Will you cheer on a team with grads from Army or Navy?

2015-09-10T10:08:10-04:00

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/sports/2015/09/09/nfl-opener-feature-army-navy-grads/71892514/

The only service academy graduates on active NFL rosters this season will square off Thursday night when former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva and the Pittsburgh Steelers visit newly minted naval officer Joe Cardona and the New England Patriots to open the regular season.

Take a break from last-minute tweaks to your fantasy football lineup for eight quick hits about these two men in uniform(s), as well as a few other players with military ties who fell just short of suiting up on Sundays:

1. Super-sized Steeler. Villanueva left active service in 2014 to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles as a defensive lineman, then switched sides of the ball and sides of the state to join the Steelers practice squad. He also joined the 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command in nearby Coraopolis, where he serves as a captain in the Army Reserve.

Recruited by Army West Point as a tight end, the 6-foot-9 Villanueva played on the offensive and defensive lines during his time with the Black Knights before spending his senior season as a wide receiver. After receiving his commission in 2010, he made three war-zone deployments and earned a Bronze Star with "V" device, among other awards, and served with 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

ARMY TIMES

Since leaving service, he's adjusted to the demands of an NFL offensive lineman, one of which involves a whole new set of physical standards: Villanueva's reportedly tipping the scales at 335 pounds, nearly 100 pounds more than his weight while in service. He's listed as backup left and right tackle on the Steelers' depth chart.

2. Active-duty snapper.The Patriots drafted Cardona out of the Naval Academy in the fifth round and didn't re-sign long snapper Danny Aiken, clearing Cardona's path to a roster spot. One hurdle remained — the 2015 grad's service obligation.

While the snapper's post-academy plans included, at different points, becoming a Marine or heading to Norfolk, Virginia, for assignment with the surface fleet, he ended up serving at the Naval Academy Prepatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, about an hour from the Patriots' home in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Cardona told The (North Attleboro, Mass.) Sun Chronicle that he's received support from both the command and the team as he combines his NFL and active-duty schedule.

3. Belichick's background. Cardona's not the first Naval Academy grad grabbed by the Patriots. Head coach Bill Belichick, whose father served as an assistant coach in Annapolis for more than 30 years, also snapped up former Navy fullback Eric Kettani on Aug. 4 for what would've been Kettani's second stint with the club after spending parts of 2011 and 2012 on the team's practice squad. He was released Aug. 25.

4. IR update. Another academy fullback, Army West Point's Collin Mooney, had an impressive preseason for the Atlanta Falcons, hauling in a 60-yard pass against the New York Jets on Aug. 21 and scoring on a fumble recovery against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 3. But Mooney, who saw action with the Tennessee Titans in 2012 and 2013, injured his elbow later in the Baltimore game and ended up on the injured reserve list, likely keeping him on the sidelines the entire season.

5. Prior-enlisted standouts. Clemson grad Daniel Rodriguez, who earned a Bronze Star with "V" and a Purple Heart for his actions in combat in Afghanistan, just missed the final cut in his attempt to catch on as a free agent wide receiver with the St. Louis Rams. Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret who practiced his long-snapping while in the war zone during his time at the University of Texas, also got a shot as a free agent, but couldn't crack the Seattle Seahawks roster.

6. Airman out. Offensive lineman Ben Garland, a 2010 Air Force Academy graduate and a captain in the Colorado Air National Guard, missed the cut for the Denver Broncos after playing in eight games last season. Garland switched from defense to offense during his time on the team's practice squad in 2012 and 2013, but slipped down the depth chart during the preseason, The Denver Post reported.

Denver general manager and resident quarterback legend John Elway told the Post that the move wasn't an easy one to make because Garland "is the kind of guy you'd like to have your daughter marry."

Blessed to of had the opportunity to play for the Broncos. Class act organization top to bottom,God has a plan for me pic.twitter.com/McFCuQ80K0
— Ben Garland (@BenGarland63) September 5, 2015
7. From court to comeback? The Indianapolis Colts removed former Army West Point linebacker Josh McNary from their active roster following his Jan. 14 arrest on rape charges. After his acquittal last week, the Colts added McNary to their practice squad. He saw time on the main roster in 2013 and 2014, playing in 20 games.

8. Knight of the Hudson. Former Army West Point quarterback Trent Steelman, who rewrote a good chunk of the team's record book as a four-year starter (2009-12), attempted to catch on with the Baltimore Ravens as a wide receiver this preseason, but was waived Aug. 31. Steelman hasn't given up his pro hopes, however, signing with the Hudson Valley Fort of the Fall Experimental Football League.

