‘Keys’ to success: Cards linebacker tackles adversity

By Paul Eide  |   Tuesday, November 21, 2006  |  Comments( 4 )

Arizona Cardinals
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Playing for a team with a 2-7 record isn't easy, but neither is the road to the NFL. Cardinals linebacker and six-year NFL veteran Isaac Keys' career has been defined by both perseverance and disappointment alike, but this season in Arizona easily ranks as the most mystifying.

"About a week after the loss to the Bears, Coach Green came into the locker after practice one day and wrote the names of the successful players the Cardinals organization has had over the last couple years," said Keys. "Guys like Simeon Rice, Aeneas Williams, Larry Centers -- and he asked us why we thought we were losing. What is it about those guys, who all had success once they left Arizona, that we couldn't have it here? No one had an answer then and a couple of weeks later we're still trying to figure it out."

The Cardinals have been working on an answer to that puzzling question for many a season without an answer and in many ways, Keys has asked himself the same question in regards to where his future was headed.

Keys was a monster in college, accumulating 25 sacks during his last two years of playing linebacker and defensive end for Morehouse College, leading the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in sacks and tackles for loss his senior year. His defining moment in college came while playing against Clark Atlanta University in the Georgia Dome, a game where Keys tallied nine tackles and five sacks.

"For me that game was when I knew I could do some things on the football field. I got a little bit of recognition, but the school let me down. That was the first time for myself or they (the athletic department) had any exposure in terms of athletics and the school really didn't know how to handle the promotional aspects of getting a player to the next level. They were totally unprepared."

Coupled with the lack of support from the college and being seen more as a "tweener" because of his size (6-foot-3, 243 pounds), Keys didn't draw a lot of interest once he left Morehouse. "Coming out of college I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. I was so nervous about life after football because it was something I hadn't ever really thought about. All of a sudden I'm a senior and I haven't been contacted by an agent or invited to any Senior Bowl-type games to play in front of scouts and NFL people. It was very stressful and if I would've had hair at the time, I would've definitely pulled it out."

Another obstacle he faced was a reoccurring shoulder injury that he hurt in the third game of his senior season. It kept him at half speed for most of the year because of two braces he had to wear to keep his shoulder in its socket, and never allowed him to show his ability. Keys finally caught a break when the Minnesota Vikings, who came to Morehouse to scout another player, saw him work out and were impressed.

"The Vikings actually came to check out our safety at the time, but I was fortunate enough to have a great workout while they were there. Even though the shoulder was still not healed, I ran a 4.6 in the 40 and impressed them enough that they told me they were going to draft me on the second day."

Day Two came and went, but Keys was never selected. About a month later, he got a call from the Vikings who offered him a free agent contract.

"The coolest moment I ever had as a pro football player was in mini-camp when I played for the Vikings. I was in the locker room by myself right before practice started when it all hit me at once. My locker was surrounded by Cris Carter's locker on one side, Jake Reed's locker on the other and Randy Moss' next to that and I was just in awe! I was like a fan, wanting an autograph and everything, and I couldn't wait for practice to start."

Things appeared to finally be on the right track but during a preseason game against the Colts, but Keys dislocated his troublesome shoulder and he was placed on injured reserve for the entire 2001 season. Thereafter, he reached an injury settlement and was released. Keys entered 2002 fully recovered but was soon released by the Vikings after hurting his ankle. He was eventually signed by the Green Bay Packers in 2003, who allocated him to the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe where Keys started at outside linebacker and made 26 tackles in 10 games.

After coming back from Scotland, Keys' hope of retaining a roster spot with the Packers was quickly dashed.

"In the draft that year the Packers drafted three linebackers when they already had six on the roster, not including me. At that point, the writing was pretty much on the wall. A few days later I found out the Packers released me and I was back at square one. Once the Packers released me, I really thought it was over. My only option at the time was to go back to Scotland as a "patchless" player, meaning one who isn't allocated by an NFL team."

His second tour in Scotland was also cut short by a midseason release, something that had become far too familiar.

"When I got cut in Scotland, I thought, 'Man, I just got released by an NFL Europe team!' I really thought it was over and done with after that happened, because that was like the ultimate insult. It was very humbling."

With no real options at his disposal, Keys contacted his former coach in Minnesota, Dennis Green, to see if he could get a tryout.

"Dennis Green has a great reputation for helping out guys who played for him at one point or another. So I called him up one day and asked about getting a tryout and he said that the team was looking for an extra linebacker. I flew out to the desert, had a really good tryout and they offered me a contract, which led me to where I am now."

After being cut at least eight different times in his pro football career, Keys joked "I might own the record for most releases!" But none of it goes unnoticed.

"The thing is, I'm very grateful for everything I have and realize that what I do is such a privilege. I believe that everything happens for a reason, even the negative stuff. There are only so many people in the whole world who don't get to do what we as professional athletes get to do. We live a blessed life and I am very thankful."

The uncertainty that Keys has encountered during his playing career has motivated him to pursue other interests off the field that will last beyond his playing days.

Two years ago, he organized a fund-raising effort called the "St. Louis Homegrown Party," where he and other professional athletes who hail from the city, get together to raise money for Keys' own foundation "Keys to the Future." The foundation helps build awareness and resources for at-risk kids. Last year's list included Denver Broncos running back Damien Nash, Indianapolis Colts tight end Brian Fletcher and Chicago Bears wideout Justin Gage, with 2006 promising to be an even bigger success.

"There are a lot of kids out there who are in a bad spot and ultimately become a product of their environment because they aren't getting any support," said Keys. "If you're in an area where the adults in your family do nothing for you and everyone around you does nothing, there's a good chance you aren't going to do anything, either. I just want to help kids who could really benefit from a little boost and allow people to see that if given the proper resources, they are capable of succeeding in life."
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