I think the fundamental question at the core of it was, What am I trying to accomplish here ? with the thought process of not playing football again, essentially what it comes down to is, Can my body do this and me still have a resemblance of a quality of life afterward ?

Doug Baldwin

Categorized in : Sports

The goal has always been to effect change in the world on a very large scale, i really do feel, and I know its an ambitious statement to make and sometimes could be a nave statement but as I think through what I want to accomplish through the rest of my life and also for my children I want to change the world in a positive way.

Doug Baldwin

sports

This project is a personal passion, this facility that were building its very similar to a facility and program where I grew up back in Pensacola, Florida. Its a place I called my second home. There were resources and people that genuinely cared about me not only as a student and an athlete, but more so about me being a well-rounded human being. There was so much involved in that you cant really put a measurement around. I owe a lot to them, to that organization, to that facility, to that second home for me seeing the world the way I see it today.

Doug Baldwin

sports

The receivers still come over to my house. Theyve been over to the house a couple of times so I still have that connection with them, im still present when they need me to be. I think most guys who retired say that, what they miss most is the locker room.

Doug Baldwin

sports

I think this center will be a portal where they can be seen, can be understood as human beings, can be recognized that there are things they need that can stabilize their lives or further their lives and this facility will present those resources.

Doug Baldwin

sports

Doug Baldwin’s Doug Baldwin. Plain and simple, listen, I respect the man because he’s a human being, first and foremost. But he’s just being more divisive, which is not surprising. It is what it is.

Doug Baldwin

sports

I knew police officers have a very difficult job. They have to make split second decisions that will impact not only the communities they serve but their families, their own personal lives.

Doug Baldwin

own will job police

The greatest tragedy for any human being is going through their entire lives believing the only perspective that matters is their own.

Doug Baldwin

human-being own perspective tragedy

I'm not one of those typical receivers who's like a robot in the slot or outside.

Doug Baldwin

robot those outside like

Change is inevitable, change will always happen, but you have to apply direction to change, and that's when it's progress.

Doug Baldwin

direction you progress change

I'm still conscious of whether people really accept me, but that insecurity makes me stronger.

Doug Baldwin

me insecurity stronger people

I feel like I am a better person because of my struggles, because of my challenges and persevering through them and realizing the mistakes that I've made, correcting them.

Doug Baldwin

mistakes i-am feel challenges

I appreciate the fans who come out here, and they support us, but it's football. We're not saving lives. We're not police officers. We're not doctors. We're football players, first and foremost. If you want to stop watching the game because a guy feels strongly about a very serious topic that's going on in our society, then that's your choice.

Doug Baldwin

game you society football

If there are cracks in your armor, your opponent is going to find them.

Doug Baldwin

opponent going your find

You're always fighting the demons.

Doug Baldwin

demons you always fighting

I play football because I love the game and I put everything into it.

Doug Baldwin

game play love football

Individuals have a right to freedom of speech.

Doug Baldwin

freedom-of-speech speech freedom

My father's a police officer, and he's told me numerous times about his training and how they've gone through what they call verbal judo, which is essentially them trying to de-escalate the situation.

Doug Baldwin

me training police father

Thursday night football should be illegal.

Doug Baldwin

thursday should football night

I watched a lot of Jerry Rice's film just to learn how to run routes, but it was so difficult to imitate him, and he didn't play with the same body language that I wanted to play with.

Doug Baldwin

difficult language body play

Before I became a leader, I thought success was all about building myself up. But then, once I became a leader, I realized that success is about building others up.

Doug Baldwin

myself building leader success