This former gritty
running back is very happy in his front office at Giants Stadium, stating,
"I got a degree in civil engineering, and I always said that if I
ever reached a point where I had to choose between risking my future and
health, or just walking away, I would rather walk away than pursue a career
in football." While knee injuries blocked his "Big Blue" effort on
the field, Way helps Giants in ways that don't show up on the postgame
stat sheet. "I give the players a headstart on getting into business
either through internships, or by encouraging guys to go for their Masters
degrees, basically helping them to keep an eye on their future. Players
in the NFL are in a position where they make a lot of money. Many players
are interested in becoming entrepreneurs and starting their own businesses.
We help these guys by providing guidance and educational opportunities
so that they can start their own businesses." A lot of players take advantage
of their fame by opening up car dealerships and restaurants, two of the
more popular kinds of businesses players pursue, however, others are interested
in communication related jobs.
When prompted on the question of what the Giants need to beat the Redskins
this year, Way laughed, and then responded, "The power of the mighty
dollar...Everybody talks so highly about the Redskins. I was looking forward
to playing against them, myself. It would have been a great challenge
for me to see how well I could go up against them, and how well they could
go up against me. The Redskins are some of the best competition in the
NFL."
When the Giants take the field for the 2000-2001 season this year, they
will be without Charles Way who could single handedly bring the crowd
to its feet for a Giant touchdown, or by pummeling a ruthless linebacker,
trying to stop a touchdown. One thing is for sure, though, although the
Giants season will go on without him, he will nonetheless have an enormous
presence within the Giants organization, once again helping Giants players
score for life.
