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Wrestling with a 10-pounder

By Aditi on 25. Nov, 2009

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. — There’s upending offensive linemen.There’s sacking quarterbacks.

And then there’s fastening a diaper on a baby girl.

“It is so hard, she fights every time,” Rutgers senior George Johnson said, shaking his head, but smiling too. Daughter Olivia Danielle was born two weeks ago, and if there’s anything the defensive end is sure of now, “It’s that everything on a football field is a lot easier to do than changing a diaper.”

Johnson’s had the football part looking easy for several years now. He started playing as a true freshman, he became a full-time starter last year and SI.com’s most recent draft spotlight had him first as “a pass-rushing terror” and then as the week’s sleeper pick.

He’s a 6-foot-4, 265-pound beast of an end, tough, fiercely strong and, according to fellow end Jonathan Freeny, constantly yapping. He has 11 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a deathly fear of little Olivia.

“I’m afraid I’m going to break her,” Johnson said. “I’m used to fighting with 300-pound linemen, not a 10-pound baby.”

“Little” Olivia is indeed 10 pounds, five ounces, and Johnson admitted he’s whispered into her crib that he wants her to play middle linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. (When someone suggested that might not get her many dates, Johnson — clearly getting the dad thing — said, “That’s good.”) If she takes after her father, she may just get there yet.

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1 Comment

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  1. Double G Sports
    25. Nov, 2009 at 12:52 pm #

    Great story!

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