“I was always the underdog that everyone identified with, and I still think I'm that way. But if you're on the other side of the fence on a certain issue, your opinion is going to change. And that was the part I was scared of, because I built my reputation on being this guy who's all about football - and I am, and I'm still the same guy, that doesn't change.” IfsThinkingWayStillsGuyCertainSidesOpinionIssuesFootballBuiltScaredReputationFenceThis GuyUnderdog Author:Andrew Hawkins
“Whatever backlash I was going to get, whatever consequence there was for stating my opinion, I was OK with. Because I look at my son's eyes, I look at the eyes of my daughter, and I would be a bad dad if my No. 1 goal wasn't always to put them in the best situation as possible.” IfsLooksWould BeEyeGoalSituationOpinionSonDadDaughterConsequenceMy DaughterMy SonBacklash Author:Andrew Hawkins
“Shame on me, for me to have this platform and me to have this opportunity to stand up for something that I thought was unjust, and I passed on it. I can't do that.” I CanOpportunityShamePlatformsUnjustShame On Me Author:Andrew Hawkins
“How you educate the people around you, what steps you take toward making it better, what sacrifices you make. The equation of life is simple: There's no gain without pain. For whatever reason, that's the way this world was designed in every facet. It's the same thing, there has to be a sacrifice.” PeopleWorldWayReasonPainLife IsSimpleStepsSacrificeThis WorldGainsEducateEquationsFacetsWithout PainLife Is Simple Author:Andrew Hawkins
“If you're tweeting - and this is what I tell the young athletes who come to me about these situations, because I've been through them and I've seen both sides of it - if you're tweeting just because everyone else is tweeting and you're not uncomfortable, if it doesn't feel like a sacrifice - like when I wore that T-shirt it was a sacrifice.” IfsFeelsYoungSidesSituationSacrificeAthleteUncomfortableShirtsBoth SidesT ShirtYoung Athletes Author:Andrew Hawkins
“I was willing to put it at risk in order for someone to gain, in order for the situation to get better.” OrderSituationRiskWillingGainsGet Better Author:Andrew Hawkins
“I'm in a unique situation. I'm 5-foot-6, 175 pounds, so I wouldn't say people are super afraid of me. I live a normal life. I don't walk into a room and everybody looks at me and says, "He plays for the Cleveland Browns" or "He's an NFL superstar" - that doesn't happen. I go under the radar. Most people don't realize who I am until I tell them. So it's not like my life has changed since I've been in the NFL or people treat me any different.” PeopleLooksDifferentPlayHappensRealizingWalksRoomsSituationFeetChangedNormalUniqueTreatsWho I AmNflPoundsLook At MeSuperstarNormal LifeRadarClevelandLife Has ChangedCleveland Browns Author:Andrew Hawkins
“Some people who make it to where we are, life changes for them, they're treated differently, they're recognized. They're 6-foot-6, 280 pounds and people automatically know what they do for a living.” PeopleKnowsFeetTreatedLife ChangingPounds Author:Andrew Hawkins
“I'm very much still connected to the way that I've always been perceived. And it happens. I'm not trying to play up anything, it is true. I've walked by numerous cars where they've locked the doors, I get into an elevator and someone moves out of the way. I've been to a place where some people think their children shouldn't play with my children. And that breaks my heart.” PeopleThinkingWayTryingHeartChildrenStillsPlayHappensMovingBreakDoorsCarMy HeartConnectedMy ChildrenLockedElevatorsBreaking My Heart Author:Andrew Hawkins
“My 4-year-old is the most kind-hearted person I've ever met in my life. Granted, he's 4, but he doesn't know people wouldn't like him. He doesn't understand that people would hurt him. When I get in these situations, that's what breaks my heart.” PeopleKnowsYearsHeartKindPersonsHurtSituationBreakMy HeartMetsGrantedHeartedBreaking My HeartKind Hearted Author:Andrew Hawkins