Why a star football player traded NFL career for a tractor

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Robocop

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http://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-nfl-player-farms-for-good/?ftag=YHF4eb9d17

Why a star football player traded NFL career for a tractor
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/ex-nfl-star-finds-new-passion-in-farming/ (VIDEO)


LOUISBURG, N.C. - At one point number 60, Jason Brown, was one of the best centers in the NFL.

At one point he had a five-year, $37 million contract with the St. Louis Rams.

And at one point he decided it was all meaningless - and just walked away from football.

"My agent told me, 'You're making the biggest mistake of your life,'" said Brown. "And I looked right back at him and I said, 'No I'm not. No I'm not.'"

So what could possibly trump the NFL?



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Jason Brown gets ready for a play against the New England Patriots in 2010.
ELSA, GETTY IMAGES


You wouldn't believe.

Jason Brown quit football to be a plain, old farmer -- even though he'd never farmed a day a in his life.

Asked how he learned to even know what to do, Brown said:

"Get on the Internet. Watch Youtube videos."

He learned how to farm from Youtube.

Thanks to Youtube and some good advice from other farmers here in Louisburg, N.C., this week Jason finished harvesting his first, a five-acre plot of sweet potatoes.

"When you see them pop up out of the ground, man, it's the most beautiful thing you could ever see," said Brown. He said he has never felt more successful.

"Not in man's standards," said Brown. "But in God's eyes."

But God cares about the NFL, right? There are people praying to him on the field all the time.

"Yeah, there's a lot of people praying out there," said Brown. "But, when I think about a life of greatness, I think about a life of service."



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Jason Brown tends to his fields in Louisburg, N.C.
CBS NEWS


See, his plan for this farm, which he calls "First Fruits Farm," is to donate the first fruits of every harvest to food pantries. Today it's all five acres--100,000 pounds--of sweet potatoes.

"It's unusual for a grower to grow a crop just to give away," said Rebecca Page, who organizes food collection for the needy. "And that's what Jason has done. And he's planning to do more next year."

Brown has 1,000 acres here, which could go a long way toward eliminating hunger in this neck of North Carolina.

"Love is the most wonderful currency that you can give anyone," said Brown.

"Are you sure you played in the NFL?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Because I feel like cuddling you right now."

"Don't do that!" he said.

Brown may have left the NFL, but apparently holding is still a penalty.

 

Boffo97

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Good for him... but might as well get the elephant in the room (or topic) out there right away.

It's not like he was playing well when he left.
 

brokeu91

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That is a good story. I will say that he might have gotten cut if he didn't walk away anyway

But it's very nice that he donates the first part of his harvest to food shelters. It's pretty inspirational really
 

woolfman

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Refreshing. Always good to be reminded of the things that really matter in this life. God bless him.
 

Dodgersrf

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I was going to say something smartass, until I read the article.

It's clear his heart and mind wasn't in the NFL. He's found something much more important and rewarding.
Good work Brown.
 

TheDYVKX

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Let's be honest, he wasn't very good before he left. Glad to hear he's doing well though and doing great things for people, he always seemed like a good enough guy to me and this proves it.
 

Dieter the Brock

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Interesting
I just sorta wonder why he hadn't decided to start farming a couple years earlier if his heart wasn't in the game, because his lack of interest surely showed on the field - but with that said , farming and ranching are the best things in the world to do
 

Memento

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Good for him. I always liked Brown because he had his thoughts in the right place. He gets the bigger picture, which most people nowadays don't seem to get. And it's awesome that he's donating the first part of his harvest to the local food pantries; I volunteer at one, and one thing I've learned is that there's always a need for food, especially good food.
 

Pho Kadat

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That is a good story. I will say that he might have gotten cut if he didn't walk away anyway

But it's very nice that he donates the first part of his harvest to food shelters. It's pretty inspirational really
Actually, according to this, he was cut in 2012.
 

RamFan503

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I remember a segment on him before he left football. This is what he wanted to do. I applaud him. He has his money from playing the game and is now giving to society and not by throwing money around. Great story @Robocop . Thanks for posting it.
 

Thordaddy

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Good on Jason, world needs more people like him
 

HometownBoy

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Reminds me of Ojinnaka, who's heart was with wrestling instead of football. It really shows, I wish him just as well as I wishes Quinn. I just wish he would have had that realization earlier.
 

Sum1

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Reminds me of Ojinnaka, who's heart was with wrestling instead of football. It really shows, I wish him just as well as I wishes Quinn. I just wish he would have had that realization earlier.
Like Jacob Bell...they needed to get paid first.

Glad that Brown is doing something of service with the money he got on his second contract...Bell on the other hand is in LA partying and from what I understand doing a lot of drugs.
 

Athos

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Good on Jason, world needs more people like him

Agreed. No he wasn't good when he left, but hey, a lot of players live out contracts performing like shit and know they're performing like shit and take the money anyway.

Wish we had more guys like this in the world, especially in the game of football. Guy has his priorities straight if nothing else. And he's doing what makes him happy. Hard thing for many to do these days.
 

RhodyRams

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Great story and glad he was depicted as a RAM


I watched this last night and almost posted the story. Laughed when he was described aa "one of the best centers in the NFL" and instantly thought no he wasn't, he sucked. But then I realized I was thinking about Jason Smith
 

Ramathon

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Great story and glad he was depicted as a RAM


I watched this last night and almost posted the story. Laughed when he was described aa "one of the best centers in the NFL" and instantly thought no he wasn't, he sucked. But then I realized I was thinking about Jason Smith

He was, at the time the Rams signed him, viewed by many as one of the best centers in the game. It never showed on the field for the Rams, but it sounds like he pretty much mentally checked out somewhere in that time frame.

Whatever transpired, he should be applauded for what he's doing now. I think it's great.
 

Slappy967

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Great article that I thought I was the first to post. Curse my not searching the board better. Yeah dudes heart was definitely not into the game anymore so it's good to see someone not collect a paycheck and damage a team with sub par play and instead do something that makes them happy.