Brent Grimes is the
ferocious Falcon

By Joe Mason
For the Times

For Brent Grimes, the road hasn’t been a smooth one.
Grimes, a 2001 graduate of Northeast High School, was a star in the fall for the Vikings’ football team and in the winter for the basketball squad, especially during his senior year.
On the field, Grimes rushed for nearly 800 yards and guided Northeast to a 9-2 record.
On the court, he was the second-leading scorer on the team, behind only former La Salle standout and Philadelphia 76er Steve Smith.
Despite all his skill and all his success, Grimes didn’t get any great offers from Division 1 schools, so he decided to attend Shippensburg, where he again encountered a little adversity.
"Like everyone, I wanted to go D-1," Grimes said. "But I went to Shippensburg and when I got there, the coaches asked me if I’d go to D-back instead of running back.
"I wanted to play running back, but I didn’t really like their offense that much, so I switched."
Smart move, Brent.
During his college career, Grimes notched 140 tackles, broke up 38 passes and nabbed 28 interceptions, while also returning three kickoffs for touchdowns and excelling as a punt returner.
For his efforts with the Red Raiders, Grimes received first-team All-America honors as a junior and a senior, and was a second-team member as a sophomore.
Despite all those gaudy numbers, he didn’t hear his name called during the 2006 NFL draft.
No sweat.
Grimes managed to get a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons prior to the 2006 season. He impressed the coaches with his speed and playmaking ability, but he was cut before playing in a game.
Yet he impressed the team enough to gain another invitation prior to the 2007 season. Grimes earned a spot on the team’s practice squad.
The Falcons struggled last year, and after the team suffered a few injuries down the stretch, Grimes got his opportunity, playing in the team’s final two games. As he’s always done, he took full advantage, making 12 tackles during those games.
This is a new year. And so far in training camp, Grimes is running with the first-team defense.
How things have changed.
"I’m taking it in stride," Grimes said. "It’s a good camp, I’m working hard and using everything as a learning experience. Learning from the coaches and the vets, learning from every play."
Training camp is a time for players to improve; it’s also a time for some veterans to complain about the heat and the two-a-days.
Not Grimes.
"I’m having a lot of fun, it’s football," Grimes said during a phone interview after practice last week. "It’s so fun, it’s so exciting. I’m learning so much about the game by playing against the best players. It’s really a great experience, the whole thing.
"Obviously when you’re playing in the NFL, it’s a much faster game," he said. "But at the same time, it’s still football. It’s tougher because the competition is better, but it’s football, it’s fun."
While Grimes has worked himself into the starting position, he did have some help.
In fact, he learned from one of the best.
The Falcons’ defensive-backs coach is Hall of Fame cornerback and former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Emmitt Thomas.
Thomas took over as the team’s head coach for the final three games last year.
"Coach Thomas believed in me from the start," Grimes said. "He likes the way I fly around and make plays. But he’s such a great coach, he’s done so much to help me."
The feeling is mutual.
"Brent Grimes has overcome a lot of obstacles and has met significant changes on his way to the National Football League," Thomas told the Columbus Ledger Enquirer last week. "He’s a hard worker and he genuinely wants to get better every time he’s out there on the field."
He also wants to be a strong role model.
Though Grimes doesn’t get a lot of time to see the Northeast High School football players, he did make an effort last year.
"I called them for the homecoming game last year," he said. "I love Northeast. I learned a lot there. Anytime you can play for a winning team, you’re going to get better."
Grimes will return to Philadelphia on Oct. 26, when the Falcons visit the Philadelphia Eagles. The game will be a perfect opportunity for Grimes’ friends and family to watch him in action.
But let’s say, maybe, Grimes picks off a Donovan McNabb pass and returns it for a touchdown.
Great party at the Grimes’ house, right?
"I’m not sure . . . I think they’d be mad at me," Grimes said with a laugh. "Nah, my family and friends have really been supportive, especially my mom and my dad."
While Grimes has felt the love from everyone back home in Philadelphia, he knows that his parents, Deborah and Brent, have always been his biggest supporters.
"My mom is great," Grimes said. "So is my dad. My mom came to all of my college games, and both of them believed in me the whole time."
Now, so do the Falcons. ••