Tag: Veterans

Naval officer Paul Johnson is running across the US to support veterans

Run for a good cause.

Ultrarunner and naval officer Paul Johnson is on an extraordinary cross-country run from Los Angeles to New York. His purpose? To raise a million dollars for Team Red, White & Blue. This nonprofit enriches the lives of US veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.

Fewer than 400 people have run this cross-country route. Paul’s original goal was to complete the 3,000-mile journey in 40 days. This meant averaging 75 miles per day and shaving two days off the former record. When Paul took a break on day 24 to talk to Outdoors Wire, he was a little behind on the record setting, but way ahead on the community support and cross-country outpouring of love. Here’s what he had to say. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5HxU3mRq9k

Outdoors Wire: How’s it going so far?

Johnson: You know, I thought I would really enjoy eating a lot of food. I don’t. So many calories. Day 16 was the hump. It was pretty rough up to day 16. Day 10 was one of the toughest, almost not being able to run at all. My foot, you know, we’re working on it. And since day 16, I’ve practically been running pain-free. Obviously, the legs are sore and tired. But we’re cruising now, so we’re starting to feel really good about it.

Outdoors Wire: What has surprised you on this run?

Johnson: The amount of support that we’ve received from people. Being in practically what feels like the middle of nowhere, and a random car comes ripping around the corner. Somebody hops out and starts yelling if they can run with us. Families that drove four hours to come give us chocolate chip cookies and then run the furthest they’ve ever run in their life with us. It’s just been insane. I’m looking right now at a stack of cards from a kindergarten class that all wrote me like motivational do-a-good-job cards that are hanging on the inside of the van. So, just to be able to see that level of support has been absolutely insane.

Outdoors Wire: How does running help mental health struggles for you and other veterans? Or for people in general?

Johnson: There’s a, at least for me, a very huge connection between mental and physical health. And I think a lot of people can relate to that. Especially within the military. One of the ways that we deal with stress is working out. There’s a lot of other not-as-great ways. But working out is one of the positive ones. And everybody has their own different way of doing it. A lot of people like lifting weights. You know, it’s kind of tough to go swimming because you need special facilities for that. But running and walking are a constant that you can do pretty much anywhere.

And I definitely find that if I’m not running as much, I struggle more myself with mental health. Running, I describe it to other people as my meditation. Especially for anxiety and depression. The running kind of gives it all a break. It’s a very positive release for me.

And so that’s the encouragement here. We want people to try and do something more physically active. Whether it’s running, walking, playing golf, pickleball, go for a hike. Whatever it is, by increasing that level of physical activity, you’re going to drastically improve your mental health.

Outdoors Wire: What sort of mental health problems do you think running is most helpful for?

Johnson: Definitely not for my sleep, I’ll tell you that. (laughs) No impact on the sleep issues I’ve had. It definitely has helped a lot with anxiety. Getting started and going out for a run is one of the hardest things, always. Just trying to get myself over that hump is very difficult. I just don’t want to do it. But as soon as I can finally force myself out that door, and I get 10, 20, 30 steps in, I’m so glad I did it. So, for me, that’s where I see the huge effect.

Having those anxiety symptoms with the tight chest and everything else, I just feel that I’m able to relax a bit once I start running.

Outdoors Wire: Tell us why Team Red, White & Blue is important to you.

Johnson: Because they’re the best, obviously. They are the nation’s largest community support group for veterans. And it’s not just veterans. There’s active-duty members like myself. There’s civilians. There are veterans. It’s a 200,000-person community and charity that’s focused on exactly what we’re out here to do, which is improve the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals. 

Specifically, they do a lot of different things from providing training, programming, and community events with different physical goals. Monthly challenges to get you up and moving and trying something new. And really trying to get you involved to interact with and work out with other people. 

That’s one of the things that a lot of veterans struggle with, when you leave such tight community as the military. People that you’ve lived with 24/7, now you’re no longer with those people. You’re kind of on your own. It’s a huge shock to the system and a very tough adjustment that a lot of people struggle with. And to me, that’s really why RWB is so important, is bridging that gap between physical and mental health and getting people involved.

Outdoors Wire: What do you most want people to know about veterans?

Johnson: They’re dope. Everybody has their own experience in the military. Some people have done combat tours. Some people have been shot at. Some people have been blown up. I’ve never been shot at, I’ve never been blown up. Yet, myself and a lot of my peers still struggle with a lot of similar mental health issues, just due to the level of stress that we’re constantly under, even when you’re in other roles.

