Birth, death drive Dallas rookie
by Tom Orsborn, STAFF , San Antonio Express-News
Robert Brewster won't require any pep talks to bring out his best in the NFL.
A third-round draft pick for the Dallas Cowboys, Brewster says his desire to provide for his 7-month-old son, Jalen, is all the motivation he'll need.
While Brewster isn't the only father entering the league this season, it's hard to imagine one with more responsibility. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound right tackle is a single parent after Jalen's mother, Kirsten Reynolds, died just days after giving birth Oct. 2.
"Jalen is my pride and joy," Brewster said. "I don't want to let him down. I want him to grow up knowing he has a perfect dad who will always be there for him."
Brewster also wants to honor Reynolds' memory.
At the time of her death, Reynolds was a popular 20-year-old junior social work major at Ball State with dreams of opening a center for troubled youth.
"I know she's watching over me," Brewster said. "She got me here."
Even now, the pain is sometimes nearly unbearable for Brewster.
"I had to go through a horrible thing with my baby's momma, my future wife, passing away," Brewster said. "It hurt so bad. I think about it every day."
Brewster says he functioned in his grief with the help of his parents, teammates and coach Brady Hoke, now at San Diego State.
"Coach Hoke really helped me out a lot," Brewster said. "He was like my second father."
Hoke recalls how Reynolds' death stunned the Cardinals.
"It was a crushing blow, one of those setbacks that took your breath away," Hoke said.
Immediately, Hoke reached out to comfort Brewster.
"We just talked about the way life is," Hoke said. "I told him it's just like football in that you get knocked down, but you keep plowing ahead.
"And he did that. I don't know if, as a young man, I could do what he did. He showed great strength."
Despite the tragedy, Brewster insisted on continuing to practice.
"He told me, 'Now, I have someone else I'm playing for,'" Hoke said.
That dedication to Jalen was apparent when Brewster played in a game just days after Reynolds' death.
"He maybe didn't play his best game, but it wasn't a significant drop-off," Hoke said.
Brewster went on to earn first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors for a second straight season.
Hoke believes it won't take long for Brewster to shine for the Cowboys.
"I know how much he really wants to play for his son and help him have a better life," Hoke said.
Dallas offensive line coach Hudson Houck said it's obvious Brewster is highly motivated.
"He's a positive guy, a hard-working guy and he likes to practice," Houck said.
But even the most driven players have down days. When that happens to him, Brewster says he'll just look at a picture of Jalen.
"That's my heart, my boy," he said. "Wherever I'm at, he's with me."
FROM GRAPHIC:
Robert Brewster file
Age: 22
College: Ball State
Position: Right tackle
Size: 6-foot-4, 325 pounds
Drafted: Third round, 75th overall pick by Cowboys
Notable: Played guard for first seven of 48 starts for Ball State before moving to right tackle. Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck said during rookie minicamp Brewster would stay at right tackle "for now."
Cowboys key dates
July 15-17: Full team minicamp, Carrollton
July 28-Aug. 19: Training camp, Alamodome
Robert Brewster won't require any pep talks to bring out his best in the NFL.
A third-round draft pick for the Dallas Cowboys, Brewster says his desire to provide for his 7-month-old son, Jalen, is all the motivation he'll need.
While Brewster isn't the only father entering the league this season, it's hard to imagine one with more responsibility. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound right tackle is a single parent after Jalen's mother, Kirsten Reynolds, died just days after giving birth Oct. 2.
"Jalen is my pride and joy," Brewster said. "I don't want to let him down. I want him to grow up knowing he has a perfect dad who will always be there for him."
Brewster also wants to honor Reynolds' memory.
At the time of her death, Reynolds was a popular 20-year-old junior social work major at Ball State with dreams of opening a center for troubled youth.
"I know she's watching over me," Brewster said. "She got me here."
Even now, the pain is sometimes nearly unbearable for Brewster.
"I had to go through a horrible thing with my baby's momma, my future wife, passing away," Brewster said. "It hurt so bad. I think about it every day."
Brewster says he functioned in his grief with the help of his parents, teammates and coach Brady Hoke, now at San Diego State.
"Coach Hoke really helped me out a lot," Brewster said. "He was like my second father."
Hoke recalls how Reynolds' death stunned the Cardinals.
"It was a crushing blow, one of those setbacks that took your breath away," Hoke said.
Immediately, Hoke reached out to comfort Brewster.
"We just talked about the way life is," Hoke said. "I told him it's just like football in that you get knocked down, but you keep plowing ahead.
"And he did that. I don't know if, as a young man, I could do what he did. He showed great strength."
Despite the tragedy, Brewster insisted on continuing to practice.
"He told me, 'Now, I have someone else I'm playing for,'" Hoke said.
That dedication to Jalen was apparent when Brewster played in a game just days after Reynolds' death.
"He maybe didn't play his best game, but it wasn't a significant drop-off," Hoke said.
Brewster went on to earn first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors for a second straight season.
Hoke believes it won't take long for Brewster to shine for the Cowboys.
"I know how much he really wants to play for his son and help him have a better life," Hoke said.
Dallas offensive line coach Hudson Houck said it's obvious Brewster is highly motivated.
"He's a positive guy, a hard-working guy and he likes to practice," Houck said.
But even the most driven players have down days. When that happens to him, Brewster says he'll just look at a picture of Jalen.
"That's my heart, my boy," he said. "Wherever I'm at, he's with me."
FROM GRAPHIC:
Robert Brewster file
Age: 22
College: Ball State
Position: Right tackle
Size: 6-foot-4, 325 pounds
Drafted: Third round, 75th overall pick by Cowboys
Notable: Played guard for first seven of 48 starts for Ball State before moving to right tackle. Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck said during rookie minicamp Brewster would stay at right tackle "for now."
Cowboys key dates
July 15-17: Full team minicamp, Carrollton
July 28-Aug. 19: Training camp, Alamodome
posted by The Gryphon at 10:49 AM
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