the athlete the man

the athlete
the man
Hail to the Redskins' Halo Victory
Lloyd takes part in the 2007 NFL QB Challenge
ESPN the Magazine: Sweat Spot
Cigar Aficionado: Brandon Lloyd
Post: Stars and Their cars
944: Rapper and Receiver
B. Lloyd gives back, volunteers with Stay-Focused
Maxim Magazine: Jock Rockers
B. Lloyd Doing Write
ESPN the Magazine: Athlete Eats
Lloyd’s Need for Speed…off the field: the Indy 500
Photo Gallery
In the Eyes of Others
Related Links
College: Illinois
Height: 6-1
Position: WR
Weight: 184
Born: 07/05/1981
Since entering the league in 2003, Brandon Lloyd has stupefied defenses and amazed fans with his
remarkable play and pass catching abilities. Acquired via trade with the San Francisco 49ers in 2006, the
Washington Redskins were so enamored with Lloyd that they forfeited two draft picks to get him. The
Redskins then renegotiated his prior contract and signed him to a 7-year $29 million dollar deal. On March
7, 2008, Lloyd signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears after the release of Muhsin Muhammad and
the loss of Bernard Berrian to free agency. The move reunites him with Bears offensive coordinator Ron
Turner, who was Lloyd's head coach at Illinois.
As one of several important offensive acquisitions for the Washington Redskins in 2006, Brandon Lloyd
joined a bulked-up squad of wide receivers. Alongside Antwaan Randle El, Lloyd was signed by the
Redskins to alleviate some of the pressure that was placed on Santana Moss, who was the Skins main
receiving threat of the 2005 season.
Lloyd was drafted in the 4th round by the 49ers in the 2003 draft. He saw limited action as a wideout in his rookie season. Lloyd added 10 pounds the following offseason in order to adapt to the
highly physical play of the NFL. In 2004, he started in 13 games and finished the year with 43
catches for 565 yards and 6 touchdowns. Lloyd experienced a breakout year in his third season,
becoming the leading receiver for the 49ers and establishing himself as an up-and-coming player.
Although he was the 13th receiver drafted in 2004, critics have noted that Lloyd has developed into
arguably one of the top two receivers in that class (along with Arizona's Anquan Boldin).
Lloyd has developed a reputation for pursuing the ball and fighting for it—and has quickly gained
league-wide notoriety for his acrobatic catches and flashy style of play.
As a freshman at University of Illinois, Lloyd was named Illinois Male Newcomer-of-the-Year for
contributions in both football and track. Although he was red shirted in his sophomore year due to an
injury (leg), Lloyd returned strong in 2001, leading his team in receptions (65), receiving yards
(1,062), and touchdowns (10, tying a school record). Lloyd had an impressive final year at Illinois,
gaining 100+ yards receiving in 5 games and tying his own record in receptions. He finished his
college career as one of only two Illini to record back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons as a receiver.
Lloyd attended Blue Springs High in Kansas City, Missouri where he played cornerback, wide
receiver, and kick returner. He earned three letters in football, four in track and one in basketball.
Brandon Matthew Lloyd a.k.a. ―B. Lloyd‖ was born July 5, 1981 in Kansas City, Missouri to Shirley and James Lloyd. Growing up the youngest of
seven children, the closest of which is four years his senior, Lloyd had no choice but to play with the ―big kids.‖ A childhood spent learning to compete
at a high level translated nicely to the playgrounds and little league fields where the youngster easily outshined kids his same age. Even while young,
Brandon knew what the future held for him. Thinking back to his early aspirations, Lloyd recalls being asked by his kindergarten teacher what he wanted
to be when he grew up. After 5-year-old Brandon replied ―a professional football player‖ he was sent to the principal‘s office for refusing to pick a more
realistic occupation.
Frequent family roadtrips to vacation destinations across the country set the stage for Lloyd‘s other
passion. In the hours spent listening to the radio from the back seat of a Dodge Omni, he developed
a keen appreciation for the art of music. Brandon started writing songs at age 16 and with the help
of his best friend and karaoke machine, he began rapping. Throughout college, Lloyd refined his
skills, recording CDs and passing them out to his Illinois teammates. While walking through
campus one afternoon, he recognized the music blaring from a passing car as his own, and at that
moment realized that others had an appreciation for his lyrical gifts as well.
