Bucs' Price channels grief over brothers' deaths into football

Robert Garrett woke up angry on the morning of April 23.

The football coach at Crenshaw High in Los Angeles couldn't believe Brian Price hadn't been selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

"Initially, I was really disappointed," said Garrett, who coached the UCLA defensive tackle at Crenshaw. "We're talking about the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year ... and he's still on the board after the first day? When the Buccaneers took him early in Round 2, I almost jumped out of my skin. The Bucs stole a great kid who will make them proud, on and off the foot-
ball field."

The Brian Price story, just 21 years in the making, already seems worthy of a movie script.

Instead of "The Blind Side," his inspirational journey should be titled "Soul Survivor," which just happens to be the name and background music of his recruiting highlight DVD coming out of Crenshaw.

"Brian's a tenacious young man," said his mother, Jeanetta. "He turned his hurt into positives, and he has made us all so proud."

In his most desperate hour, Brian Price relied on family, faith and football.

Tampa Bay's 300-pound rookie has ample reason to believe he can handle NFL offensive linemen this fall. Considering what Price has overcome, a chop block doesn't figure to throw him off his dynamic game.

"Growing up in South Central opens up your eyes to a lot," Price said. "We're so marginalized there, and a lot of people don't get out."

Price's only two brothers were lost to neighborhood violence within a five-year span.

In 1998, 18-year-old Eddie Price was the victim of a drive-by shooting. Brian was 9 when Eddie died one block from the house.

Damon Price, 24, was murdered five years later, shortly after the former gang member was released from prison.

"I can't watch the tape of last month's draft often enough," said Brian's agent, Chuck Price, who is no relation. "It was a surreal feeling knowing, holy cow, these guys are finally catching a break. I know Crenshaw. My father has coached there, and he's buried a lot of players. Too many of them have been violent deaths."

Brian estimates 30 people were murdered within a two-week span on the corner where Eddie was killed.

"We all have stories about growing up in tough neighborhoods," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. "I don't know about you, but I have never had a sibling killed. You talk about self-preservation. I can't tell Brian Price how proud I am of him."

Damon's death hit Brian Price particularly hard. They had grown close before one of his brother's former friends put a bullet in the back of the driver's head from the backseat of a car while Damon was cruising down Crenshaw Boulevard.

"There were definitely some depressed moments for Brian at that time," Garrett said. "I called him into my office to find out why his grades were dropping. We were all concerned, and we tried to council him daily. Looking back, I'd say he recovered real well."

When grief threatened to engulf him, Brian worked on his football skills and developed his artistic side by channeling his pain into drawing and painting.

Then he hugged his parents and six sisters a little tighter.

"We're a fighting family," Jeanetta said. "We held on, held each other, ate and laughed. We all tried to keep Brian uplifted."

Price chose UCLA over Southern Cal and soon showed Bruins coaches his rare quickness off the ball and his sharp football instincts.

After skipping his senior year, Price will soon be living in the Bay area and teaming up with first-round pick Gerald McCoy in the middle of a revamped defensive line.

And when the Bucs open their 2010 regular season at home against the Browns on Sept.12, excuse Price if he peeks into the stands on occasion.

"Oh yes, I'm going to be in Tampa for that first game," Jeanetta said.

While making the 10-mile trip from Crenshaw to Westwood, Price never left his roots behind.

"Yes, I've seen people killed in my front yard and my backyard," he said. "But I love South Central and I'll always go back."

Once the Bucs started delving into Price's character, it became apparent this was a talented prospect with drive and resilience.

"It's easy to knock his background, easy to put holes in him, until you meet Brian Price," Morris said. "I tend to believe you develop some real self-worth when you go through the things he has experienced. You can tell in his eyes he loves football. This young man has a little bounce in his step."

And when the Bucs and Browns exchange handshakes at the end of their matchup, Morris plans to greet Jeanetta Price with a knowing hug and a message.

"I can't wait to meet Brian's mom," Morris said. "I don't know the lady, but I've already kind of got the feeling what I want to tell her - good job."