By Mark Eckel, Player Engagement Insider
Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive end Vinny Curry didn’t hesitate with his answer. The team just completed its final day of minicamp, June 15th, and was off until training camp opens on July 25th. Curry was asked what he was going to do with his time off.
“Spend it with my son,’’ he said. “I’m going to spend as much time as I can with him.’’
Before, that would have been a tough question for Curry, the 6-foot-3, 279-pound veteran pass rusher from Marshall. May 6th of this year changed all of that.
“I would have been telling you, ‘I’m going here, or I’m going there.’ I would have all kinds of things to do,’’ Curry said of his offseason plans. “Now, I’m just going to be home with my son and I’m going to love it.’’
Noah Vincent Curry was born May 6th, and in that short time the new father, and mother, Daphne, have seen their world change. And it’s not going to stop any time soon.
“Without a doubt it’s changed my life,’’ Curry said. “Being a dad is awesome. I mean there have been a lot of sleepless nights, but it’s cool; it’s worth it.’’
Noah was 8-pounds 13-ounces and 22-inches when he was born and has already grown. He not only looks like his father, he might be growing like him as well.
“Little 75 1/2,’’ Curry, who wears No. 75 says with a laugh of his nickname for Noah.
Is football in his future?
“I would like him to play football, if that’s what he wants to do,’’ Curry said. “I would never tell him he couldn’t play. I definitely want him involved in some kind of sports or activity. I don’t want him to be one of those kids sitting home playing video games all day.
“I just want him to be active. And even if it’s not sports, if it’s music, if he wants to be a musician that’s fine. I just want him to be active in something. I’ll support him in whatever he wants to do. But if it is football. . .’’
Of course, that’s a long way off and there is a lot of growing to do by little Noah and his first-time parents.
“It’s just great,’’ Curry said. “I’ve been enjoying it. I’m learning on the fly. It doesn’t matter how many books you read, or what other people tell you, you have to learn yourself. You just have to learn as you go.’’
The biggest difference for Vinny and Daphne, and this goes back to his offseason plans, is that Noah is now No. 1 on the priority list for both of them.
“It’s not all about me anymore,’’ Curry said. “Every day, it’s an every-day thing, I always put him first. When I wake up in the morning, I’m thinking about him. Before I leave for practice, I give him a little kiss on the forehead. On my way to practice I’m thinking about him. When I come back from practice, I get washed up, and go right to him. This first month has just been awesome, I mean really awesome. To watch him grow in that month, go from a newborn to a month old and getting bigger and bigger, it’s been great.’’
So, this Father’s Day is going to be extra special for Curry. After years of spending it with his father, now he gets to spend it with his son.
“It’s a super cool feeling,’’ Curry said. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s almost too cool.
“My dad was always a big influence on me. He raised me and helped me to get to where I am. And now my goal is to be one of the best fathers out there. When it’s all said and done 21 years, or so, from now I want to look and have Noah call me his best friend.’’