He was waiting for the sign. Literally. Martel Van Zant, born without eardrums and deaf since birth, was waiting for the assistant head coach of the Manchester Wolves of the Arena Football League 2 to sign to him Monday that he had earned a spot on the roster.
"I made the team!" he texted, sending joy through a Blackberry. "I'm so grateful for the opportunity. I know I have the skills and the dedication. I'm ready for this."
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| Wolves assistant head coach Brian Hug gets his signals through to Martel Van Zant. (Provided to CBSSports.com) |
After a strong junior year, he dislocated his ankle in a routine drill and was not invited to the combine. Undeterred, his agent, Kelli Masters, took him to Indianapolis anyway, and they spoke to 16 teams.
"Only Jeff Fisher responded," said Masters, one of the few female NFL agents. "I think it's because Jeff is hearing impaired and he had a heart for Martel's disability."
Van Zant worked out with Tennessee for two weeks but still wasn't quick enough on his recovering ankle to be signed as a free agent.
So Van Zant went back to work, staying in shape and hoping for a call. Four months later, Manchester assistant head coach Brian Hug, whose parents are both deaf, called Masters and invited Van Zant to try out. Hug had followed the career of Kenny Walker, a defensive lineman for the Denver Broncos in the early 1990s. Walker was only the second deaf player in the history of the NFL, following Bonnie Sloan, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973. Hug believed in Van Zant.
"I knew sign language before I knew how to speak," said Hug. "When we talked about bringing Martel in, I knew it would take work. But I also knew it would be worth it."
"Brian has been great with me," Martel texted. "He takes time and we go over signs for the secondary when the defense changes. The whole team has had to make a commitment."
Head coach Danton Barto said Van Zant has the attitude of his childhood idol, Deion Sanders.
"He's ferocious and he loves to make a play," said Barto, who played five years in the CFL and is in the University of Memphis Hall of Fame. "Of course, things take longer to explain, but he knows the playbook inside out."
It has never been an easy journey for Van Zant, just a wondrous one. Growing up in Tyler, Texas, Van Zant was the only deaf member of his family. He was mainstreamed in school and distinguished himself on the field, where OSU coach Les Miles found him and offered him a scholarship. With an interpreter by his side, Van Zant had the patience to work hard both on and off the field.
There have been a number of famous deaf athletes -- William Hoy was an outstanding player for the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Senators in the 1950s. He was also the reason umpires came up with signs to declare ball, strike and out.
"I admit it, I was a little unsure at first," said Barto, who might also use Van Zant's 4.4 speed at linebacker. "I knew it would be a demand on everyone. When Martel came to us, I sat him down and said, 'Look, you will make this team or you won't, but it won't be because you're deaf. We're not a charity; we're trying to win football games.'"
Barto almost always has Hug with him to interpret, but when he's yelling at Van Zant, he doesn't need anyone else.
"I talk a lot with my hands anyway," said Barto. "When I'm mad, I don't want Martel looking around for Brian. I want him looking at me."
Fine with Van Zant. His only complaint?
"Coach Hug's signing is a little old school."