It's the Fort's first season in the FXFL, which debuted last year, and the team will play its home games in a minor league ballpark in Fishkill, New York, about 40 minutes north of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point. League commissioner Brian Woods confirmed the signing, first reported by Sal Interdonato of the (Middletown, N.Y.) Times Herald-Record.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 10:12 AM

2015-09-10T10:12:00-04:00

Navy, but i will be watching on my own, on the DVR due to work.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 10 at 2015 10:13 AM

2015-09-10T10:13:29-04:00

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member - Yes, but I am more inclined to cheer grads form my alma mater, Alabama: Eddie Lacy, Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, AJ McCarron, and the 40+ others (most of any school in the country).

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Sep 10 at 2015 10:14 AM

2015-09-10T10:14:02-04:00

Yes I would!

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 10 at 2015 10:20 AM

2015-09-10T10:20:06-04:00

Yes

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Sep 10 at 2015 10:29 AM

2015-09-10T10:29:43-04:00

It might be a rough year here for the Black and Gold Steelers. While I'm way more of a hockey fan than I am a football fan, it think its great to see these Veterans and their successes following their service.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 10 at 2015 10:47 AM

2015-09-10T10:47:26-04:00

My money is on Navy (Surprise!), especially if they occasionally permit the use of pillows during the game. :)

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Sep 10 at 2015 11:01 AM

2015-09-10T11:01:30-04:00

I hope that the two players have good games but there is no way that I can cheer for the Patriots or the Steelers.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 11:05 AM

2015-09-10T11:05:33-04:00

I will root for the Steelers anytime.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 10 at 2015 11:10 AM

2015-09-10T11:10:56-04:00

As a #HTTR die hard man, I'd support any of us who can make the transition from warrior on the combat field to warrior on the playing field. Both take tremendous dedication to do. But my support to them would waiver had any of them would up playing for the Cowboys. Should that happen, I'd be forced to listen to how Jade Held invaded their "football" team and America is slowly invading through a different means.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 10 at 2015 11:23 AM

2015-09-10T11:23:06-04:00

Personally, I don't support the whole NCAA football thing in the Service Academies, and would in fact, like to see them shut down as a very costly anachronism. I am also troubled by the notion of a newly commissioned officer playing on the NFL instead of serving his obligation, but this has been done before, too...

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 10 at 2015 11:27 AM

2015-09-10T11:27:13-04:00

Navy of course!

Response by SFC Stephen King made Sep 10 at 2015 11:29 AM

2015-09-10T11:29:16-04:00

Steelers

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Sep 10 at 2015 11:44 AM

2015-09-10T11:44:05-04:00

Denver released Ben Garland (USAFA '10). So, I'll wish him the best --as I continue to cheer for the Broncos!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 3:00 PM

2015-09-10T15:00:52-04:00

I don't care for either team but I'm going to have to go with Alejandro Villanueva because I'm in the Army.

Response by PO2 Christopher Taggart made Sep 10 at 2015 5:18 PM

2015-09-10T17:18:34-04:00

Wow that is super hard for me now since I was in the Navy but my business is more Army related? I guess I can cheer them both but lean more toward The Army!

Response by SSG James Yellis made Sep 10 at 2015 7:10 PM

2015-09-10T19:10:50-04:00

Yes I will

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 8:30 PM

2015-09-10T20:30:41-04:00

Steelers! Gonna geat some! Deflated Brady Balls!

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 11 at 2015 2:33 AM

2015-09-11T02:33:25-04:00

Go Navy. 'Nuff said.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2015 6:34 AM

2015-09-11T06:34:45-04:00

Nah. Don't follow their players close enough to. Only cheer for the Navy team in general. But good luck to those who are out there playing!!

Response by PO1 Russell Henson made Sep 15 at 2015 8:22 PM

2015-09-15T20:22:41-04:00

Go Navy!

Response by PO1 Russell Henson made Sep 15 at 2015 8:24 PM

2015-09-15T20:24:27-04:00

He lost the fight

Response by PO1 Russell Henson made Sep 15 at 2015 8:28 PM

2015-09-15T20:28:46-04:00

I wouldn't mind being stationed there TAD

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 15 at 2015 8:50 PM

2015-09-15T20:50:10-04:00

We should be proud of all our vets who are representing the services in pro sports.