New England Patriots bring smiles to hundreds of youngsters in Newtown

NEWTOWN -- It was a chance for the kids of Newtown to be kids again.

A chance to run around with their friends on beautiful spring day and play football or practice a cheer routine without a care in the world. A chance to come face-to-face with their larger-than-life, pro football heroes. And, most importantly, a chance to smile.

Because there is no more beautiful or wonderful sight than to see a child smile, especially in a town where only six months ago, 20 angelic first-graders and six of their brave educators were brutally and senselessly murdered.

In the wake of the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, prayers and support have poured into this small town from all over the world, with people willing to do anything and everything to help the community -- its kids in particular -- heal and move forward.

On Saturday at Newtown High School's Blue and Gold Stadium, the New England Patriots football team put smiles on the faces of hundreds and hundreds of kids at its Football For You football and cheerleading clinic.

About 30 current and former Patriots players, coaches and cheerleaders participated in the event, which included football and cheerleading clinics for kids aged 6 to 14, as well as other games and activities.

"As a part of the New England community, I think all of us were devastated when we saw what happened here," said Patriots owner Robert Kraft, "and if it can happen in the town of Newtown, it could happen in any city or town in America."

Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo signs autographs for kids at the Football For You football and Cheerleading Clinic at Newtown High School on Saturday, May 18, 2013. (Photo: Rich Gregory) Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo signs autographs for kids at the Football For You football and Cheerleading Clinic at Newtown High School on Saturday, May 18, 2013. (Photo: Rich Gregory) Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close New England Patriots bring smiles to hundreds of youngsters in Newtown 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Just moments earlier, Kraft had participated in one of the football drills, playing defensive back and covering one of the youngsters as tight end Rob Gronkowski threw him a pass. The kid tripped over Kraft's feet, prompting the group of onlookers -- and Gronkowski -- to playfully call for a pass interference penalty.

Kraft has close ties to Newtown, as his family purchased Rand-Whitney corrugated container company -- which has a facility on Edmond Road in Newtown -- in 1999.

"We've been down here, we've learned what the people here are like and we have a great affection and affinity for this town," Kraft said. "Unfortunately, when this bad event happened, our parking lot was sort of the meeting grounds for everything going on."

More than 500 youngsters had pre-registered for Saturday's event, and even more registered Saturday at the event. As a result, the field at Blue and Gold Stadium, from end zone to end zone and sideline to sideline, was filled with kids being kids and having fun.

"I hope they leave here with a good experience," Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo said. "They've been through a lot these last couple months. It's the rebuilding process. They'll never be forgotten, but at the same time, these kids are very strong, their families are very strong, the parents out here in the stands are very strong. And hopefully we can come out here and provide a little temporary relief and some smiles."

With two kids of his own, a tragedy like this certainly hit close to home with Mayo.

"You have to just go home and hug you kids," he said. "You never know what's going to happen in this crazy world. At the same time, you have to enjoy each and every moment and take it in stride."

The Sandy Hook tragedy shook the entire world to its core, and the players reacted with the same horror and anguish as everyone else did upon learning of the events that unfolded that day.

"I was obviously very saddened by the news," Mayo added. "My heart went out to the families and the community in general. This is a small town and everyone knows everyone. It's a strong town as well, and they've banded together nicely."

"Out of bad things, good things can happen, and the good here is to see the resilience and the mental toughness and support this community gave to one another," said Kraft.

"We saw it in Boston right after the horrible events on Patriots' Day, the same way the community came together."

At the conclusion of the clinic, Kraft presented Newtown Youth Football and Cheerleading president Sean Dunn -- a New York Jets fan -- with a No. 1 Patriots jersey with the word Newtown embroidered across the back.

Kraft then invited Dunn to one of the two games this upcoming season between the Jets and Patriots -- on the condition that he wear the jersey to the game. Newtown football coach Steve George then presented Kraft with a Nighthawks football jersey.

"This is beyond anything I could've imagined," said Dunn. "What the Patriots have done is just fantastic."

So, could there have possibly been some future Patriots among the hundreds of young players on the field Saturday?

"We think so," Kraft said with a grin. "We had our scouts checking it out."