It might say something about the health of America's youth that kids need to be told to go outside and play, but the NFL, through its "Play 60" campaign, is taking a leading role in urging children to be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day, and Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher is playing a big part in that.
Urlacher visited Governor Bent Elementary School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, near where he grew up, and in addition to making his case that the Bears are the best team in the NFC, he also talked up the Play 60 physical fitness campaign.
With the lockout going on, no one is forcing Urlacher to work out at the moment, but he told the students he's doing the same thing he'd be doing if he had the Bears' coaches monitoring him.
The NFL launched the Play 60 campaign in October of 2007 with the mission of making the next generation of youth the most active and healthy. The program encourages young fans to be active for at least 60 minutes a day.
Play 60 has drawn praise from public health officials and the White House for its efforts to combat childhood obesity, and the NFL, its players and teams have donated more than $200 million to youth health and wellness programs.