Every now and again, when something struck him, Don Shula would sidle to me up and offer something on his mind. Once the Miami Dolphins coach spit nails about a column I wrote on his defense. Once he tapped my backside, like coaches used to do with players, for a column about his wife.
And once after a draft — way back when drafts weren’t the full production they are today — Shula said players get in the NFL by size, strength and speed and every other measurement you can make. But good character let them have long careers.