With a style he describes as ―East Coast flavor with a hint of down South influence,‖ B. Lloyd went
to work in the studio, recording tracks for his solo rap album entitled ―Training Day.‖ The album
was released in 2005, garnering impressive reviews. Entertainment critics for Maxim Magazine
remarked: “Wide receiver Lloyd pulls one down with his debut rap joint. The first track could give
50 Cent a run for his crown.” Brandon was later commissioned to record his single "Take It to the
Hoop," for the soundtrack of a new video game "NBA Ballers: Phenom," released in April 2006 on
all game consoles.
At the University of Illinois, Lloyd was a speech communications major with an emphasis in
journalism. He interned with Fox Sports Midwest in the summer of 2002, and following his eventual
retirement from the NFL, he plans to pursue a career as a sports & entertainment broadcaster.
Since entering the league, Brandon has been active in the community and is an avid volunteer,
participating in many charity events like the "Forever Young" Foundation golf tournament, the ―After School All-Stars‖ program and ―Touchdowns for
Tots.‖ Brandon is an active volunteer with ―Stay-Focused‖—an organization that teaches mobility-challenged teens to scuba dive. He is also currently
working to develop two upcoming projects: an after-school hip hop dance program to engage youngsters in the D.C. area in collaboration with the
United Way and the Washington Ballet as well as his own ―Write Stuff‖ program. ―Write Stuff‖ is a program spawned from Brandon‘s own passion for
journaling as a way to chronicle his life for his children. Brandon has shared his journal with the NFL fans, allowing Redskins.com to publish his
entries for an inside look at Skins Training Camp for the past two years. Through ―Write Stuff,‖ Brandon will be visiting elementary schools in the
D.C. area, encouraging children to begin this rewarding hobby as a way to immortalize their own lives while honing their writing skills—and through a
partnership with Staples, Brandon will be giving each child his or her very own journal.
In May 2006, he and his wife Nicole welcomed their first child, Brevin and a year later, the family welcomed their second child, Elvis. The Lloyds
currently reside in the Washington D.C. area.
By Mike Musgrove, Thursday, September 20, 2007
It wasn't even close: The Redskins shut out the Bengals and the 49ers six to nothing this week.
Didn't hear about those matches? That's because they took place on Microsoft's private servers
and in a desert world level of Halo 3, a sci-fi "shooter" title. One of gaming's most anticipated
releases, it's due out for the Xbox 360 next week.
Redskins wide receiver Brandon Lloyd played host, while Microsoft filled the game room of
his Leesburg home with widescreen TVs, Xboxes and four copies of Halo 3. Lloyd and
teammates Ryan Boschetti, Mike Sellers and Nehemiah "Nemo" Broughton shot and lobbed
grenades at some of their NFL colleagues playing online in San Francisco and Cincinnati.
Sponsoring Lloyd's house party was one small part of Microsoft's marketing blitz for the game,
which the company hopes will help lift sales of its Xbox 360.
To stage its debut, Microsoft's PR team is busy giving video gaming tastemakers like the Redskins an early look.
Lloyd himself took a trip to New York this summer to attend a Halo event sponsored by Microsoft. He's not a Microsoft partisan, though; he
also owns a Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3, even if they've been put away for the duration of the Microsoft event. (For the record, Lloyd also
carries an iPhone.)
Lloyd called his advance look at Halo 3 the "number one" perk he's gotten as an NFL player. "Playing video games is such a major part of my
life. This is what I do to unwind. This is what I do to be by myself and escape. I go in my game room and play video games."
He's not alone. Washington Wizards point guard and team captain Gilbert Arenas sponsors a professional Halo team called Final Boss.
Solo and team video game play is a regular activity for Lloyd. Until Halo 3, he played Rainbow Six Las Vegas, a Tom Clancy game,
"religiously," he said.
Funny thing, in case you're wondering: Lloyd doesn't spend a lot of time playing the popular Madden football video game. As an NFL player,
Lloyd notices more than the average player how that virtual version "cheats" the real football experience, he said. His preferred virtual sport?