I think a lot of people, even other service members, discredit the effects of mental health for a lot of people. Especially for the veterans. And they don’t really teach you a lot of good ways to necessarily deal with everything and how to transition. So, I think it’s important just to understand that everyone’s had different experiences. And just because maybe they didn’t do a combat tour doesn’t mean they’re not struggling with something.

Outdoors Wire: Anything else you want to share with readers about this ambitious cross-country run and what it means to you?

Johnson: We’re out here to raise awareness for mental health and fundraise 1 million dollars for Team Red, White & Blue. The record’s kind of out of the question at this point, and that’s totally fine. We’re here for the important part, which is that awareness and fundraising. So if you’re anywhere near where we’re going to be coming, come on out, say hi. Come run. Cheer us on as we go by. We love every form of support. And as always, get the word out, share with all your friends, family, coworkers, whatever. And help us reach that million-dollar goal.

Could any of these free agent WRs get Chiefs out of offensive rut?

Could any of these veteran free agents help get the #Chiefs out of their recent offensive rut?

The Kansas City Chiefs offense is in a rut. Patrick Mahomes looks more like a middling starter than the NFL’s reigning MVP, and the media is already questioning whether Andy Reid’s system has been figured out by defensive coordinators around the league.

After the trade deadline passed without a new addition to the Chiefs’ receiving corps, Kansas City’s options to rectify the void of talent at the position are severely limited.

While none of the players currently available have been standouts in recent seasons, there are some who have put together sneaky successful careers in the NFL despite their free-agent status.

Take a look at these six veteran options to see if the Chiefs should grease the wheels on its offense or be content to stand pat heading into the toughest part of their 2023 schedule:

Northwest Battle Buddies rappel off one of Portland’s tallest buildings

Brave feats for a good cause.

“Just back your heels up so they’re sticking over the edge,” Kelly Cosgrove, an employee with the aptly named Over the Edge, told me. I stood on the top of the U.S. Bancorp Tower, locally known as Big Pink for its rosy hue. At 536 feet, the 42-story skyscraper is Portland’s second tallest. “Now just sit into your harness,” Cosgrove instructed. Straighten your legs more. Widen your feet. Start walking down.

On August 12, we rappellers got awesome views of downtown Portland and the Willamette River on a hot, sunny day. The point was to raise funds and awareness for Northwest Battle Buddies, a national nonprofit that gifts fully trained service dogs to veterans with PTSD.

A rappeller and two guides helping them rappel down a building.
That first step off the edge is the hardest. / Photo courtesy of Matthew Gilbert @matt_g.png

Northwest Battle Buddies

About 12 years ago, a veteran came to Shannon Walker, a professional dog trainer in Battleground, Washington, and asked her to train his service dog. 

“I’d trained service dogs before,” Walker told me as we stood on the roof of Big Pink, waiting our turn to rappel. “But I never experienced what I experienced when I helped him through that process. I saw him change through the training of his service dog. I saw him find courage inside himself to lead her places he was afraid to go alone. And I saw him be willing to do for her what he wasn’t even willing to do for himself. Out of everything I’d ever accomplished in the dog world, nothing compared to how I felt when I watched him walk away with her.” 

That was 212 service dogs ago. The experience motivated Walker to found Northwest Battle Buddies. She also serves as CEO.

A person rappelling down a building.
Shannon Walker rappelling down Big Pink. / Photo by Matthew Gilbert @matt_g.png

Walker always respected veterans, thanks to her father, a veteran himself. “When you’re in the presence of a veteran, you’re in the presence of a hero,” she said. “That’s how he taught me.”

The service dogs are mostly English labs, English cream golden retrievers, Australian Labradoodles, plus some mixed breeds. It takes five months to train one service dog. Then, the veteran trains with their dog for five weeks. The pair must pass a test before going home together. Every year, they return for an afternoon to recertify. 

“That way we have accountability to the dog’s weight, his vaccinations. We see the relationship. But we also see that they’re still handling with excellence.” 

Rappelling for a purpose

Rappelling is just the latest in a series of Northwest Battle Buddies fundraisers. “We’ve had other crazy events,” COO Ovie Muntean tells me, citing skydiving and bungee jumping as some of the more noteworthy. “But I’ve never done this one before. I’m excited, nervous.” 

Muntean seems like a thrill seeker, but he’s not here just for kicks. “I’ll do anything to make a difference. And the purpose of this fundraiser event is to raise awareness in the Northwest about our American heroes, the invisible wounds of war, what they have to fight when they come back. Their battle just begins. It’s an internal battle that there’s no cure for that we know of.” Muntean is very proud of his son, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and his daughter, who served in the U.S. Air Force.

