Safety hopes to serve Army & Lions

Posted: Thursday July 10, 2008 09:03AM ET

Four former Army players hoped to apply the academy's alternative service option in 2008 to pursue NFL careers. The number has dwindled to one. Safety Caleb Campbell of became the first player in 11 years to be drafted from West Point when the Detroit Lions claimed him in the seventh round in April. Two other West Point grads signed free-agent contracts following the draft: punter Owen Tolson, who is from Lucas, with the New York Giants and fullback Mike Viti with the Buffalo Bills. Wide receiver Jeremy Trimble attended a May tryout camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. But Trimble was not offered a contract by the Chiefs, and Tolson and Viti have been cut. Tolson is from Lucas. That leaves Campbell as the only former Army player with an NFL contract and thus the only one still eligible for the alternative service option. And even Campbell could be in jeopardy. The Army is reviewing the policy -- more specifically, its interpretation of the policy.

Dallas Morning News

Caleb Campbell, Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Caleb Campbell, Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

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thanks to all the service men and women for protecting this great country

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This is a good man. Though if I remember the draft, he's a bit undersized.

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Wow! Who is the sports editor for the Dallas Morning News? They am not is done a well job on this article.

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This is a good thing, both for the Army and the player(s)

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Its a nice change to have a great story, for both Lions fans and the Army.

I hope nothing but the best for Campbell, as a player, as a troop, and as a man.

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An actual story about an athlete that makes you feel good. okay there are more than one, but not many

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I hope no one takes this the wrong way, but consider this. The cost of a four year education at West Point is : $441,000. Paid for by the tax payers. That part is fine, it is what it is. I think if a Cadet then goes to the NFL, the cost of that education should be reimbursed.( over time). I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but a free education at a top learning institution is something you carry with you the rest of your life and into civilian employment at some point.
Before you jump all over what I said, yes I am grateful and come from a long line of family who have served in every war going back to the Civil War and the present conflict in Iraq..

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50 your point is well taken IF there was intent of fraud on this yong man's part which obviously there wasn't and look at it another way, he will be a productive member of society when he enters civilian life,now on the other hand what about all the other college players that get free rides I.E. scholarships and don't even graduate no matter how you look at it taxpayers pay for them too and no one is asking for them to pay anything back.

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Thanks in advanced FN for not making this a political story....

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Great man

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He see's the bigger purpose of life.

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Don't worry 50. Alternative service just means he doesn't have to serve on Active duty. The government will still get their money's worth from this young man.

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How about the option of the team that drafts the player reimburses the military?

Either way, this is a great thing the army is doing for the players, this should really help Army with their recruiting in the future!

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exsquidao..good point, I did not think of that....It does make what Roger Staubach did that much more impressive though...
Hendo_El_Jefe ...You are probably right..

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Hello 50YF,
Hope all is well, where did you get the $400K+ figure? I get those sort of numbers from the Defense world all the time telling me what I and everything around me is worth..... don't believe it. Sounds like they are heaping all the infrastructure, utilities, grounds maintenance, and salaries of the instructors at West Point etc into that figure. Like statistics, you can make numbers say what you want. As a US military officer and taxpayer, I am all about getting any of our products into the public eye. You have every right to be concerned about where your money goes. In this case the number of guys who could get into the NFL is so small that it would have negligible impact on our Academies output.

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40+ year fan, you have 10 more years before you can correct 50yfan...

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biminator,
I will NEVER have more comprehensive football knowledge than 50, he is all knowing in all things NFC East and maybe beyond. I still feel the $400K figure is a "spoofer" figure. Let's see they probably included the medical coverage the kid MIGHT need, what the Sgt who runs the mess hall earns, what the same Sgt's kids need from the hospital as well, oh and don't forget that the contract for housekeeping is in there too--but be aware that the cadets actually clean the place top to bottom every Saturday for SMI--ohh what fun.
All in good fun here and hoping to have a true thread to talk about soon.

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Well, if it happens, it won't matter.....

Vikings will prevail!!!!!

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Are they trying to say the Army may not let him play because they're reviewing this policy? This would be stupid if he is good enough to play in the NFL their policy should allow him to play.

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I personally hope that the Army lets him play. The part of the policy that they are reviewing states that if a player makes a pro team then they can play and fulfill thier obligation to the service by being a recuiter. Can anybody think of a better person to recruit for a Military Academy than an NFL (or any pro league for that matter) player.

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