NBA games.
The trash-talking in Lloyd's game room, packed to capacity with TVs, game consoles and football players, sounds like what you'd hear from
any group of gamers -- except for a few job-related jabs.
"I can see why y'all lost to the Browns!" taunted Lloyd, after fragging a virtual warrior identified onscreen as a Bengals player.
Lloyd eventually declared that he wanted some tougher competition. "They need to bring Bill Gates and Mr. Bungie in to beat us!"
Redskins wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and quarterback Jason Campbell were in the Cayman
Islands on May 18-19 participating in the league's 17th annual Quarterback Challenge.
Campbell and Lloyd were part of a select group of NFL passers and receivers invited to attend
the 2007 DirecTV NFL Quarterback Challenge.
In the challenge, quarterbacks took to the field to compete in four skills competitions: Accuracy,
Speed and Mobility, Long Distance Throwing and No Huddle. Wide receivers will participate in
the No Huddle competition.
Among the other passers and recevers expected to be on hand for the Quarterback Challenge
were Jake Delhomme of the Carolina Panthers, Byron Leftwich of the Jacksonville Jaguars,
Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons and Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh of the
Cincinnati Bengals.
During his stay in the Caribbean, Lloyd devoted his free time to work with "Stay-Focused,"
a unique non-profit organization that offers mobility-challenged persons the opportunity to
become certified SCUBA divers. Lloyd joined a very special group of kids as they embrace
the opportunity to leave behind their wheelchairs and explore the world beneath the ocean's
surface.
"I am really looking forward to experiencing the strong will and determination of these
kids," Lloyd said prior to the event. "For them to be able to spend this time participating in
an activity without concern for their disabilities is going to be extremely rewarding, and I'm
really excited to be doing this alongside them."
See the “Multimedia” page for the NFL Network’s
feature story chronicling Lloyd’s two days spent volunteering
with Stay-Focused.
By Michael Marsh
Life isn't all circus catches and touchdown dances when you're a wide receiver
in the National Football League. There can be plenty of punishment, too,
especially if they call your number on a pass route across the middle, where
guys like Brian Urlacher and Shawn Merriman are waiting to dish out hits.
But the biggest punishment is missing the playoffs. Or at least you would think.
For Brandon Lloyd of the Washington Redskins, this off-season is a chance to
enjoy life away from the game of football. Sure, he was upset his team finished
with only five wins and that he's had to watch the playoffs on television like the
rest of us, but there's more to Lloyd than just football. He's a family man, an
aspiring recording artist and a cigar connoisseur.
"When the smoke clears after the last game, I separate myself from football," said Lloyd during a visit last week to the Cigar
Aficionado offices. "I look forward to spending as much time with my family as I can. I go on vacation. I work on my record and
I watch games in peace with a beer and a cigar.―
Unfortunately, some people, especially the sports media, see his life away from the football field as a distraction or, worse, a lack
of team commitment. "I think some people perceive my personality the wrong way," he says with equal parts honesty and
swagger. "I exemplify the lifestyle. I like style and luxury, but I'm also down-to-earth. I just try to be me." Still, it angers Lloyd
when his heart and integrity are called into question. "I'm not playing for the fame and notoriety," he says, "and I'm honest about
that. When I sign a contract, I do it because I believe in the coaches and the organization. I'm all about the team and how my
performance affects the team, and in the locker room people know that. Yes, I get a paycheck, but I don't see football as a job. I
have a blast playing football. I love putting my uniform on."
Lloyd is also using this off-season as a time to reflect, refocus and reenergize. After three solid seasons with the San Francisco
49ers, he was traded last March to the Redskins. He was expecting great things to happen in his first season, especially with a
roster that included such stars as Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El. But, as Lloyd and any Redskins fan will
tell you, the season was one to forget. Lloyd caught only 22 passes and had no touchdowns. "The year went terrible," he says. "It
went terrible for me personally and it went terrible for the team. There were a lot of expectations and I think I got a
little bit caught up in that. I put a lot of pressure on myself, but things didn't go the way I wanted them to go.
