Seattle Seahawks players brave the elements to share their love of football

Football is not a fair-weather sport. Come rain or shine Justin Britt is on the field plying his trade.

The same applies to his football camps. Britt, Seattle Seahawks teammate Thomas Rawls and a few others held camps in Sunnyside on Sunday and at Hanford High School on Monday, braving the elements to share their sport with the younger generation.

“Football is not a pretty sport,” Britt said. “You don’t stay pretty in your uniform. If it’s not dirty, unless you are the quarterback, you’re not doing something right.”

Despite the rain and wind, there were about 375 kids at Hanford High on Monday, and the Sunnyside camp drew more than 600.

“Rain, shine or snow, we will be out here working,” Britt said. “A few times we’ve been blessed with good weather. Today is a great day.”

Britt, 24, ran through drills with aspiring football players Monday afternoon. It wasn’t hard to tell he’s just a kid at heart.

“They make us better, we make them better. It is a group thing,” Britt said. “We come out here to have them learn stuff, walk away knowing more about football and life in general. They definitely inspire me, and that’s why I come out here and put on these camps.”

Between camps, Britt handed the Prosser branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties a check for $6,000 on Monday afternoon. The money was part of the proceeds of the Mid-Columbia camps.

“The Boys & Girls Club is something that is close to my heart,” Britt said. “When I was in college (University of Missouri), I was a big brother to two wonderful boys. I saw them grow up before my eyes through my time at Mizzou. I know there are kids who need a better start to life, and I’m in a spot where I can help.”

Growing up in Lebanon, Mo., Britt said he went to team camps but didn’t have anything like what he brought the to Mid-Columbia the past couple of days.

“I got my love of football from loving football,” he said. “I didn’t have anyone come and teach me football like this. I see guys like (former NFL defensive lineman) Spencer Conley out there traveling the world, and I’m just getting started with what I want to do.”

Britt still has some down time before he has to report to the Seahawks in the fall. In that window of time, he and his wife Alicia will welcome a son to their family, joining big sister Navy, who is 4.

“It’s very exciting,” Britt said. “I’m excited to meet my first son.”

This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 8:38 PM with the headline "Seattle Seahawks players brave the elements to share their love of football."