Raiders to meet with hearing impaired RB

[Meninblack]

By Bill Williamson

The Raiders are planning a pre-draft visit with one of the more interesting players eligible for the draft.

The team will be meeting with UCLA running back Derrick Coleman. He is hearing impaired. Without his hearing aids, Coleman can only hear sounds and tones. With his hearing aids, he can hear words, but he must rely on reading lips to capture the meaning of the words, according to a fine feature last fall by ESPN Los Angeles.

Coleman’s hearing issues were first discovered when he was three-years old. He has adjusted well and has had little problems on the football field because of his issues with hearing.

"Derrick has overcome his disability in such a way that no one even notices it's a disability. It's really second nature," then-UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel told ESPN Los Angeles for the article. "He comes and grabs you on the shoulder to make sure you look at him. He'll tell you what you said when you're on the sideline 35 yards away because he can read lips … He really has worked so hard and has such a great attitude about it, in terms of not being insecure about it, it's really phenomenal of how little it impacts anything."

Coleman had a strong senior season and he performed well at the combine. He is expected to be a late-round pick. The Raiders could add a running back in that area.

[MontaEllis8]

dude will run you over



not afraid to put his head down

[uglyorc]

[QUOTE=Meninblack;3689412] He'll tell you what you said when you're on the sideline 35 yards away because he can read lips … .[/]

That could be real handy on defense.

[virtuosity]

First time I have heard of this guy but sounds like a hard worker!

[OnTheeRize]

Lets get this guy.

Hard workers and dedicated individuals like him are what we need on this team.

[InReggieWeTrust]

isnt it nice being able to know who we are meeting with. RIP AL but this sure is nice

[raiderArt]

That's awesome!! We have A LOT of Deaf Raider fans it'll be cool to have him on the team.

[Order]

That could be real handy on defense.

Why do you think coaches always cover their mouths when they call plays? Lip readers are probably in use.

[RF-83]

Great story.

Would love to see him in Silver and Black

Love stories when people over come the odds

Here is to hoping regardless of where he lands he has a fruitful NFL career.

Sounds like a move Al would have made too. He was all about minorities, then women. Would be great to grab a hearing disabled person

[TonyHighRoller]

👍

[StevenJames]

Special teams, short yardage, goal line (ala Crockett)...even line up as a FB so Reece can be moved around and utilize his skills more in the open field.
He would be the type of player that our new staff would bring in, whether as a late round pick or UDFA.
I think he has what it takes to be a good role player in the NFL. He certainly won't complain as he knows what it's like to overcome hardships and would work even harder to prove he belongs on the field.

[J.DePri75]

He won't have 2 hear r as$hole fans trashing r own team and players either

[Evil Empire]

Now I am starting to wonder what the team thinks of Taiwan Jones. To be honest, I'd rather have a power back.

[LINQ]

Regardless of where he ends up, I wish this young man the best. I love underdog stories, and I'm proud of this young man for not letting his disability get in the way of what he loves doing. Good for him!

[DustInTheWind]

Why do you think coaches always cover their mouths when they call plays? Lip readers are probably in use.

Heard some coach say they did it to keep what they were saying clear and try to reduce the outside noise (crowd noise, announcers, music, other players and coaches around them).