You don't have to look far for brothers in the NFL

Tiki Barber has had somewhat of a challenge to make his way in the world of football.  Although college football recruiting were aware of his talent, after playing NCAA football for the University of Virginia, he was at the start told that he was too small to make headlines in the NFL.  Though he is only five foot ten inches, in Tikis ninth season with the NFL he was the leader for total yards gained.  He has proven to the world that talent, hard work, and determination have more to do with performance than size does. 

Obafemi Devin and Oladele Brendon Ayanbadejo are Irish-Nigerian brothers who have made reputations for themselves playing NFL football .  Obafemi, or Femi, has chosen to be known by his Nigerian name and Brendon is known by his Irish name.  Older than his brother by eighteen months, Femi plays running back for the Arizona Cardinals and younger brother Brendon is 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. 

The Manning brothers have made reputations for themselves on their college football teams and behave themselves well on the field and off the field and are idolized by all.  Although Peyton is older and definitely more grow in his game, Eli is well known for his 4^th quarter grit and endurance to the end.  Peyton has been well known for his leadership and star quality for a while now but Eli is also maturing in this area.  The Manning brothers are a class act that many pro football players could learn from.

Brendan Ayanbadejo is a marvelous example of grit.  Even with all of his talent, he was all but ignored by college football recruiters after high school and then by the NFL after college.  So he kept on trying.  Three NFL football teams cut him and so he played for the Canadian League, the European League, and now finally has some recognition and stableness with the Chicago Bears after being traded by the Dolphins in 2005. 

Twins, Tiki and Ronde Barber were born early and were small and sickly.  This proved to only be another motivation for the brothers grit to make it to the pros and now has supplied material for their newest venture jointly.  The Barber brothers have scripted several childrens books that focus on encouraging kids to work out their hopes and reach for the stars. 

There are over 300 sets of brothers who have played football in the NFL.  Now there is an interesting topic for the nature vs. nurture debaters.  It leaves one contemplating just what a little athletic ability and an intense love for the game can do in the heart of a small boy as hes changing into a man.  There is even one pair brothers who made newspaper headlines back in 2005 as NFL officiates. 

Tiki and Ronde Barber, one of the three hundred or so sets of football players who are brothers, are unique in that they are twins who have had the opportunity to play one another in games in the past.  Ronde plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tiki is a teammate to Eli Manning with the New York Giants.  When in college, college bowl games were at that time the Barber brothers motivation, but they have moved up to bigger and better things. 

The Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl both made for an exciting year for Brendan Ayanbadejo and his brother Femi is rooting for him the whole way.  Big brother Femi was recognized and picked up by an NFL team more speedily than Brendan but is as happy for his brother as if it were happening for him.  And in a way it is when you are as close to your brother and these two are.  Now Femi is playing for the Cardinals but that doesnt seem to make any difference to these two.  Your success is my success seems to be the motto that these two brothers live by. 

Peyton and Eli Manning have one advantage over other brother duos in the NFL.  Their father, Archie Manning, was a football superstar in his own right and obviously shared his athletic skill and passion for the game to his sons.  Archie was nominated for the Heisman Trophy twice and became the 1971 second pick overall in the NFL draft .  Archie is still revered at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi, despite a less than great career in the NFL.  The speed limit on campus is still eighteen miles per hour in honor of Archie, whose jersey number was eighteen.  He had what it took to be a leader and star footballer and plainly what it took to raise sons in their fathers footsteps. 

Mike and Don Carey became the first brothers to referee an NFL game together.  Seven pairs of brothers have had the opportunity to play together as teammates in the NFL Pro Bowl game that is played in Hawaii every year.  Tiki and Ronde Barber are the only set of twins to have had that award.  The thought of brothers being given the chance to play one of the most fiercely competitive sports together is truly an awesome possibility to families whose lives are intertwined with athletics.