It was tough and frustrating.― (continued)
continued
One way Lloyd is dealing with his frustrations on the football field is through music. "My music allows me to get stuff off my
chest," he says. "All that stuff that gets built up, that pent-up emotion, I can release it." Lloyd has completed a rap album and is
looking for a record deal. According to Lloyd, the album is about youth, flash and style, not about guns or selling drugs, which is a
common image of rappers he's never been associated with and never wants to be. "Being a role model is part of my job, but it's
important to be yourself. If you're trying to be something you're not, people see right through that.‖
Cigars are also an outlet for Lloyd, and a hobby he's been enjoying since 2001 when he was at the University of Illinois. It started
while taking summer classes and working at a car dealership. "There was a guy who was always smoking cigars out front," Lloyd
remembers, "and they smelled wonderful. It was just a beautiful smell. So I went up to him and asked him what he was smoking and
he told me it was a Padrón 1964 Anniversary. Then he took an extra one out of his cigar case and gave it to me. When I got back to
my apartment, I smoked it and I've been smoking them ever since.‖
Lloyd does most of his smoking in the cigar room in his home in northern Virginia. It has leather couches, all the home
entertainment and video games you could ask for and a state-of-the-art ventilation system. It also has two glass-paneled humidors,
one dedicated to Padrón 1964s and the other to Padrón 1926s. "It's my man cave," says Lloyd. "When my wife and I bought the
house, I told her she could have the entire house and that I only needed this one room. It's so sweet.‖
Though it can be tough for Lloyd to smoke as much as he wants during the season, he says that there
are days when he'll smoke three cigars: one after breakfast, one after lunch and one late at night. His
favorite Cuban cigar brand is Trinidad, he lists C.A.O. and Fuente as two other brands he really
enjoys. His favorite, however, remain Padróns. When I gave him a Padrón 80th Anniversary perfecto
that was part of the cigar tasting at last year's Las Vegas Big Smoke, his eyes lit up. A big cigar
measuring 6 3/4 inches by 54 ring gauge, Lloyd smoked it to the nub. "They are just so smooth and
easy. I usually smoke them until I'm burning my lip. In fact, one time I did burn my lip and I went into
the locker room the next day and the guys were all over me for kissing something bad.―
As for watching the rest of the playoffs, Lloyd says he'll definitely tune in. Any predictions? "I think
Peyton Manning has what it takes, but this game between him and Tom Brady is like Ali-Frazier.
They are two of the greatest quarterbacks. But I think the Colts have the better defense and that's what
it's going to come down to."
And the Bears versus the Saints? "Defense is where it's at," he says, "And the Bears have it. The thing
with the Bears is keeping Rex Grossman from trying to do too much. That said, it's a tough call.
"The nice thing is that I've come to grips with the fact that we aren't in the playoffs, so the games are
easy to watch. I can watch them as a fan, with a few drinks and some cigars."
Stars And Their Cars
Triple Threat
A 2004 Aston Martin fits the lifestyle and personality of one of the NFL‘s most talented, and busiest, multi-media men on a mission.
For some reason, the most annoying players in the NFL seem to be a small percentage of wide receivers. Not to mention any names, like TO or
Randy Moss, who spend more time whining than winning. Well, allow us to introduce you to the antithesis of those spoiled, pampered pains in the youknow-what. His name is Brandon Lloyd, and the only thing he complains about is there aren‘t enough hours in the day for this ultra cool and talented
Renaissance Man with multiple interests to get things done. His main job might be hauling in passes for the Redskins on Sundays in the fall and winter,
but trust us when we tell you he‘s one of the busiest, most accomplished, and dynamic dudes in pro sports.
