unable to walk or talk, or sit, or crawl while racked by 15 to 20 seizures a day.  In order to get Braylen’s big gift, a PlayStation 4, Bryan sold the hunting rife his own father gave him.

“You want to give your kids what they want,” is how Bryan explained every parent’s dream.

Burfict sent the private message back about a week later, saying he didn’t know how to hook the family up but that he would take them shopping himself. He got the Sniders’ info and soon Burfict’s girlfriend got in touch with Snider’s girlfriend and the date was set for Monday night.

“I was nervous. This is a pro football player that I watch on TV,” Snider said.

Burfict is more that to him. He’s his favorite.

“Because of his football knowledge, he’s so smart,” Snider said. “He’s everywhere around the ball. He’s not too over aggressive. He lets the play unfold. He just has that knowledge.”

When he showed up Burfict put everyone at ease with a few “What’s up? What’s up?” and the shop commenced with Braylen, a bit uncertain, trailed along by Brice and 18-month-old Brantlee.

“He just told him if you want it, put it in the cart,” Snider said.

Brice knew something was up with his dad pushing him and the big 6-2 guy smiling up ahead smiling and putting stuffed animals in the cart.

“He likes Daniel Tiger,” Dad said.

“What do you think Brice would like?” Burfict asked and this is kind of funny because it’s the second time they’ve met.

A few years ago at training camp, when Bryan was at work, Brice was in his wheelchair with his mom at practice and Burfict appeared, took off his gloves, signed them, and put them on Brice’s lap.

But on Monday night, Bryan mentioned an iPad. It’s the one way that Brice can communicate with his family with APPs that help him respond to yes and no questions. The one the Sniders had was so old that the screen was miniscule and the speakers were just about shot.

“We couldn’t find one,” Bryan Snider said. “So Vontaze gave me money to buy him an iPad. I couldn’t believe it.”

At the end of the night, there were three carts full and Bryan Snider’s favorite Bengal had come up with another big assist in the open field.

“He didn’t just help our Christmas,” he said, “he made our Christmas.”

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Mitchell-That-inspires-me/50590e51-9884-4d10-83a3-50673e85a667

Quote:When Mike Mitchell intercepted Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel at the goal line this past Sunday, thwarting a potential touchdown drive, the Steelers faithful at Heinz Field went crazy.


But nobody was more excited than the kids at the game from the Urban Impact Foundation, kids that were guests of Mitchell’s as a part of his Believe to Achieve Ticket Program.

“They were pumped,” said Mitchell. “Initially they were a little shy when I met them. That is humbling. I made them feel comfortable and they were themselves. When you see the kids open up and have fun that is the blessing you get out of it.”


VIEW GALLERY | 6 Photos
PHOTOS - Mike Mitchell Believe to Achieve Ticket Program
Mitchell kicked off the program last week, and will continue it for the final two home games, donating tickets to Urban Impact to bring kids to the game for an opportunity they wouldn’t get to otherwise enjoy.

“I just think it’s important to give back,” said Mitchell. “I didn’t grow up rich or anything like that, but I had two really good parents and that was tremendous and influential and the reason why I am successful. I had a friend that didn’t grow up that way, grew up a lot rougher. I think about our two lives and there really is not a difference between the two of us other than I had two good role models in my life and he didn’t.

“Now that I have become somewhat successful in my life I would like to help kids like that. The thing for me is I want to target the youth, younger kids that can still be impacted but aren’t too young. Kids that are old enough that somebody, maybe the right person can say something to them, or an event could put them on the right path so they can become successful.”

Mitchell choose Urban Impact, a faith based youth organization that was created to help at risk children and underprivileged youth of Pittsburgh, because he believes in their mission and they are reaching out to the youth he knows need the help.

“I love that they are faith-based,” said Mitchell. “I am a guy that believes in God, believes that you can change the core of a person if you introduce them to Christ.”

Mitchell had four kids plus chaperones at the game, the same he will do for the Colts and Broncos games. And it’s not just about giving them the tickets. He is giving something much more valuable, his time. After the game he meets with them, introduces them to some teammates, gives them a tour of Heinz Field, and just spends time getting to know them. 

“That is where I want the impact to come from,” said Mitchell. “I get to talk to them one-on-one. It might not be a lot of time, but I will share a positive message with them and usually it’s faith based. The thing I love about Urban Impact is one of their main messages is they want to change the city one person at a team, one family at a time, one neighborhood at a time. That inspires me. 

“I let them know about me, my family and how I was raised. Hopefully that can shed a positive light, and hopefully ignite a fire in their life that can start that fire that burns throughout the city.”

Do you like Mitchell now?  Are you sorry you think he's a dirty player?