Fantasy Football Time!

With NFL training camps in full swing, and my fantasy football draft behind me, it's impossible not to have football on the mind. Amidst my hours of draft preparation I came across one player that really stood out. As one of the biggest, most powerful fullbacks in the NFL he's every defensive line's worst nightmare. However, it was his work off the field that really caught my eye and secured him the title of Green Gladiator of the Week.

This week's Green Gladiator is Ovie Mughelli, the starting fullback for the Atlanta Falcons. Mughelli is passionate about the environment and wants to help preserve the earth for future generations. He's a force to be reckoned with both as a Falcon and an environmental activist!

In 2007, Mughelli started the Ovie Mughelli Foundation with a mission to improve the quality of life for underprivileged children in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina; in Baltimore Maryland, where he began his NFL career as a Raven; and in his current community, Atlanta, Georgia. The foundation seeks to, "empower the youth to take ownership and pride about their lives and the roles that they play in society."

Mughelli soon realized that the key to improving the quality of life in those neighborhoods was to teach the children how to go green. Mughelli believes that by educating the children, that the sustainable messages will touch households, neighborhoods and eventually the world!

Through programs like the Green Speaking Series and Football/Environmental Camps, the foundation teaches children the benefits of becoming more environmentally conscious and how they can make changes in their daily lives.

Although most of Mughelli's environmental efforts are made through his foundation, he recently joined a group of athletes on a tour through the devastated Gulf Coast. After the experience, Mughelli wrote a heartfelt article in which he describes what he saw and calls for change and clean energy. The article is extremely well written and shows how committed and authentic he is with his environmental causes.

Ovie Mughelli is a true "Green Gladiator" who realized his ability as an NFL player to bring about positive change for the environment. I can't wait to watch him both on and off the field this fall. I'm definitely going to be rooting for him even though he isn't on my fantasy football team!