There are so many layers to Brandon ‘s life and story it‘s hard to know where to start. Well, since this is our Stars and Their Cars piece, we‘ll mention his
love of his own personal rides, like the 2004 Aston Martin Vanquish you see in this piece. ―It‘s awesome,‖ Brandon told us, and we confirmed when we
saw it. ―It was my dream car, ever since I had seen it in a James Bond movie, the one with Halle Berry (Die Another Day). I saw it and it was riding
across the ice, and I was just like ‗Man!‘ That was when I was a rookie, and I was like ‗that is my dream car.‘‖
It‘s nice to see dreams come true, especially for a guy who‘s worked as hard as Brandon . But you know
how it is for a lot of people—when you finally get that smokin‘ ride you‘ve wanted for so long, all you
want to do is baby it and keep it in the garage. Not Brandon though, he has it to enjoy it. ―I‘m driving
that thing all the time, and I‘m probably going to upgrade it soon. I think I‘ll trade it in and get another
one, so I might as well put the majority of the miles on it now while I have it.‖
Okay, now on to some of the other facets of the Kansas City native‘s life that make him so unique. He‘s
also a rapper. But not in the lines of a Shaq, or Allen Iverson, or some of the other, shall we say, rather
mediocre attempts at trying to cross over. No, Brandon takes it very serious, and the serious people who
follow the music business have recognized his skills. Here‘s what the music critic in Maxim Magazine
had to say about Brandon ‘s first album, Training Day. ―Lloyd pulls one down with his debut rap
joint. The first track, with its badass Training Day sample, could give Fiddy (50 Cent) a run for his
crown.‖
Wow. Not only did he receive killer kudos, but other opportunities from that first CD rolled in too. He
was commissioned to write and perform a song for the soundtrack of the video game NBA
Ballers. Some athletes would allow kudos like that to go to their head but not Brandon. ―I‘m just a
musical person. I was in choir ever since 7th grade all the way up until my last year in high school, so
music is my life, and music is something that I am passionate for. So some guys want to start a
restaurant or they want to go into stocks or rap, so in the off-season they meet guys on the golf course
and they talk about accounts and stuff, or they go to a certain business school and they further education,
but music is something that I am in love with. My music is my own style, it‘s my own voice.
(continued)
continued
It‘s more of an East Coast style with a multi genre feel, sort of like some
South records, no West Coast, no heavy 808, no heavy strings. It‘s down
South where it‘s a little muddier, and East Coast where it‘s just crisp, just a
crisp sound. I go everywhere with the production, but my style stays the
same, and I think that‘s what makes it cool. The lifestyle of a professional
athlete is sexier and more glamorous than the lifestyle that most rappers are
trying to paint of drug dealing, but they have not been able to tap that
market and expose it to people in a musical way. It‘s not just, ‗hey, I make
money, I‘m rich, and girls are dancing on the pole on me at a strip club‘, it‘s
actual music, and it competes with what everyone else is doing. It‘s just the
subject matter is different, and that is why I feel my music is going to
work.‖
He‘s working as hard on his musical career as he is football, and this offseason he‘s had even less free time because he‘s training harder than ever.
―This is my first time working out in the off-season. Why? I don‘t know,
you kinda go through life when you‘re young, and I would be traveling
around when I was single, and then show up to camp ready to play. So now
it‘s kind of like, okay, I have been married for a year now, have a baby,
another one on the way. I‘m 25. Maybe I am getting old.‖
The reality is he‘s just starting to hit his stride. He‘s as good a father and husband as he is athlete and entertainer. And he has the drive to be the best
in all three. But here‘s the big difference between his two professional passions---one big hit could end his football career, while a big hit in rap could
make him a huge star. ―I love football, I really do. But I love my music career too, but it has taken longer than I expected to get that side going. I
have been meeting a bunch of people though, a bunch of people over the last 3 years since I have been doing music, since I first got in the studio and
started recording a professional record. So I‘ve just been meeting people and it is finally starting to come together, and I have been fortunate enough to
meet really great people who believe in me, and believe in what I‘m trying to do.‖
If you‘re not worn out yet just hearing how busy Brandon is, we should also mention that during the NFL season he also hosts a weekly two-hour radio
show on Triple X ESPN Radio in Washington , D.C. And he also hosts a weekly podcast.
He‘s a multi-media man on a mission. And one of the very few players in the league that can get fired up for games he plays in by listening to music
he‘s recorded. ―The iPod definitely helps, I love it,‖ he told us. Some of his teammates make a point of rockin‘ to his groove in their headset too. ―I
know TJ Duckett was listening. It was before a Colts game, and he comes in to me and says, ‗man, you riding on this song‘, I was like ‗what?, and
then he played me one of my songs that he was listening to, it was a song called Bang Out, and he started saying off the words, and I was just like
‗that‘s cool.‘‖
The ultimate cool thing would be riding to the stadium, in the Aston Martin, hearing one of his cuts that‘s become a hit on the radio. Stay tuned,
because it‘s probably going to happen very soon.
