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Inspirational Message
By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

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September 23, 2007

LANDOVER. MD. - As soon as Plaxico Burress scored the game-winning touchdown in the Giants' victory in Washington on Sunday, he picked up the ball, ran to the sideline and gave the souvenir to a double-amputee sitting in a wheelchair near the team's bench.

Burress' gesture was no random act of kindness. The man was U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Greg Gadson. In May, he was stationed in Iraq when an IED (improvised explosive device) hit his vehicle, an explosion that cost him both of his legs. On Saturday night, he delivered an inspirational talk to the Giants. Gadson attended the game with his wife and children, then visited the locker room after the Giants overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to win, 24-17.

"His talk almost defined today, to be honest with you," Coughlin said after the game. "He talked about the fact that there are going to be bad times, and you have to keep your poise and fight your way through it. He talked about fighting for every yard.

"He is a marvelous human being, that's what he is. After going through what he has gone through...a big strapping guy, a lieutenant colonel, a great football player right through the military, and a great leader. He told the story about him getting wounded and reaching for his rifle, being unconscious for two weeks. It was just a very, very touching story."

It struck close to Burress' heart. He and Gadson are from the same area of Virginia. After Gadson's address to the team, Burress sat with him and the two men had a lengthy private conversation. When Burress scored his fifth touchdown of the season, he wanted nothing more than to give the ball to Gadson.

"You see a guy go through the things that he has been through and he is in such good spirits," Burress said. "It was just unbelievable to come across a person like that who went through a tremendous change in his life. I have never met somebody
like that who had a high spirit like nothing was wrong and I was like, 'Wow.' I thought, 'I have a little ankle injury, I have to go out here and give it my best.' I tried to go out and play not thinking about it and all I thought about when I scored that touchdown was that I wanted to find him to give him that football."

Gadson's visit to the Giants was arranged by wide receivers coach Mike Sullivan. He and Gadson were teammates and classmates (Class of 1989) at West Point. Gadson was a three-year starter at linebacker. The two men have remained close friends.

Sullivan visited Gadson at Walter Reed Army Hospital just outside of Washington in June. He was taken by Gadson's upbeat attitude and determination in the face of tremendous adversity. Sullivan told Gadson he wanted him to attend the game when the Giants visited the Redskins.

As the game approached, Sullivan told Coughlin about Gadson. The coach thought it would be a good idea to have the solider speak to the team.

"Sully came to me early in the week and talked about his classmate," Coughlin said. "He told me what he had gone through and I was excited about having the chance to have the players hear from him. I talked to him on the phone and I told him the themes we had been working with all camp and he came in and he was excellent. It is amazing. He told stories about the football metaphors they use with the troops and then we use military stories with the players. But he said some really great things to the players.

"I told the captains about it because I didn't want everybody to be shocked. The players gave him a standing ovation and the volume kept rising. He is an incredible man. A powerful man. The power of his spirit. That is what he really did for us, just the idea that the spirit rises above all these adverse conditions. He is still the same man that he always was. He just had a terrible thing happen to him, something he is not going to let hold him back."

On Sunday, the Giants took his inspirational message to heart - and on to the field.

Coughlin presented Gadson with the game ball in the post-game locker room.