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According to baseball great Jackie Robinson, �A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.� Today, we honor someone whose life has had a tremendous impact on other lives, on and off the football field � O.J. Brigance, who is celebrating his 43^rd birthday.

In 1999, the Miami Dolphins selected O.J. as the team�s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, recognizing his comeback from a severe back injury.  While they acknowledged and appreciated his effort to overcome the injury, O.J.�s Dolphins teammates had no idea just how much courage their teammate would exhibit in the years to come. 

With the CFL�s B.C. Lions, Brigance recorded 20 sacks and earned All-Conference honors in 1993. In 1995, he was a CFL All-Star with the Baltimore Stallions during their Grey Cup championship season. He captained the Miami Dolphins during two of his four seasons with the team and was an integral part of the Baltimore Ravens� Super Bowl XXXV championship team.

As Director of Player Development for the Baltimore Ravens � a position he has held since 2004 � Brigance helps players prepare for and transition to successful careers off the field. His efforts were recognized by the NFL with its Best Overall Player Development Program Award in 2005 and 2006, the Most Outstanding Internship Program Award in 2005, and the Outstanding Continuing Education Program Award in 2007.

In May 2007, O.J. Brigance was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) � better known as Lou Gehrig�s Disease � a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure. Although ALS has robbed O.J. of much in the last five years, it did not � it could not � take away his courage.

In May 2012, at Rice University�s 2012 Laureate Dinner, where he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award, O.J. told a distinguished audience of alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university, �My greatest accomplishment has been taking this personal challenge of battling ALS and using it to impact the world around me.�

And impact the world, he has.

O.J. and his wife Chanda founded the Brigance Brigade Foundation, which raises funds to help ALS patients access to treatment, medications, equipment and support services. Through the foundation, the Brigances partner with and support The Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins. In fact, O.J. and Chanda have served as honorary chairs of the Packard Center�s annual Fiesta 5K, which raises funds for research to find a cure.

�Life�s adversities serve a dual purpose,� O.J. said at Rice. �To refine us personally and to give us experiential knowledge in serving others who may be walking the same journey. Our adversity is never just for us, but to bless others around us.�

Researchers at Boston University�s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy estimate that retired NFL players are at least eight times more likely to be diagnosed with ALS than the general adult male population. The CSTE researchers also discovered a link between repetitive head trauma and a disease similar to ALS.

 That�s why Fourth & Goal opposes bounties. That�s why we support the Commissioner�s measures to improve player safety. That�s why we recognize and, quite frankly, appreciate the Commissioner�s efforts to increase benefits for former players. That�s why we support the Brigance Brigade and The Robert Packard Center for ALS.

One more quote from the man himself: �Through the triumphs there has come a greater confidence and through the challenges has come a greater clarity of purpose.�

That�s why we�re proud to know O.J. Brigance.

Happy Birthday, O.J. � and thank you.

Bruce Laird
President, Fourth & Goal
Baltimore Colts, 1972-1981
San Diego Chargers, 1982-1983