RAPPER AND RECEIVER
Football and Music Come Naturally to B.Lloyd
By Julie Stone
April 27, 2007
Washington Redskins‘ wide receiver Brandon Lloyd is soaking up the sun while vacationing in the Valley during the off season. Lloyd has partnered up
with producer Jiggolo, who‘s crafted tracks with Young Buck and 50 Cent, to make his debut rap album. Recording at Phoenix‘s Highland Recording
Studios, he has six songs completed but the album still does not have an official release date. It‘s just not quite time for Lloyd, he says, to release a record
into such a cutthroat business.
Playing professional football for the past four years — last season with the Redskins — has occupied
much of his time. But now in the offseason, Lloyd can finally devote himself to his album.
―I‘m actually a musical person,‖ says Lloyd. ―I think a lot of the ‗athlete rappers‘ have shown me what
not to do.‖ Lloyd admits he listened religiously to Deion Sanders‘ Prime Time when he was young
because he looked up to him. While attending the University of Illinois, he and his friends would raid
Napster (before Lars Ulrich killed that buzz) and make their own music. His friends eventually dropped
the idea of becoming rappers, but Lloyd persisted. He spent the next few years developing his skills.
―Me, my wife and our baby went on vacation to Turks and Caicos and that was really relaxing,‖ Lloyd
says.
―I started to sleep with my notepad by my bed. I‘d be asleep and I‘d wake up and music would just be
coming to me. We stayed down there for seven days and I wrote three songs.‖ It may be unique that
lyrics jump into his head late at night, but even more unique is the lifestyle which his lyrics expound.
―I think this lifestyle as a professional athlete is more glamorous than these rappers paint of drug dealing
or hustling or being gangsters,‖ says Lloyd. ―And I think nobody has been able to articulate that in a
musical way for listeners to really sink their teeth into.‖ Rap songs about drugs, gangs, violence against
women and crime in general are a hot topic in today‘s society. ―The reason why these guys are making
their rap music is because of the violence. It‘s not the other way around,‖ Lloyd says when asked about
the infamous Bill O‘Reilly and Ludacris spat. ―If we listen to a country album, is that the reason why
middle-aged white men are abusing their wives? It doesn‘t go both ways. He [O‘Reilly] needs to make
that same connection with other genres of music.‖
Speaking of other genres of music, Lloyd is all across the board. ―I love Willie Nelson. I listen to Elvis,
who was just a phenomenal performer. He did blues, jazz, country, inspirational records. I mean the guy
was in every genre.‖ Jumping genres in music may not be as difficult as switching careers. Moving from
the football field to the recording studio is a risky move, but Lloyd has a plan. He‘s not giving up either
career, and hopes to maintain success in both.
B. Lloyd Gives Time, Learns to Stay-Focused
Washington Redskins wide receiver Brandon Lloyd spent this past weekend in the Cayman Islands and while his initial reason for the
visit was the NFL‘s 17th annual Quarterback Challenge, what he got out of the trip was much bigger than football.
What Lloyd got, was the chance to spend time with the children of the Stay-Focused group. When asked to describe the non-profit organization, founder
and President Roger Muller said, "Stay-Focused offers teens and young adults with physical disabilities, many of whom use wheelchairs, the opportunity to
become certified SCUBA divers and through that experience to learn lasting lessons about overcoming challenges and achieving personal goals."
This mission statement made an impact on Brandon Lloyd. Of the opportunity to get involved with this cause, Lloyd said, "I'm continually searching for
opportunities to get involved with kids so when the people from Stay-Focused approached me about this, I jumped at the chance. It really worked out so
well that I was able to do something so rewarding with my free time while in the Caymans for the Quarterback Challenge."
The program these young adults participate in consists of 6 days in which they not only earn their SCUBA certification, but learn much more.
Stay-Focused holds workshops and academic sessions that help these kids relate real-life challenges to the challenges they must overcome under water.
Everyone that goes through the program then becomes part of a huge network of others who share their love for diving.
