Packer: Parker is able to put out fires now

It was 6:45 a.m., and former University of Tennessee defensive back Jason Parker was driving home from work. He was at the end of his 24-hour shift as a Dallas firefighter.

"I've fought quite a few fires in my time here," said Parker about his more than 10 years on the job. "I've fought probably four 6-alarm fires. It's never been anything where my life was in danger, but I've fought some big ones."

Parker has to make smart decisions in his life on and off the job these days because life's about more than just him now. He's married and has a 2-year-old son named, Trenton.

"Being a father is great," he said. "I look in that little boy's eyes and just hope and pray that I can be the kind of father who will always be there for him. If he follows in my footsteps and plays football, I want him to know that I will always be there for him. I will want him to know that if he needs anything, I will be there. I want him to be honest with me and never scared to talk to me."

As I listened to Parker talk about what he hopes his son will become, I heard a bit of disappointment in what Parker's football career did not become.

Coming out of North Garland, Texas, Parker was recruited by literally every school in the country. His choice came down to Southern California, Colorado, Tennessee and Baylor. In the end the Vols won out because they told Parker he could play right away, and play right away he did.

"I started 46 of 48 games in my career," Parker said. "I had 10 career interceptions and made the all-decade team at UT with Dale Carter at safety. There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to play in the NFL for a long time."

Unfortunately for Parker, trouble found him in the way of a calling card scam before his senior season.

"I didn't steal a card," Parker said. "The calling card number was out there and I used it. I think I used it to the tune of about $300 worth of calls. I got suspended by the University for my true senior season. Missing the 1995 season was the toughest year of my life. I remember when UT played at Florida that year. The game was a regional broadcast, so we didn't get in Texas. My cousin kept giving me updates about what was going on in the game. That killed me because I know in my heart that we would have won that game and a national championship that year if I had been playing. I always had good games against Florida and was the quarterback of the defense from the free safety position.

"That year I learned an appreciation for everything I had. I looked back at all the stupid decisions that I had made and vowed to not make anymore."

Parker came back and played his senior season in 1996 and the Vols had another great year, but finished behind Florida again in the SEC East. After the season, Parker turned his eyes towards the NFL, but trouble found him again.

"Between the campus combine in February and the draft in April, I got a DUI," said Parker. "I guess because of that I didn't get drafted. I know that I was a second- to fourth-round pick, but nobody took me. I ended up signing a free-agent deal with New England, but got cut in training camp.

"When I look back on my career, there is no doubt that I was a good college player. But, I wish I could change some of the decisions that I made. I saw what happened with those three players last week and just wonder what they were thinking. I know that kids 17-21, and that's what I was back then - a kid. I know that they make mistakes. When I was a player at UT I didn't think I could do anything wrong. You know, there was a mentality that because we were football players that we could get away with things that the regular students couldn't. I'm not saying we were above everyone else, but you kind of knew that you wouldn't get punished like other students."

I told Parker that I've never had sympathy for athletes who take for granted the gifts that God has given them, and mess up the opportunity to be a millionaire in the NFL. There are people all over the world who would give anything to have that kind of opportunity, and yet there are so many athletes who just throw it away. I asked Parker to explain to me why that opinion is not accurate or fair.

"When you're young like that, you're caught up in the moment," said Parker. "At that age, 17-21, you're thinking about the moment. It's hard to explain. People have told you for so long how great you are. If you're an athlete at that level, you've been put up on a pedestal for so long that you kind of think you're invincible. All kids make mistakes. The question is how big a mistake are you willing to make. Holding a gun in somebody's face and demanding everything they have is a point that I would never think of going to."

Parker says UT coaches and adminstrators have always done a good job making sure athletes get the help they need to make it through school.

"I know at UT, they were there whenever we needed them. I remember Carmen Tegano and the help he gave all of us when we were there," said Parker. "I remember the academic help. Let me put it like this, I don't think a lot of athletes appreciate what they have.

"This may sum it up. There's a time when we got tired of eating steak and potatoes and shrimp at the table on campus and we wanted a burger and fries. But, when the day comes that all you have is a burger and fries, man you'd give anything to have that steak and shrimp again. I just don't think you appreciate what you have until you don't have it anymore and I wish some of the kids would understand that. I never knew it then, but I know now that my days playing football at UT were the best days of my life."

Mark Packer hosts The Locker Room on Sunday at 10 p.m. on MyVLT2.