2012-GameRelease-Divisional

"I'm not that type of person," Bowman said. "That really wasn't me. ... But those things put a stigma on
me."
Bowman had an advocate in Arrington, whose injury-shortened, seven-season NFL career ended in
2006. Arrington, 33, a three-time Pro Bowler with the Redskins, stayed in the Washington, D.C., area
after his retirement and met Bowman when he was a senior at Suitland High in Forestville, Md.
The pair formed a close, student-teacher friendship and, beyond Bowman's talent, Arrington was struck
by his humility, work ethic and intelligence. Bowman, who stayed in State College during the summers to
avoid the violence back home, graduated in three years with a degree in crime, law and justice.
Arrington was partly motivated to offer his old number in hopes that others would discover the person he
knew.
"At that point, NaVorro was going through a few things and had labels put on him," Arrington said. "And I
felt like a new start and an endorsement from somebody who meant what I meant to the program would
give him an opportunity to have a new beginning. That was some of my motivation behind it. I knew what
his potential was, but it was dangerously close to no one being able to see it."
Tragedy strikes twice
In between his off-the-field issues, Bowman was rocked by the deaths of his father, Hillard Bowman, in
June 2008, and his high school coach, Nick Lynch, less than seven months later.
Hillard Bowman, who died unexpectedly at 52 of complications from a blood clot, left an indelible imprint
on NaVorro. He worked long days for a power company and as a mechanic, was fiercely proud of his
son's accomplishments and never missed any of his games in high school or college.
Bowman, who was about to enter his first season as a starter at Penn State, considered leaving school
after his dad's death.
"It was rough when his father passed away," said his mother, Johncie Bowman. "He called me one day
and he was crying. He wanted to quit school and wanted to come home. I just had to talk him through it
and tell him, 'You know your father would not approve of this. You know this.' "
On Dec. 31, 2008, the day before Penn State played USC in the Rose Bowl, Lynch, whom Bowman
viewed as a "second father," was killed in a car accident. Bowman and his old coach, who was 43, had
spoken the day before his death. Bowman spoke at his coach's funeral days after tying a Rose Bowl
record with five tackles for loss.
"They are the reason I play this game so hard," Bowman said. "Those two people supported me and
pushed me and made sure that I used something special that I had inside me. That's pretty much what I
carry with me every day. My father and coach Lynch really taught me how to be the man I am today."
Bowman played his junior season, his last at Penn State, without his father and Lynch, but he had a vocal
cheerleader in Arrington. Arrington viewed Bowman as one of college football's most underrated
linebackers, but he pushed his protege to become better. The pair often met after games and Arrington
offered tough critiques.
Arrington, who now co-hosts a sports radio talk show and writes a Redskins blog for the Washington
Post, was shocked when Bowman slipped to the third round of the 2010 draft. He says he wrote that the
49ers got the "steal of the draft" when they selected Bowman with the No. 91 overall pick.
When it's pointed out that he might have been a bit biased in his post-draft assessment, he laughs and
points to the first four games of Bowman's second NFL season.
Said Arrington, "It's turning out that I'm right, I guess."