ES: Darrel Young: We're All Brothers Working Together

[NoLeafClover]

(photo by Brian Murphy)

Like most Americans, the holidays are a special time for Washington Redskins fullback Darrel Young.

Growing up with his parents and his older brother David, Young remembers staying up until 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve to try to sneak a peek at his mom wrapping presents, then getting up at 3:30 a.m. and trying to wake the rest of his family so he could start unwrapping them as early as possible.

Family is very important to Young and, looking back, he realizes how special those Christmases together with the rest of his family truly were.

“I had a father and a mother and a home. They've been married for 30-plus years. Any time you have parents like that, they set a foundation,” he said.

Young remembers his house always being immaculately decorated. From the tree – which the 25-year-old insists has to be real – to the lights and ornaments, the Young household was filled with festive decorations. And it still is to this day.

“My dad does so much, I swear sometimes it looks like a Macy's tree,” Young said. “Just the lights, the ornaments, he does the whole nine yards. My yard's always lit up. We have reindeer. Every tree is decorated. The walkway is decorated with lights. The light bill is ridiculous for the month of December.”

Young still remembers the best gift he ever got on Christmas – a Mongoose bike that he had wanted for months. He was eight years old. To his delight, he found the bicycle waiting for him under the Christmas tree.

“I wanted this Mongoose bike,” Young said. “It was a chrome bike. I wanted it so much that I never rode it because I didn't want anyone to beat me up and take it. I kept it in my room. I never rode it. I wiped it down every day. I was obsessed with this bike.”

To Young's relief, the bike was never stolen. Sadly though, it also was never used.

“It's still in my garage to this day. My dad and I cleaned out the garage when I was home during the bye week and we started laughing because I still haven't ridden that bike,” he said.

Of course, Christmas isn't all about the presents. At its root, the holiday is a special time to spend with the ones you love.

“My parents weren't millionaires, but they were rich with love,” Young said.

The third-year pro remembers his house always being filled with holiday music. He remembers relatives playing dominoes and Spades and other card games. And he remembers his dad and his brother in the kitchen making delicious holiday fare.

“My dad will cook. He's the chef. I'll just eat until my stomach pops,” the fullback said.

On Thanksgiving, his father makes fried turkey, ham, stuffing, yams, macaroni and cheese, baked ziti, collard greens, sweet potato pie and cranberry sauce. Christmas is just as lavish a spread. But Young's father's true specialty is his barbecue sauce, which shines during Fourth of July barbecues.

“My dad has this barbecue sauce that's amazing. If you don't like it it’s because you're different,” Young said. “I'm seriously thinking about marketing it. Every player that's had it has loved it. Every person that's had it has loved it. I have a big Fourth of July barbecue every year. People come there just for the sauce.”

When asked what's in the sauce that makes it so special, Young couldn't say. That's because the recipe is a closely-guarded secret.

“He'll take it to the grave,” Young said. “He won't tell me what he puts in it.”

You can read the rest of the article here:

http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/Young-Were-All-Brothers-Working-Together/95aa1e01-ade3-4817-ab10-2fa2679f1d66

[TD_washingtonredskins]

DY is awesome...I love this guy and hope he's our FB for a decade.

[Rypien1191]

Do-It-Yourself Darrel Young.

[Bang]

I want to buy a bottle of Dad's barbecue sauce.

I am in love with this team. The character of our players is a testament to what Shanny is building.

I recall a couple years ago we filled our draft with guys who had been team captains and leaders.

It is paying off. We have a team that we can be proud of, and the players are growing into men who are an asset to our entire area.

~Bang

[NoLeafClover]

I want to buy a bottle of Dad's barbecue sauce.

Me too.

[pjfootballer]

I want to buy a bottle of Dad's barbecue sauce.

I am in love with this team. The character of our players is a testament to what Shanny is building.

I recall a couple years ago we filled our draft with guys who had been team captains and leaders.

It is paying off. We have a team that we can be proud of, and the players are growing into men who are an asset to our entire area.

~Bang

Breath of fresh air. I tell you, we've made almost a complete 360 with the attitude of the roster.

[skins island connection]

Um, sorry Young, but until I get physical proof and an invitation to the nerxt 4th of July party, i'm calling B.S. on the bbq sauce and food ...HINT HINT HINT

[andy614]

This is truly an awesome story. It's so nice to hear good stories like this when there are so many bad things going on in the NFL.

[Pick6]

How could you not like the character of this team.

[E-Dog Night]

I love BBQ sauce. A good home made secret sauce is one of the best things on earth.

Forget the invitation, I say we crash the party next 4th of July.

[gortiz]

I swear, this kid is something else. Love him to death.

Griffin, Morris and Young .... what a backfield.

[NoLeafClover]

I love BBQ sauce. A good home made secret sauce is one of the best things on earth.

Forget the invitation, I say we crash the party next 4th of July.

All of us crashing a barbecue full of muscular Redskins players - yeah, what could possibly go wrong?

[CGSKINS]

I'm telling you man, this team is going to run the table and go deep into the playoffs. I feel it. Something special is going down at redskins park.

[Botched]

I wish we would involve him in the offense a little more, aside from blocking. He averages 5 yards per carry and 11 yards per catch, and that's damn good for a fullback. Every time we go to him something good happens.

[AlvinWaltonIsMyBoy]

The character of our players is a testament to what Shanny is building.

I recall a couple years ago we filled our draft with guys who had been team captains and leaders.

It is paying off.

This. Leadership skills are vastly underrated. I love the fact that we target guys who are not decorated only by their stats, but also by their coaches and teammates. We had a lot of fungus in the locker room the last several years. Not any more.