Two rappellers standing next to each other, each with a hand on their hip.
Northwest Battle Buddies COO Ovie Muntean and CEO Shannon Walker. / Photo by Teresa Bergen

Why rappelling? “I feel that anything that’s out of the normal attracts attention,” Muntean said. “And it’s also fun for the people to participate.”

At the Big Pink event, fundraising rappellers each had a $2,000 target. Not everybody hit the goal, but some went over and above. Gary Cummings, an 87-year-old participant, raised roughly $5,000.

“We need money to operate,” Muntean said. “We don’t charge the veteran a penny for the service dog. But the highly professionally trained service dog costs us $25,000. And we couldn’t do it without the help of the community at large.”

A rappeller on the side of the building, with their hands in the air.
Photo by Matthew Gilbert @matt_g.png

Going over the edge

How do you set up a rappelling fundraiser? You hire professionals like Over the Edge, a Canada-based company that has helped nonprofits worldwide raise more than $135 million via urban rappelling events since 2008. Their team at Big Pink was friendly but no-nonsense about safety. I was reprimanded twice: once for leaning over the edge to take photos of a rappeller (if I dropped the phone, I could kill someone below) and once for getting in their workspace without wearing a helmet. I appreciated how careful they were.

A rappeller going down a building over a city.
Photo by Teresa Bergen

After suiting up in a harness, gloves, and helmet, we got a safety lesson inside the building on a demo rope. Then we went up to the roof, where Over the Edge had two ropes set up dangling off. I rappelled at the same time as Michael Curtis, a fundraising superstar known for his epic stand-up paddleboard journeys in support of Northwest Battle Buddies. 

Two rappellers standing on top of a building.
Michael Curtis and I suited up and ready to go. / Photo courtesy of Michael Curtis

We had to climb up stepladders to reach the ledge, then stand with our backs to downtown. Having only rappelled off rocks before, the slick building was a bit of a challenge. My legs started to get tired a few floors down, and I wondered “Geez, do they wax this thing?” They probably do. 

It was a thrill to be so high up with a viewpoint I’d never seen before. I gazed down at the Willamette River, where I’d been swimming that morning, and our city looked so beautiful. Still, it was a relief to reach the bottom!

A cityscape of Portland, a city with a river running through it.
The view from the top. / Photo by Teresa Bergen

On such a gorgeous summer day, pumped up from the thrill of an epic descent, it’s all good feelings. But the underlying purpose is to bring more good feelings to our veterans. Every day in the U.S., approximately 22 veterans take their own lives, due in part to PTSD. That’s roughly 8,000 a year. 

On the roof of Big Pink, Walker emphasized the most important point. “We’ve provided 212 service dogs. We have not lost one veteran to suicide.” 

Northwest Battle Buddies hopes to make the rappel an annual event. But you don’t have to wait until next year. Donate here anytime.

Saints training camp: Which players have received rest days?

Which veteran players have received rest days at Saints training camp? It’s a good indication of who’s making the cut for roster spots, and who is managing their workload:

We’re halfway through New Orleans Saints training camp with the first 11 practices in the books — so it’s a good time to take stock of which players have been given rest days up to this point. It’s not uncommon for two or three veterans to be given a day off in the heat of the summer, but some guys with injury histories are also scheduled for a rest day here or there as the team manages their workload.

So which players have been given the most rest days through camp so far? At the halfway point, here are the areas the team is taking it cautiously:

5 Chiefs veterans who could lose their jobs to rookies

Our @goldmctNFL thinks these #Chiefs veterans could be challenged for their jobs by incoming rookies.

The Kansas City Chiefs added plenty of new pieces to their roster via the 2023 NFL draft, making a single selection in each of the seven rounds of the draft. They also added several undrafted free agents who will have a chance to compete for a roster spot this summer.

Some of the players added could even challenge established veterans for their jobs, be it a starting position or otherwise. Training camp and the preseason will present some fierce position battles and competition that make the roster better in the long run.

From Clyde Edwards-Helaire to Joshua Kaindoh, here’s a look at some of the Chiefs’ veterans who should be on alert with rookies coming in to challenge them for a roster spot.

4 veteran players the Saints could look into trading for during 2023 draft

The NFL draft isn’t just about the rookies being picked. It’s a deadline for some veteran players to be traded, and these are four names the Saints could call about:

All of the excitement surrounding the NFL draft isn’t fueled just by the rookies turning pro. The event also functions as a deadline for some high-profile veteran players to be traded while the value of current-year draft picks is at an all-time high; think about recent deals like the trade that sent Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles.

