Yardbarker: Willie Roaf

Louisiana Sports HOF Show to Debut Thursday on CST

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:13:45 -0500

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame added eight more of the state's sports legends in ceremonies here last month including LA Tech's own Willie Roaf, Sonja Hogg and Carrice Russell-Baker and the highlights of that induction ceremony will be shown Thursday night at 7 p.m. on Cox Sports Television.

Ex-New Orleans Saints tackle Willie Roaf to make stop at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:09:58 -0500

It is said two things in life are guaranteed -- death and taxes. Former Saints coach Jim Mora believes he has discovered one more certainty....

Ex-Saints tackle Willie Roaf to make stop at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:09:58 -0500

It is said two things in life are guaranteed -- death and taxes. Former Saints coach Jim Mora believes he has discovered one more certainty....

Former New Orleans Saints kicker Morten Andersen should kick down the door to Pro Footballs Hall of Fame

Wed, 20 May 2009 12:25:10 -0500

During nearly two decades of covering the Saints for The T-P, Ive had the distinct privilege of covering three Saints who belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame _ Rickey Jackson, Morten Andersen and Willie Roaf. Roaf arguably is...

Alls quiet on the New Orleans Saints front on day before the NFL Draft

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:28:03 -0500

Were going with Willie Roaf as the best first-round pick

AADQ: The AA Header

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:47:18 -0500

Our site's rotating header now features the following Chiefs Bobby Buck Derrick Lamar Scott Tony Willie Now, obviously we are going to add Emmitt Thomas, Hank Stram and Len Dawson here soon, but who else should we add? Will ...

Former Chiefs OT Willie Roaf Honored At Half Time

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:46:23 -0500

Willie Roaf, chosen for the Pro Bowl all four years he played left tackle in Kansas City, was honored during halftime Sunday of the Chiefs game...

Saints To Honor Former OT Willie Roaf At Halftime

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 02:10:06 -0500

The New Orleans Saints will honor their great offensive tackle Willie Roaf at halftime of SundayA's game against the San Francisco 49ers, after...

Saints To Honor Former OT Willie Roaf At Halftime

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:08:31 -0500

The New Orleans Saints will honor their great offensive tackle Willie Roaf at halftime of SundayA's game against the San Francisco 49ers, after...

Roaf Inducted in the Saints Hall of Fame; to be Honored Sunday

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:03:42 -0500

The Saints will be honoring former offensive tackle Willie Roaf at halftime during tomorrows game against the Niners. He was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame yesterday. Roaf said that he was honored to be inducted as he's the first player to be put in that spent most of his career with the team. He likely will end up in the Pro Football HOF in Canton, he will be eligible in 2011. "He was one of my favorite players of all time," former Saints coach Jim Mora, who participated in Friday's induction ceremony, said of Roaf. "I know sometime down the road, he will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He's one of my top five players I think I've ever coached."

Bryant McKinnie = Willie Roaf?

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:02:10 -0500

Jared Allen has compared his training camp bitch Bryant McKinnie to former Chiefs teammate Willie Roaf: He's a big dude. I told Coach, 'About another week and a half of this and I might have to take a little break, pushing 350 around all day.' It's cool. It reminds me of my first couple years in the league when I had Willie Roaf. He was another big guy, very athletic and stuff like that. Willie helped me tremendously. For me and Bryant to be working together like that, it'...

Why I Play Hard for the 49ers

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:41:34 -0500

I remember personally, draft day. My name during that long weekend never got called. While sitting on my parents' couch in Greensboro, North Carolina, I wanted so badly for the commissioner to call my name, but that never happened. While driving back to school, James Harris, Director of Personnel, called and offered me a free agent contract. Later on that week I signed a contract to join the Baltimore Ravens, with no signing bonus. I remember leaving for camp and taking everything I owned because I knew I was not coming home. Through 2 ACL surgeries and NFL Europe, nine years later I am still somewhat waiting for someone to recognize my talent, and we are a pretty good team that has some growing pains. I think Bryant Young said it the best a couple days ago, "There are no moral victories in football". We are supposed to play hard, be on time, and give 100% everyday. When I am on the field, I love playing against guys who were drafted, the big time All-Americans, and other celebrity athletes. At the end of the game, what is more important to me than any paycheck, endorsement deal, and any television camera, is the respect I get from other players; the look I get from coaches when they want to see whose face is under the helmet. The stare from your compettion when you're warming up before the game because they know I play with every ounce of passion in my body. I play hard because players like Willie Roaf and John Ogden made me play that way in practice everyday. I play for the coaches who work 70 plus hours a week. I play for Athletes from smaller schools because I want to pave the way for them, for those fans who can not afford a ticket to the game. I also play for those former athletes who are no longer in the NFL. I remember sitting and watching old NFL highlight films, on VHS tapes at Howard University, listening to John Randle, L.T., Reggie White and others talk about the game. I always thought about what could I do to make it, and be successful. Those thoughts made me realize that I had to be "true to the game", I could not cheat it. I was going to have to come early and stay late, study my compettion, and take advantage of every mistake made by the offense on Sunday. Nine years later I still play for all those reasons. I have a family now, so that means the list only grows, but so does my passion on the field.