d play his first down in a regular-season game since Dec.

Your kids might be elite competitive athletes. Or maybe you just want them to be. They could be your average rec-league player, part of the team with their neighborhood pals. They could be a nonathlete. Regardless, the essence of sports -- for all of them -- likely emerges later this week.Someone will nominate a place and time, and everyone will convene for an impromptu (or improbably annual) touch-football game, the Turkey Bowl.Why is this moment the essence of sports for the kids (and, frankly, the adults, too)?The motivation is to have fun. Yes, even with That Parent who takes it all too seriously. Trick plays, trash talk and end zone dances are not only OK but encouraged.It is competitive, sure, but also inclusive. The best athletes on the field rarely begrudge the plays run to make sure the least-accomplished athletes on the field get a chance for Turkey glory.Three words: Two-hand touch. The risk of injury is always there (especially with the adults -- watch those hamstrings, friends!), but it is incidental, rather than built into the game.The rules are ... the rules. Thanksgiving football might be universally appealing, but the real joy is in the customization on every field, backyard and street in the country. And, mostly, the rules are constructed to boost the friendly nature of the game. (See the terrific series by the Wall Street Journals Jason Gay.) Beyond an essential friendliness, improvisation and innovation are great lessons for the younger players.Play for the sake of play. No scholarship on the line. No AAU tournament trophy. No all-star status. No tryouts or cuts. Aside from That Parent, no one really remembers the outcome. (A wacky or what-a-play! moment? Absolutely -- and hopefully!) The bragging rights extend through the weekend -- maybe to the following years game -- but thats as far as it goes.There is a reason your kids look forward to that Thanksgiving touch-football game, and it has very little to do with the reasons you dwell on their sports career throughout the rest of the year. Intensity over your kids youth sports career is your prerogative, of course. But dont forget to enjoy -- and let the kids enjoy -- the unfettered fun of the annual Thanksgiving game this week.In that vein, here are a few other things Im thankful for this year:Volunteer coaches, always.The epiphany of my kids team getting obliterated.Jessie Graff and American Ninja Warrior.My 7-year-old picking Villanova on his bracket. Sigh.Layup-line music for 10-year-olds. (2017 sneak peek: Juju On That Beat, obvs.)Camp Dad.Letting your kid pick their own sports heroes. (Or, at the very least, nudging them toward sports heroes who arent necessarily on the field.)Aly Raismans parents, and all parents of Olympians.The brief, brilliant moment of the ultimate Daaad shoe -- those Curry 2s.As a sports-focused parent, what are you thankful for this year? Join me in a conversation, and add your ideas at espnWs Facebook page. Danny Vitale Jersey . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. Jerry Kramer Jersey .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. https://www.packersjerseysale.com/2164j-kadar-hollman-jersey-packers.html .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Cal Hubbard Jersey . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Aaron Rodgers Jersey . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. BEREA, Ohio -- Robert Griffin III was voted one of the Cleveland Browns captains by his teammates on Wednesday, a departure from how the quarterback was viewed with the Washington Redskins, where he had a reputation for not being a team player.The captains will be permanent for the 2016 season. Cornerback Joe Haden called Griffin a super team-first guy.A dude that wants to just bond, Haden said Wednesday. He wants to have a friendship, he wants to have a bond between all of his teammates. Like me, wants to be liked.Doesnt feel like theres [any] reason to have anybody walking around and not talking to everybody. Thats really special. I think thats why the team picked him as a captain.Griffin said he was extremely happy to be chosen.Not satisfied, but happy with where Im at, the opportunity thats been blessed upon me and being here with these guys, its really a blessing, Griffin said. I cant speak enough about how this [locker room] has been awesome.Ive been able to grow as a player and as a leader in this locker room.Browns coach Hue Jackson said that he didnt expect the results of the vote.?Ill be very honest with you: I was surprised, the first-year coach said. Because obviously Robert hasnt been here very long, and we havent played a real football game yet. For him to be voted captain, he should feel good about that. His teammates feel good about him.The testament of Robert being named captain is that it came from his teammates. They voted on it. Coaches had nothing to do with this; this was all his teammates. So obviously hes embedded within the organization and his team, his teammates. I think hes shown them hes somebody they can depend on and look to.Griffin was twice named a captain with the Redskins -- midway through the 2012 season and for the entire 2013 season. He was not a team capttain in his final two seasons in Washington.ddddddddddddOn Sunday in Philadelphia, Griffin will make his first start and play his first down in a regular-season game since Dec. 28, 2014, when he started for the Redskins in a 44-17 loss to Dallas.Just excited to go out and play with these guys, Griffin said. We have an opportunity to do something special. Everyone has the same goal at the beginning of the year, and thats to win every game, and were no different.Griffin was the second overall pick in the 2012 draft and had an excellent rookie season. By 2015, he was not considered a great teammate and did not play a down. Jackson gave him a chance to revive his career in Cleveland.Redskins all-time great Darrell Green had some harsh words this week for Griffin, who is separated from his wife and is now dating Grete Sadeiko, a heptathlete from Florida State. Griffin told cleveland.com in August he intended to file for divorce. Green said on 106.7 The Fan in Washington that Griffin is selfish and childish, the way hes operating.I dont appreciate his moral stance, what hes doing with his wife, his kids, Green said Tuesday.Green added he would be surprised if Griffin succeeds in Cleveland.I make sure I dont focus on those things, Griffin said of Greens comments. Thats the first time Ive ever heard of that. Thats not my job. For Darrell, a guy that I know personally, thats his prerogative. Whatever you say in the public sphere you have to make sure youre ready to say that in the private sphere as well.Darrell hadnt approached me about anything. I considered him a friend, so thats disappointing. But its nothing that I can control.ESPNs John Keim contributed to this report. ' ' '