Domestic violence. Drug and alcohol abuse. Contract disputes.

The prevailing headlines in sports would make many think professional athletes are all a bunch of spoiled grown men with a me-first attitude. Do those things exist? You bet.

But most athletes, or at least the Buccaneers players we interact with on a daily basis, are mostly a group of decent human beings.

Many Bucs players do things through the Buccaneers community relations department, and the team publicizes these events to show the community their hometown team does things that make Tampa Bay a better place. And it isn’t just the players. The Glazer family are very community-minded, and like many in the organization, do a lot of things that never make the headlines.

But this one will.

Collin Cole is a 12-year old football player who lives in the Pinecrest community south of Plant City where he has played youth football since he was five years old. Collin adored his father, Mike, but tragedy struck the Cole family after his father passed away suddenly when Collin was just 10 years old. The family was devastated. Especially Collin, who like all 10-year old boys, adored his Dad.

Over the last two and half years, with the support of an extended family, teachers, coaches and his mother Terri Cole, Collin is a normal 12-year old. Well as normal as one can be after having their heartbroken at such a young age. Collin has continued to excel in football and his team, the Pinecrest Pilots, recently won their league’s Super Bowl after a perfect 12-0 season. Collin, like most young men his age follows professional football, and when the Buccaneers drafted quarterback Jameis Winston, Collin became an even bigger Bucs fan.

Earlier this season, Terri Cole reached out to someone close to the organization, writing on Facebook that she wasn’t sure what to expect from Jameis Winston, but Collin was a fan and had a Winston poster on his bedroom wall. Terri Cole said she had gained a newfound respect for Winston since his arrival in Tampa Bay and appreciated the things he has done early in his career off the field to be a good role model.

The message was brought to the attention of Bucs chief operating officer Brian Ford, who soon went to work. Unbeknownst to Terri and Collin, the organization put a package together for Collin. On Wednesday afternoon, it arrived. What was inside moved Terri to tears. In the package delivered via UPS earlier in the day, was a large Buccaneers flag, commemorative Ring of Honor coins, and a Mike Alsott and Doug Williams signed a photo.

And a football. Not just any football, but one signed. By Jameis Winston.

When Collin got off his school bus on Wednesday he was surprised and shocked at the large box addressed to him from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He opened it up and didn’t stop smiling. His mother thought the smile might never go away.

A football, flag and autograph will never erase the pain or replace his father. But for a 12-year old young football player who loves the Bucs and looks up to their new quarterback, it made him smile. And smile. And smile.

So next time the sports headlines looks like they have come straight from a police blotter, remember that those are few and far between. And remember Collin, a 12-year old Jameis Winston and Bucs fan who had his day, week and rest of the year brightened by your hometown football team.

Well done, Buccaneers. Well done. Collin is still smiling.