Newest Eagle Antonio Dixon's long hard road

by JasonB on Sep 7, 2009 12:00 PM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

The newest Eagle, defensive tackle Antonio Dixon hasn't had the easiest life or road to the NFL. In fact, you could argue that it's been the hardest.

Dixon grew up homeless, a fact that he would hide from friends out of embarrassment.

It's not easy to hide when you're twice as big as the rest of the boys in the neighborhood. But that didn't stop Antonio Dixon from ducking around a corner building or telling the "little lies" that concealed the truth from his friends - he and his family were homeless. Whenever his buddies asked about going to the movies or hanging out after school, Dixon would dream up an excuse that kept them from knowing he was due at the Homeless Assistance Center in downtown Miami before its 7 p.m. curfew.

In addition to being homeless Dixon had a father in prison, a severe speech impediment, and a learning disability. In fact, by the time he got to high school he could barely read. Fast forward 5 years and he's got a college degree and job in the NFL.

This is a guy you want to root for. I'd definitely recommend reading the rest of that Palm Beach Post article.

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An Eagles type of player

This is a prime example of an Eagles type of player. He’ll take nothing for granted, he’ll give 100 percent on each play, because he realizes the blessings he’s been given. I hope in 4 months were talking about how awesome of a season he’s had and what a could pick-up this was.

"Dig In....Hit Hard"

by TexasLax on Sep 7, 2009 12:16 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Cobb’d: should be “what a GOOD pick up”

Doh!

"Dig In....Hit Hard"

by TexasLax on Sep 7, 2009 12:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Agree

I read a feature about him in the Washington Post earlier this summer, and my first thought was “he has a hunger that you can’t teach.”

Here’s another feature, from the AP when he was at Miami

Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome

by D3Keith on Sep 7, 2009 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll always root for this kind of player

I bleed green and I piss silver and blue

by oldasquick on Sep 7, 2009 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

What an incredible story. I will be rooting for him no matter what.

by LegendKnight22 on Sep 7, 2009 2:53 PM EDT reply actions

Wow… This is a better story than Rudy. I will always support this guy. I’m glad the Eagles gave him another chance after initially being cut. THis is the type of player that you know is hungry and just wants to build a successful career the right way.

Welcome to the Eagles, Antonio! We’re rooting for you!

by J800 on Sep 7, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

rudy

i hate rudy .. he had no talent .. if he can play fine .. if not .. ill take someone who can ..i dont care if that player grew up in 90210 .. aslong as he can play football

by jack is better than asante on Sep 7, 2009 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

Says a 23 year old who can’t play football and can’t use proper grammar or spell well. You’re an ass hat, JIBTA.

It’s okay to root for the f***ing guy and hope he does well for himself after working hard to get where he is. Rudy wasn’t a story about a world beater that set all kinds of records. It was a story about overcoming odds and working hard to achieve what little you can. And THAT is why I am rooting for Antonio. If he can’t play, then he won’t be here long. If he can, all the better. It doesn’t change the fact that people will continue to root for those who work hard to succeed despite all the setbacks.

by J800 on Sep 7, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

And the other reason people tend to root for these types of players is because they generally aren’t the prima donnas that come in and expect to get a boatload of cash and then slack. He isn’t a douchey receiver who isn’t happy with the contract he signed years earlier and wants a trade or lottery-sized payday because he did his job well. This is a guy that, I can only assume, will show up every day and work his ass off to avoid returning to the place he once escaped from.

by J800 on Sep 7, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Well put, rec’d

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Sep 7, 2009 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

yea

how do u know if im good .. u never met me .. and i love the primadonnas.. they generally have more talent .and talent wins football games

by jack is better than asante on Sep 7, 2009 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

You're right

I haven’t met you and I don’t know if you can play. But I’m guessing, with all the time you spend opposing every other post on this site, you are more of a student of the game than an actual player. Listen, I like talent too. But I also appreciate players that have drive to make themselves and their surrounding teammates better. It’s not just talent that wins games, it’s disciplined teams that win games. Every individual in the NFL is talented.

by J800 on Sep 7, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

JIBTA,

I agree that you want players to have actual talent, but don’t you look at a guy who has had some hardship in his life, seems like a good person, overcome the odds to make it to the NFL and root for him to make it? Or do you look at a guy who is a total dick, has no humility or care for other people, gotten arrested but root for him because he’s talented despite the fact that he’s a shitty person? Doesn’t a player’s character play a factor in whether you wish him success?

Sometimes it's just fun to take the family for a spin around the lake in the old boat. Even if it's not your family or your boat, and they're screaming for you to stop.

by Baron Dainer Von Tresvant on Sep 7, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

i don’t care if he spends the offseason in jail for doing blow off a hooker… if he helps win a superbowl who cares… that’s the goal right… this is a job and who does their job gets rewarded and gets my respect… the best players will win and it doesn’t matter what they do off the field…

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Sep 8, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

jibta you are a dick.... anyways

ill be cheering for this guy its not everyday a guy like this ends up making something out of his life

by fly eagles fly on Sep 7, 2009 4:06 PM EDT reply actions

HIs parents sound like wastes of life

Glad hes getting a chance to make something of himself

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Sep 7, 2009 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

his dad/sperm donor does

I’m gonna give his mom the benefit of the doubt. She was probably just a young girl who was ill equipped to be responsible for a baby. Unfortunately she picked a scumbag with whom to have sex. After that, she no doubt made some bad decisions, but was just doing the best she could.

Nonetheless, I love love love it that we have guys like Maclin and this young man on our side. I’m with most of the rest saying I would pull for guys like that to do great, and love it that I can pull for them as a member of our team.

He gets a sack on Campbell in the first game against the Redskins, is my prediction.

by Bisch on Sep 7, 2009 6:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions