Rewind back to 2011, John Moffitt was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the NFL draft. He had a great start to his rookie season, but unfortunately he suffered a season ending injury after just nine games.
It was during this time that he got into some trouble. In December 2011, he was suspended for using performance enhancing substances. Then not too long afterwards, he was arrested for public urination in June.
According to CSNPhilly.com, during his NFL career, he played 19 games, and started for 15 of them. In 2013, he decided to give up football for the time being. He did not want to risk his happiness or his health for money.
Then came 2014, in March Moffitt was arrested for possession of cocaine and other drugs. But after this arrest, he really started to change his ways.
Moffitt admitted that he had lost his way. He started using positive approach therapy (replacing negative thoughts with positive thinking), and he went to an old friend from his time in Seattle for help, Fox Sports Jay Glazer. Moffitt went to train with him for four months to get back into shape to play football.
Now, as a part of the Philadelphia Eagles, the 28-year-old Moffitt is feeling very positive. This is his first time in almost two years that he has been under a contract in the NFL. But he is considering this a fresh start, and a chance to prove himself as a healthy, clean and transformed person. People have learned much more about him from his off the field actions than on the field, but now he will have the chance to change peoples’ opinions.
During a press conference this past Sunday, Coach Chip Kelly explained that he is hopeful Moffitt has turned a corner. He also said they’ll throw him in and see how it all plays out.
As reported by ESPN.com, after Moffit got a chance practicing with the first team in training camp today, he played right guard. The first few days of camp, Matt Tobin played this position but today, Tobin played on the second-team line and Moffitt played first-team. Coach Kelly said, “The one thing that is interesting with John is how quickly he’s picked things up.”
Will Moffitt continue to pick things up quickly? And will he be able to stay clean and earn himself a starting spot? We will see soon, but hopefully his past does not get in the way of him showing what he is capable of.
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