Lloyd himself has never been diving, but he couldn‘t pass up the chance to work with Stay-Focused: "I
saw this as an opportunity to be involved with something that I wouldn't normally do. I've always been
interested in deep sea diving, but when it comes down to going under the water, they are much braver
than I am."
One factor that has helped develop this desire to be involved in helping children is being a father. Lloyd has
a 1 year old son, and another child that should be welcomed into the world any day now, and it has
admittedly changed his perspective a little bit.
"Being a father now makes me understand how precious life really is," Lloyd opined, continuing, "Life is a
real delicate thing and I'm blessed to be in a position in which people see me as someone who can make a
difference in their lives. To me it is a no-brainer to take some time out of my day to help."
According to Muller, things went well: "Brandon joined Ryan Chalmers (18) and Jackie Cimino (20), both
certified divers through the Stay-Focused program, in learning about confined water skills in the pool at the
Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman and on a dive sponsored by Red Sail Sports. Brandon's an excellent role
model for these two young adults and learned a lot from the experience himself."
As for B. Lloyd, when asked how things went, he said, "It went great! It was more than I expected. Ryan
and Jackie had an awesome sense of humor and personalities that were out of this world. They really
brightened my day and gave me inspiration to do greater things. They have major set backs in life and they
are still striving to do bigger and better things and they gave me hope that I can accomplish more too."
Both Lloyd and Muller have expressed an interest in a continued relationship between the two parties. The
lessons learned for Lloyd and the benefit the participants receive make this a win-win situation for both
sides, and on a more selfish note for Redskins? fans, the desire to do more could be a sign of bigger and
better things this season from Brandon Lloyd and the Washington Redskins.
Brandon Lloyd
Training Day (2006)
Line judge: “I’m the best thing since bikes with gears.”
Under review: Wide Receiver Lloyd pulls one down with his debut rap joint. The first track, with its
badass Training Day sample, could give Fiddy a run for his crown.
Roy Jones Jr.
Round One: The Album (2002)
Line judge: ―I‘m Mr. Invincible, Mr. Unbeatable, and still Mr. Unknockoutable.‖
Under review: Apparently, once you‘ve earned the title of world‘s best boxer, the next step is to release a rap album full of
schoolyard boasts layered over beats from a Casio keyboard. What then? You go from human beat box to human punching bag
within two years.
Bronson Arroyo
Covering the Bases (2005)
Line judge: ―Ha-ee-yeah-ee-yeah-ee-yeah-ee-yeah-heh!‖
Under review: Rather than release an album of cover songs that people enjoy, the Red Sox curveball artist warbles like a special
Eddie Vedder through lame ‘90s radio schwag. Fuel, the Verve Pipe, and even Toad the Wet Sprocket get BroYo‘s touch. We look
forward to his next CD, no doubt full of Creed remixes.
Ron Artest
Allure Presents Chapter III (2004)
Line judge: ―Let‘s take a trip, a little small vacation, and have some fun with our inebriation.‖
Under review: Allure‘s third CD is the first produced by Artest‘s Tru Warier label. The En Vogue wannabes‘ music is fun if
mediocre, but the Punchin‘ Pacer‘s last-track rap-along has the rhythmic grace of Vanilla Ice with an inner-ear problem. We‘re
already calling a foul on his upcoming solo CD.
B. Lloyd Doing Write
By Dan Steinberg
Welcome to McNair Elementary on what turns out to be "Jersey Day," which means kids and staff
members are wearing the uniforms of Chris Cooley, Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El,
Sean Taylor, Patrick Ramsey, Stephen Davis, Jevon Kearse, Tony Romo, LeBron James and Andriy
Schevchenko.
After a rousing welcome, B-Lloyd, who has posted Training Camp Journals on the team's official Web
site the past two summers, was asked to make some opening remarks about his journalizing
(journalistic?) philosophies.
"A lot of times I used a technique called 'Stream of Consciousness,‖ he told the 130 or so kiddies. "I'd
sit down with my blank sheet of paper and just write whatever came into my mind. I'd try not to think
about what I was writing, and just write."
Been there, my friend. Eventually, the floor was opened for questions, but they were all about football.
"Do you play tough in football?" one lad asked.
