INDIANAPOLIS – Thanksgiving is a special day across the nation, and football is one of the things most closely associated with the holiday. As the Colts prepare for Tennessee on Sunday, players offer reasons why they are thankful on Thanksgiving:
MATT OVERTON
I am thankful for the obvious reasons, for my health and my family. I am also thankful for being here with the Colts. There is no other place I'd rather be.
RICKY JEAN FRANCOIS
Of the things to be thankful for is to have your family around. Having a job like this is very time-demanding so when you do get time around your family especially on this given day, don't think of it as food or as just a holiday, think of it as a time to be thankful for your whole family. I want to see everybody have a blessed Thanksgiving, a blessed year. Every day is not promised. When you do have this time, understand what it means. Families have ups and downs, might have disagreements and things like that, but every day should be cherished. On a day like this, do remember to give thanks.
JERRELL FREEMAN
I am blessed with the life I have right now, from where I've come from and the things I've had to go through to get here. I'm blessed to have this life and be able to bring my family along for the ride.
REGGIE WAYNE
I am thankful for a healthy and loving family.
CHANDLER HARNISH
One thing I'm most thankful for is Clyde Christensen because that's where I go each Thanksgiving. Clyde and his wife, Debbie, they cook up a good meal. In all honesty, my family. I have a great family, a great set of parents. They're all very supportive. They've always been there for me.
MATT HASSELBECK
I am very thankful for my family. I have been blessed with an awesome family, a great wife and three awesome kids. I feel very thankful.
DWAYNE ALLEN
I am very thankful for my family and my supporting staff. After having an injured reserve year, knowing I have them behind me is important. I'm not only doing this for myself, or my teammates or the fans, but for my family (members) who are back (home).
JOSH McNARY
It's definitely my family. Without my family, I would not be in the position I am in right now. Without the guidance of my parents and the support of my siblings and the way I was groomed…I pretty much turned into the man they wanted me to be. I couldn't be happier than for that.
AUBRAYO FRANKLIN
I am thankful to be alive, first of all. Being around a group of guys like this, they're like family. I'm thankful to be around a bunch of guys like this. I'm thankful for my immediate family and for having time today to spend with them.
ERIK WALDEN
I have to say my family, my faith. Also I would say having the opportunity to play football, a kid's game that we love to play. I'm thankful for those three things.
JOSH CHAPMAN
I'm really thankful for having my family. It's always something I've been thankful to have. I won't be with them (on Thanksgiving), but they know I'll be there in spirit. It's one of the things we've been about on Thanksgiving Day, everyone being together. You don't take it for granted, because you never know what can happen. You just cherish that day and seeing everyone around the table that you haven't seen forever.
COBY FLEENER
I am thankful for the opportunity to play for the Colts. I'm also thankful for my family and friends.
VONTAE DAVIS
I am blessed to have the opportunity to play, and I have a lot of (other) things to be thankful for. I am thankful for having the opportunity to see another Thanksgiving and to do it with family. It's a great time for family bonding. Also, being with the Colts on Thanksgiving is something I am thankful for.
PAT McAFEE
I am most thankful to be in the position I'm in. I think a lot of people are nowhere near as fortunate as I am right now, from where I've come from to where I'm at. I have family to thank for that. I have friends to thank for that. I have an organization that has given me the opportunity to have a job.
GOSDER CHERILUS
I am thankful to have a healthy family. My parents are big Thanksgiving people. They like to cook and they like to share. It's probably my favorite (holiday). Everywhere you go, some house, somewhere, someone is still smiling. You don't have to share gifts or all these other things to have a good time. As long as you can afford a meal, be around family and friends and share a good laugh, that's what I'm thankful for.
CORY REDDING
I am thankful for life, health, strength. I am so thankful for that and another opportunity to become a better man than I was the day before. I'm thankful for my wife and kids, the blessings that God has blessed me with. I hope I'm making Him smile by making the people He wants me to be with (happy). That's my job and duty. It's to do good things with the gifts He gave me.
