LaRod Stephens-Howling has beaten the odds again.
The Greater Johnstown graduate, who some thought was too small to play major college football, has secured a job in the NFL.
The Arizona Cardinals made their final cuts on Friday and Stephens-Howling, a seventh-round draft choice out of Pitt, was not among them.
And while he was pleased to make the team, Stephens-Howling could empathize with those around him who weren’t so fortunate.
“It was a tough situation,” he said in a telephone interview from Arizona. “You’re happy for yourself, but you feel bad for those that didn’t make it.”
Unlike draft day, when Stephens-Howling became emotional while talking with reporters about how it was a lifelong dream to be selected, there was no big celebration.
“This was more of taking it in stride,” he said. “It’s something you’ve been working on. I put work out there and gave it my all, whether it was practice or in the game. I felt like I deserved to make the team, but you still have to stay hungry and keep working.”
The 5-foot-7, 185-pound speedster provided a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing preseason for the defending NFC champions.
One of four running backs kept by the Cardinals, Stephens-Howling had kickoff returns of 89 and 63 yards during a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers.
He suffered a concussion in the third game and did not play in the Cardinals’ 19-0 loss to Denver on Thursday as Arizona finished up a winless preseason.
Stephens-Howling expects to be healthy for the team’s opener when San Francisco visits Arizona on Sept. 13.
“Everything’s getting better and hopefully I’ll be ready for opening kickoff,” he said.
Pro
Cardinals keep LaRod
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LaRoche, Gonzalez lead Nationals past Pirates 7-4
Adam LaRoche broke open a tight game with a three-run double for his 1,000th career hit after homering for No. 999, and Gio Gonzalez took over the NL strikeout lead from teammate Stephen Strasburg by fanning 10 in seven innings Wednesday night, leading the Washington Nationals past the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4.
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Generals awaiting league decision
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Marlins roll past Pirates
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Andrew McCutchen had a solo home run among his four hits, Jose Tabata also homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Houston Astros 5-2 on Saturday night.
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Astros blank Pirates
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Bucs struggle against Strasburg
Stephen Strasburg struck out a season-high 13 batters in a 4-2 victory on Thursday night in a game that stirred memories of Strasburg’s electric major league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates nearly two years ago.
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