COVID-19 relief, social justice and football: A timely conversation with Allen Hurns
In the coming days, Dolphins receiver Allen Hurns will get the first of what will be dozens of league-administered nasal COVID-19 tests over the course of five months.
But one week before an unpleasant but important new routine begins, Hurns was in the parking lot of where he and his teammates hope their football season can still take place, helping those whose COVID-19 experience has been an ongoing nightmare, not an occasional inconvenience.
Hurns on Wednesday partnered with the humanitarian charity Feed the Children to distribute boxes of foods and essentials to graduating high school seniors soon on their way off to college. The giveaway was at Hard Rock Stadium.
“I understand the struggle part of it,” said Hurns, who grew up financially insecure in Miami-Dade County. “I still have a lot of connections with people back in my neighborhood. .... There are a lot of things that are going on. We’re trying to close the gap and help as many people as we can.”
He’s done that through his foundation, 88 Blessings, which earlier this summer provided college prep care packages to 17 high-achieving seniors impacted by COVID-19. The assistance included sheets, utensils and even shoes — as well as long-term support like financial education and health care.
He’s done it through the team, participating in regular calls with Dolphins director of player engagement Kaleb Thornhill on ways to best utilize the league’s social justice grant money. (One idea promising is sending WiFi hotspot buses into communities in need, allowing students without internet to participate in distance learning).
And he’s done all that while diligently protecting his own health.
“It’s been very tough for everyone,” Hurns said. “Everything’s different right now. The main thing during this time, I feel like what did help me a lot is the education part of it. Having more meetings, whether it’s with your marketing team, getting on these social justice calls with the NFL.
“It’s about educating myself more. And of course, not being able to go back to my high school, where I grew up, not being able to be hands on, that’s the tough part of it. But at the end of the day, we’re still able to reach out to people.”
Hurns applauds the league’s support for its players in light of the national anti-racism unrest that still continues in parts of this country. Among the changes: The NFL plans to allow players to wear on their helmet decals with the names or initials of victims of police violence and discrimination, ESPN reported Tuesday.
“Now more than ever, as far as when I’ve been in the league, I feel like now is the time they’re getting behind us and what we want to do, not just what the teams are doing,” Hurns said.
We wouldn’t let Hurns off the phone without a bit of football talk, of course. He’s due to report to the team July 28 for the first of two COVID-19 tests in 72 hours. If both are negative, he can enter team headquarters on Aug. 1 for the start of training camp.
That protocol was the result of a long negotiation between the NFL and the NFLPA, and it’s designed to ensure the football season not only starts on time, but is also able to run through completion in February.
“These last few things we’ve been getting a lot more information,” Hurns said. “That’s a positive sign. On my end, just continue to go through the playbook, continue to work out and come back in shape, so when things are ready to roll, I’ll be good to go. And also, just staying out of the way. Make sure I’m not being reckless and being in contact with a lot of people where I could potentially catch it.
“The main thing for me, I’ve been staying home besides workouts and things like that. My main focus is control what I can. As of right now, it’s a bunch of unknowns for everyone in the world. Just take it one day at a time.”
He added: “I think I can speak for everyone. It’s a time where everyone’s missing football. But at the end of the day, guys whether it’s staying in shape, we’ve got to continue to go about things and be careful.”
▪ The Dolphins agreed to terms with rookie offensive lineman Robert on a four-year, $8.1 million contract Wednesday, meaning their entire 11-man draft class will be under contract for the start of training camp.
▪ The Dolphins’ mandatory Infectious Disease Emergency Response plan has been approved, the NFLPA announced Wednesday, which allows them to have more than 20 players in their training facility once the player twice tests negative for COVID-19.
