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Tupelo native Sam Westmoreland honored as part of NFL cleats initiative

Dec. 20—The life of Sam Westmoreland was honored on an NFL sideline recently.

Westmoreland, a former Tupelo High School standout and Mississippi State player, took his own life in October shortly before his 19th birthday.

Preston Rogers, a member of the New England Patriots equipment staff, wore specially designed green Nike Air Force 1s with mental health awareness messaging before a Patriots home game.

The NFL is a stickler for its teams' uniforms, but Rogers was able to wear the Nikes through an NFL program called My Cause My Cleats.