Does athletic skill run in the family?
Athleticism is something that makes parents proud. You can tell that when you attend any little league football game. Parents are in the stands cheering loudly, yelling at referees, and spurring their children on. Some families seem to have gotten an extra helping of coordination and ability. These three sets of brothers certainly have. All total, seven pairs of brothers have been able to play together as teammates in the NFL Pro Bowl. This game is held in Hawaii every year and Tiki and Ronde Barber are the only pair of twin brothers to have had that award. Brothers being able to play one of the most intensely competitive sports together is genuinely an exciting possibility to families whose lives are tied up with athletics.
One set of brothers, Obafemi Devin and Oladele Brendon Ayanbadejo, are somewhat of an anomaly in the NFL. These Irish-Nigerian brothers have proven themselves to their large fan base. Femi is the older brother by eighteen months. He plays running back for the Arizona Cardinals. Brendon seems to have settled down as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears. Both brothers were undrafted free agents when they finally were picked up by NFL coaches with an eye for talent.
Pro football can be an excruciatingly public world to live in. Look at the scrutiny that Michael Vick has recently had to endure because of his decisions and actions. The Barber, Manning, and Ayanbadejo brothers have all done a pretty good job, so far, of limiting the press they receive to positive reactions and situations. Lets hope that it stays that way. These three sets of brothers have much farther to go than just NFL football. The sky is the limit if they will simply make wise choices throughout their lives.
One might think that two brothers playing NFL football might strain relationships, causing the brothers to be tense and competitive with one another. The Manning brothers say that nothing could be further from the truth for them. Younger brother Eli looks up to Peyton and admires what he has done. He watches his older brother pave the way for him and demonstrate leadership qualities and principles. The same is true for Brendan and Femi Ayanbadejo. The brothers say their relationship has never been stronger. They cheer one another on in every endeavor and only wish for the others loss when their teams go head to head!
There is something special about Tiki and Ronde Barber. These football players are twins and have been able to face off against one another in multiple games. Ronde plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tiki is a teammate to Eli Manning with the New York Giants. A wonderful chance was presented to the Barber brothers in February of 2005. Tiki and Ronde Barber were able to be teammates at the NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Tiki's plans are to retire after the current season and move into a broadcasting career. He got his first chance at that right after the Virginia Tech shooting tragedy. Ronde has recently agreed to a five year contract extension and indicates that he will keep on playing pro football for the next several. The Barber brothers both have the public's eye on them.
Tiki Barber hasn't always had it so easy. Most past football coaches have not recognized his talent for the game. He was recruited by the University of Virginia but after playing NCAA football he was informed that he was too small to be of any use to the NFL. At only five foot ten inches, Tiki showed the world that he was good enough to compete. He finished his ninth season with the NFL as the leader for total yards gained. He has proven over and over to the world that his natural ability and determined hard work have more to do with performance than height does. Tiki and his twin brother Ronde were born prematurely and as a result of this they were small and weak. Adversity and trouble have only been stepping stones for the brothers. In the last few years, the Barber brothers have together written several childrens books that focus on encouraging kids to follow their dreams and reach for the stars. A good life lesson that Tiki and Ronde have learned in their own life.
Brothers Femi and Brendon Ayanbadejo were given an exciting chance in 2003. The Miami Dolphins made the men teammates in 2003 but that only lasted for a short time. Now they are on different teams and have faced off against one another in their NFL careers three times already. The brothers insist that there is no problem with facing off for them because competition is in their blood.
The people who debate nature vs. nurture would truly have a topic in the 300 sets of brothers who have played football in the NFL. It makes one think that athletic ability and heart for the sport can change a dreaming boy into a mature man. Mike and Don Carey made the headlines in 2005 as the first brother NFL officiates who refereed an NFL game together.
Eli and Peyton Manning faced each other in the only NFL game to feature two brothers as starting quarterbacks on opposing teams. And of course, drawing from their family heritage and the fact that they both are quarterbacks, there have been plenty of comparisons made between the two. Both brothers have created names for themselves on their college football teams and behave themselves well on the field and off the field and are respected by all. The Manning brothers are classy that many pro football players could learn from.