We probably shouldn’t expect the New Orleans Saints to start selling off their picks after spending months scouting prospects, but you never know. They are active in the trading market while usually seeking to move up in the selection order. Maybe things shift a little and they see an opportunity to add a veteran who brings more to the table than a first-year pro that they could choose instead. If that’s the case, here are four names to watch out for:

This could be the group of veterans held out of Packers preseason opener

Coach Matt LaFleur met with a bunch of Packers veterans during Wednesday’s practice, potentially previewing the sit list for Friday’s preseason opener.

Wondering which players might sit for the Green Bay Packers during the preseason opener on Friday night in San Francisco? Coach Matt LaFleur might have dropped a big hint on Wednesday.

As captured below by Andy Herman of Packer Report, LaFleur had an on-field meeting with a group of veteran players during the end of Wednesday’s practice in Green Bay:

As noted by Herman and other beat reporters, the players involved in the meeting are Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Sammy Watkins, Marcedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan, David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, Dean Lowry, Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, De’Vondre Campbell, Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Eric Stokes, Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage and Mason Crosby.

That’s 22 of the 90 players on the roster. A few are injured or on the PUP list and wouldn’t play anyway. Most are veterans who don’t need to be on the field in a preseason game.

LaFleur already confirmed Jordan Love would start at quarterback and Jones and Dillon wouldn’t play. It would be surprising if any of the other veterans were on the field against the 49ers for an exhibition game.

The one notable name here might be Watkins, who has played 99 career games and doesn’t need to risk injury in a game environment. His inclusion in the group might mean his roster spot is secure. At the very least, the Packers don’t need to see him in a preseason game to know what he’s about as a player.

LaFleur and the Packers have roster spots to figure out past the veterans. Expect a bunch of notable names to be on the sideline on Friday night while the rest of the 90-man roster competes in San Francisco.

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Seahawks rookies and veterans to report to training camp on July 26

The Seattle Seahawks rookies and veterans are scheduled to report to training camp on Tuesday, July 26, at the Virginia Mason Atheltic Center.

The National Football League has finally announced the dates for the start of training camp for all 32 teams. The Seattle Seahawks rookies and veterans are set to report to camp on Tuesday, July 26 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton.

More information on the practices that will be open to fans will be revealed in the near future.

Below are the start dates and locations for all 32 teams in the league.

Team Site Location Rookies Veterans
Arizona Cardinals State Farm Stadium Glendale, Ariz. July 21 July 26
Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons Training Facility Flowery Branch, Ga. July 19 July 26
Baltimore Ravens Under Armour Performance Center Owings Mills, Md. July 19 July 26
Buffalo Bills St. John Fisher College Rochester, N.Y. July 18 July 23
Carolina Panthers Wofford College Spartanburg, S.C. July 26 July 26
Chicago Bears PNC Center at Halas Hall Lake Forest, Ill. July 23 July 26
Cincinnati Bengals Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati July 23 July 26
Cleveland Browns CrossCountry Mortgage Campus Berea, Ohio July 22 July 26
Dallas Cowboys Marriott Residence Inn Oxnard, Calif. July 26 July 26
Denver Broncos UCHealth Training Center Englewood, Colo. July 26 July 26
Detroit Lions Detroit Lions Training Facility Allen Park, Mich. July 23 July 26
Green Bay Packers Nitschke Field Green Bay, Wisc. July 22 July 26
Houston Texans Houston Methodist Training Center Houston July 24 July 26
Indianapolis Colts Grand Park Westfield, Ind. July 23 July 26
Jacksonville Jaguars Episcopal School of Jacksonville Jacksonville, Fla. July 24 July 24
Kansas City Chiefs Missouri Western State University St. Joseph, Mo. July 22 July 26
Las Vegas Raiders Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center Henderson, Nev. July 18 July 20
Los Angeles Chargers Jack Hammett Sports Complex Costa Mesa, Calif. July 19 July 26
Los Angeles Rams University of California, Irvine Irvine, Calif. July 23 July 23
Miami Dolphins Baptist Health Training Complex Miami Gardens, Fla. July 19 July 26
Minnesota Vikings TCO Performance Center Eagan, Minn. July 24 July 26
New England Patriots Gillette Stadium Foxborough, Mass. July 19 July 26
New Orleans Saints Ochsner Sports Performance Center Metairie, La. July 19 July 26
New York Giants Quest Diagnostics Training Facility East Rutherford, N.J. July 19 July 26
New York Jets Atlantic Health Jets Training Center Florham Park, N.J. July 19 July 26
Philadelphia Eagles NovaCare Complex Philadelphia July 26 July 26
Pittsburgh Steelers Saint Vincent College Latrobe, Penn. July 26 July 26
San Francisco 49ers SAP Performance Facility Santa Clara, Calif. July 26 July 26
Seattle Seahawks Virginia Mason Athletic Center Renton, Wash. July 26 July 26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers AdventHealth Training Center Tampa, Fla. July 23 July 26
Tennessee Titans Saint Thomas Sports Park Nashville, Tenn. July 23 July 26
Washington Commanders  The Park Ashburn, Va. July 26 July 26

