Source: Warren Little / Getty
On, Friday, October 30th, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rookie Linebacker, Kwon Alexander’s 17-year old brother was during a fight with a 24-year old man in Anniston, Atlanta.
Just after 48 hours after his little brother died, Alexander came out like a beast on the field with 11 tackles and assists and an interception and his first fumble recovery that helped the last placed Bucs’ a 23-20 win over the second placed Atlanta Falcons.
Alexander said, “It’s been hard, man. He was my little brother, but I know he’d want to be strong for him, and I came here and dedicated this game to him. [I was] very determined because [he] wanted me to do it. All he wanted me to do is ball, so dedicated it to him.”
Alexander has taken to Twitter in memory of his brother and yesterday after their win, Alexander too to Twitter again saying:
This one was for you lil soldier ! I love you baby boy! #RIHLILBROD
Tampa’s coach, Lovie Smith said, “I left it up to him. I can’t imagine losing your 17-year old brother when you’re fairly young, too. Again, football is a haven for you sometimes. It’s a place to go… his teammates were there for him, being supportive.”
Alexander took off on a 93-yard return that was caught at the Falcons’ 11-yard line by Julio Jones, but his teammate, DE Jacquies Smith jumped offsides.
That’s ok because on the next play the linebacker stripped Jones on a 41-yard “catch-and-run” and returned it 20 yards.
Alexander said, “I never give up. He wouldn’t let me.”
Alexander kept at it, he intercepted a pass from Falcons’ QB’s pass to Jacob Tamme and returned it 15 yards.
Jameis Winston said, “Amazing man. We did it for Kwon. When a brother goes down, we are our brother’s keeper… we have to be our brother’s keeper.”
“When you’re doing something for a purpose, family is a strong thing. When something happens to your family and you’re a true man and you go out and represent for your family like that, that just says a lot. Everybody in that locker room has tremendous respect for the man that he is.”
Winston also said, “For him to be a rookie is even more amazing. That’s my brother. “
All his emotions rushed him after the game and Alexander left the field in tears. He said, “Just losing my brother, and them being there, my brothers, I appreciate them. It means so much to me that they’re there for me.”
Via:espn.com