"Have you done a sliding tackle?" someone else asked. "Yes," Lloyd said. "Are you famous?" a girl
asked. "No," Lloyd said, laughing. "Let's make sure our questions are about writing right now."
Then, amid the chaos of 130 second-graders, Lloyd talked about writing poetry, and writing music, and what he likes to read and the proper subjects of
art ("my favorite thing to write about is just my life; I like to document that," he said). He was asked to recite a poem and declined. I thought he should
have gone with some of his hiphop stylings; "I wasn't gonna spit any lyrics for them," he later said.
And then the event broke up into smaller writing workshops and the children were each
given their very own journals compliments of Staples, Inc.
One budding writer's thoughts began thus: "La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la." "That's a song?"
Lloyd guessed. "That's a great start." He suggested a follow-up lyric: "Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba,
ba, ba." The author's neighbor then began composing a similar song; "Let me see that song,"
the first author demanded.
Elsewhere a scribe was struggling with writer's block; "I can't think about anything," she
complained. "Write about what you had for breakfast this morning," Lloyd advised. "My
favorite sport is football" another student wrote. "Then put a period," Lloyd instructed.
The key question for any writer. Why write about childhood, or war, or love? Why write
about Brandon Lloyd? I peered at more journals.
"Today we met Brandon Lloyd a football player from the Redskins," one student wrote.
"Mr. Lloyd is the best in his team," another penned, or penciled, I guess.
Star Receiver’s need for speed
takes him behind the scenes at
the Indy 500
On one of the most memorable Indianapolis 500 days, A1 TEAM USA, with two-time 500 champion Al Unser, Jr.
charging, received in-pit motivation from honorary crew member Brandon Lloyd, #85 of the Washington Redskins.
This was the first ever entry into the world's greatest
motor sport spectacle for A1 TEAM USA and the team had
two-time Indy champion Al Unser, Jr. behind the
wheel. A1 TEAM USA Owner, Rick Weidinger – a close
friend of Lloyd's – had the idea of positioning Lloyd in the
pits and his presence had a big effect on the crew
throughout the grueling race. "Brandon did an excellent
job of motivating the A1 TEAM USA crew today. Even in 125
degree track temperatures his positive personality and
leadership reflected the spirit of Washington's team," said
Weidinger.
"We had worked all month to
find the right settings for the
"We the People" Indy Race
car, but had been hindered
by rainy and cold weather
throughout." However,
as the weather changed, so did the performance of the car and Unser, the caretaker
of his family's racing legacy of nine previous Indy 500 wins, did not disappoint.
"Having another world-class athlete in our midst raised the crew's intensity and helped
us through a physically demanding day," continued Weidinger.
Click on link:
Brandon Lloyd on NFL Network: Scuba Diving with Stay-Focused
Brandon Lloyd discusses the Redskins, his off season, and the catch he’s known for on ESPN News
“Brandon’s talent is impossible to miss & made us determined to acquire him.”
– Joe Gibbs, Head Coach, Washington Redskins
"Brandon catches the ball as well as anyone I've ever been around in this league--and I've been around a long
time and been around some great receivers."
– Al Saunders, Associate Head Coach, Washington Redskins
“Brandon in his three years at San Francisco made some clear noise as a talented wide receiver in the mode
that he was probably one of the most acrobatic receivers in the NFL today.
I really enjoyed some of the plays that unfolded over those three years and the dramatic
and flashy sideline catches he manufactured almost out of nothing at all.”
– By Sydney Mayhew, San Francisco Gate
“Brandon’s one-handed spectacular catches, I don’t know if I’ve seen a receiver make those kind of grabs.
He has exceptional hands. He was the one player that we had to keep an eye on at all times.”
– Bears safety Adam Archuleta, after facing Lloyd while with St. Louis.
“Brandon Lloyd might just have the best hands in the NFL.
From one-handed grabs to catching a rocket with his fingertips,
throw something B-Lloyd’s direction and it’s going to end up in his mitts.”
– Jon Robinson, IGN Sports
Official Website: www.BLloyd.com
Myspace Fan Site: www.myspace.com/theblloyd
Myspace Music Site: www.myspace.com/blloydraps
Brandon Lloyd’s NFL Stats
office: 305.394.8421
email: [email protected]