ASHBURN, Va. -- Emotion overwhelmed Washington Redskins defensive lineman Ziggy Hood as he thought about his son’s smile. It’s not just a simple gesture for his son; it represents a moment others might take for granted. Hood dabbed at his eyes and lowered his head, ignoring teammates walking past him after a training camp practice in Richmond.
He paused for 10 seconds. And then 10 more.
“My goodness,” Hood said, shaking his head.
Another 10 seconds. More dabbing at his eyes.
Forty-eight seconds passed before Hood could resume. You see, that smile means the world to Hood because his oldest son, Josiah, now 6, has autism, and he and his wife, Sara, had been told plenty of things their son would never do.