The New York Times
By Judy Battista
October 7, 2008
The children playing football next to the East River in Manhattan on Tuesday did not look like a demographic in trouble, just kids looking for a game after school. But they were the target audience for the N.F.L.’s annual day of service in support of Play 60, its effort to stop childhood obesity by encouraging children to be active for at least an hour a day.
Across the country, players rebuilt parks, conducted football clinics and, unintentionally or not, used their physical appearance to send a message: ignore the girth, even the biggest guys can move.
“I tell them, It’s harder on you now than it was on me,” Giants quarterback Eli Manning said. “They’ve got all these cool games to play. That’s not exercising. We had a Nintendo, and we played that when it rained — that’s what the purpose of that was. I tell them, I promise you it’s more fun playing those games outside than it is inside on a video game.”
That is where the day of service came in. The Carolina Panthers planned to take children rafting. The Kansas City Chiefs were building a playground. Several teams were building fitness rooms at local community centers. In New Orleans, the Saints were planning to take part in a school’s field day.