Seahawks Part with Former Green Beret Nate Boyer

Sometimes a feel-good story doesn’t feel so good. And then, at the end, it’s at least OK. Or maybe better than that.

The Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday released rookie long snapper Nate Boyer. Hey, at this point of the NFL preseason, teams let undrafted rookies go every day. But Boyer was not your everyday rookie.

Boyer is 34, well past the age when most NFL careers are over. And he is a former U.S. Army Green Beret. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan before playing at the University of Texas. The Seahawks signed him in May after the NFL draft, though he was always a longshot to make the roster.

Feeling sorry for him? Don’t. He doesn’t feel sorry for himself. He played in the second half of last Friday’s preseason opener, handling the long snapping and making a tackle. That was after he led the team onto the field, carrying an American flag.

Boyer told ESPN he was grateful “just to have this opportunity to be able to call myself an NFL player. It might not be over, but if it is, I’m good with that.”

On his Twitter feed he wrote: “Just don’t go feelin’ sorry for me people! I’ve been given more opportunities than most, especially those overseas…”

The Seahawks needed his roster spot for another quarterback, and so they let Boyer go and signed Jake Waters. The Seahawks indicated they believed Boyer had the skills to play in the NFL. Anything is possible.

So often we hear only of the spoiled athletes. Now and then, there are people like Boyer, and they spoil us with their class and grace.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .