Army botches Campbell decision

By Jeff Christian

Published: July 26, 2008

Thursday night, the United States Army dropped the ball.
Army cadet Caleb Campbell, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions, was in camp and ready to take the field for the team’s first day of training camp.
On the eve of training camp, the Army told Campbell and the Lions that Campbell would not be allowed to attempt to make the team and he would have to serve two years in either Iraq, or Afghanistan.
The overall problem here is not the decision to not allow Campbell to persue his dream of playing in the NFL, it’s when the Army actually made its announcement.
The Lions officially received notice of the change the night before training camp was to begin.
Now, Campbell will not be allowed to play in the NFL until the 2010 season.
Campbell is not the only athlete that this rule has affected.
David Robinson, who played basketball at the Naval Academy and then in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, was to have served his final two years before filing for his early release.
Robinson was granted his release, however, he had to serve as a recruiter for the Navy during that time.
That is what the Army should allow Campbell and others to do.
That rule was changed, however, on July 8, but the Army did not inform the Lions of it until July 23.
“It’s unfortunate, but it doesn’t mean Caleb Campbell’s dream is dead. It just means it will be delayed,“ Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Anne Edgecomb told the Associated Press. “We want to take care of soldiers and dashing their hopes is not what we intend. But it is what it is.“
Well, that is exactly what the Army has done. It has killed Campbell’s dream. When Campbell returns, if he does, the Lions may not own his rights and will another team take a chance on him>
This move by the Army is a complete mistake.
But then again, what’s new when it comes to decisions like this?
First of all, and I know this is a sports column, our country shouldn’t be in the position it is in right now in Iraq. God bless our men and women who serve this country of ours, but they shouldn’t be in Iraq.
If a man, or woman, has the talent that Campbell and others have, they should be allowed to pursue them and serve at the same time. What’s wrong with that?
The concept that one should not be allowed to play a game while his classmates are fighting in a war is flawed.
While some are putting their lives on the line, the ones allowed to pursue another line of recruiting should be allowed to do so.
In 1986, Napoleon McCallum played his rookie season with the Los Angeles Raiders while stationed at the Long Beach, Calif., naval base.
And as stated earlier, Robinson was allowed to play in the NBA while acting as a recruiter for both the Navy and the Marines.
But Campbell is not the only athlete the military is putting through this.
Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter ruled last month that Mitch Harris must serve a five-year active duty commitment. Harris, who is 22 and has a 95-mph fastball, was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round in this year’s draft.
As for Campbell, he has agreed to a deal with the Lions, however, he did not sign the contract because of the Army’s decision. The Lions will retain Campbell’s rights until the 2009 NFL Draft.
Before the decision to not allow Campbell to play for the Lions, it had been thought he would either play a role for the ROTC at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, or serve as a recruiter in the Pontiac/Detroit area.
It is true these athletes and many more have the opportunity to showcase their talents because of joining the Army, Navy or Air Force academys. And yes, it’s true they sign-up to serve their country. If this continues, fewer and fewer athletes will signup to attend a military academy with the knowledge going in that playing in professional ball is a longshot.
There are many different ways to serve one’s country than putting on a helment and carrying a gun in a foreign country.
Let’s just hope Campbell makes his return and is able to play in the NFL and not in a bodybag like so many before him, because of a decision based on ignorance.

Jeff Christian is the assistant sports editor for the Potomac News/Manassas Journal Messenger. He can be reached at