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Ranking Packers’ veteran additions by potential impact in 2022

Which veteran addition will make the biggest impact for the Packers during the 2022 season? We rank the top 4.

The Green Bay Packers hit the free-agency jackpot last June when general manager Brian Gutekunst signed linebacker De’Vondre Campbell to a one-year deal. Incredibly, Campbell produced an All-Pro season as the playmaker in the middle of the Packers defense in 2021.

Is there a veteran addition comparable to Campbell from this offseason? Probably not. A player like Campbell is a rare find. But the Packers should still get plenty of impact from a handful of new veterans in 2022.

Here’s a ranking of the veteran additions by potential impact this season:

Mike Burton explains how AFC title game loss continues to motivate Chiefs

Mike Burton spoke about the AFC title game loss, plus a look at how the newest #Chiefs are indoctrinated with the “championship mentality.”

The results of last year’s AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals still weigh heavily on the mind of Kansas City Chiefs FB Mike Burton.

The furthest Burton had advanced in the playoffs prior to last season in Kansas City was a trip to the divisional round with the New Orleans Saints in 2020. They’d be eliminated by the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Reaching the AFC title game in 2021 with Kansas City, Burton was close to achieving a dream that every NFL enters the league with — to get a chance to compete in a Super Bowl.

“Man, being a game away from the Super Bowl. . . it’s part of that journey,” Burton said. “The dream is the Super Bowl, right? And you were so close to getting there. It just gives you more motivation. Right when the season ended, it’s all you’re thinking about, ‘What do I have to do to get back to that game?’ So, you want to get back to work. You’re highly motivated to make sure, not only that you get back to (the AFC championship) game, but you finish the game in order to get to the Super Bowl.”

The Chiefs fell short of their goal, narrowly missing out on their chance to compete in another Super Bowl. Burton says that he and the rest of his teammates wanted to get to work again the moment the clock struck zero. After taking a step back and now getting back to it in the offseason program, the team has a fresh perspective on what they can do to ensure that they’re playing in Super Bowl LVII in Arizona next February.

“It was a great learning experience,” Burton continued. “The type of guys and coaches that we have in this organization – in this culture – (they) understand that we can do better and we can finish. We’ve taken that to heart this offseason. Guys have been working extremely hard to make sure that we’re on top of every single detail, to make sure that the game is finished and we’re playing in the Super Bowl.”

One of the challenges every year in the NFL is that rosters are rarely left intact. Only seven players who were starters in Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers remain on the Chiefs’ roster this offseason. There is a newness to the group of players who will be out there in 2022. How can all of the new guys in the locker possibly understand the expectations and what it’ll take to compete and win a Lombardi Trophy?

Well, Burton had a unique perspective on that situation because he lived it a season ago.

“I was that new guy last year,” Burton said. “They’d won a Super Bowl (LIV) and they’d been to a Super Bowl (LV), you kind of learn quickly when you get there that the culture is – this is a championship mentality every time you step foot in the building. (The Super Bowl) is the expectation, and you kind of have to fall in line. If you don’t, your time might not last there. Those are the types of guys they want in this organization – championship mindset, mentality guys.”

Beyond the foundation laid by this championship mindset, Burton trusts that the front office is bringing in the right type of guys with the quality of character and work ethic necessary to win. He also knows that all of the new faces will also learn by example, just as he did a year ago in his first season with the Chiefs.

“If you’re coming into that organization, it’s because the coaches and Brett Veach and his staff are bringing the right caliber players that have that mindset,” Burton explained. “Guys that have been here can help explain it or talk to them about what it takes to get there, but it’s also just shown by example. It’s putting in the work every single day. It’s taking the classroom seriously. It’s taking all the phases seriously and just understanding the sacrifice that it takes to be a championship.”

The Chiefs kick off Phase III of the offseason workout program this week, which puts them one step closer to their ultimate goal. The work that the team puts in right now, influenced in many ways by that AFC title game loss, will be pivotal to the outcome of the 2022 NFL season.

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