ALBANY, GA -- Albany's Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch concluded his 7th Skills and Drills Camp this weekend. Except this year, another NFL receiver from the "Good Life City" joined his football idol on the field.
“(Growing up) my only idol, the only person I could relate to, was Deion Branch and guess who's sitting next to me...Deion Branch,” Seattle Seahawks receiver and former Monroe Tornado Ricardo Lockette said.
Deion Branch and Ricardo Lockette, two NFL receivers with an uncanny amount of similarities and connections, were actually a mystery to each other for quite some time.
The duo played the same position and went to the same high school, but always seemed to miss meeting each other. Branch only encountered the younger version of himself about two years ago.
“Other guys were like "man, this is the guy. He's going to break all of your records (at Monroe)". I would only come home once a year and I was just seeking him out. I was like I got to figure out who this guy is,” Branch said.
When the New England Patriot veteran, going in to his 11th season, and the second year Seattle Seahawk finally got acquainted, they forged a clear cut mentor and student-type relationship. The connections continued as Lockette signed with Branch's former team, the Seattle Seahawks, last summer.
“(We) went to the same high school, from the same hometown and nw I end up playing for the same team that he played for. I came in (to Seattle) and they asked me what jersey number I wanted...that was a no brainer...give me 83 all day,” said Lockette, referring to Branch’s jersey number of 83.
Another number that will be in high demand for the two players is six. In week six of the upcoming NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots square off in Seattle. It's the first time these two will play against each other when it counts.
“I'm telling you right now...we got 16 games on the schedule. If I just play one game, that's the one game I want to play in,” said Branch, who spent four and a half seasons with the Seahawks.
Lockette, quick on his feet and with his words, had an instant response for the trash talk.
“I look forward to catching it on the sideline, and giving him the ball instead of giving it to the refs,” Lockette said over Branch’s laughter.
Friendly jabs aside, helping the second year Seahawk grow is one of Branch's top priorities. The veteran says they plan to catch up more often during the 2012 season. Giving some useful pointers and advice along the way, Branch has high hopes for Lockette.
“The best thing about it, he went to Monroe, he's from Albany, Georgia and he's in the NFL. He's done the things I have done and hopefully he can be a lot better than I am in the NFL,” Branch said.
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