Walkthrough: Story behind the Dre Kirkpatrick story

Only seems fitting to quote Forrest Gump when talking about our trip to Alabama to hang out with Dre Kirkpatrick this summer. When putting together time to write a feature about an athlete, you never know what you are gonna get.

In the case of setting out to write the real story about one of the Bengals' rising stars, when he was excited about the idea of myself and photographer Sam Greene coming to Gadsden, Ala. for two days in June I was cautiously optimistic.

By the way, if you haven't seen the piece that ran in Sunday's Enquirer, follow the link here, read, watch the videos. Hope you enjoy it.

With sort of a last-minute decision to make the trip, Sam and I decided to make the seven-hour drive instead of fly on two expensive flights with all his equipment. The fact we did it the week before I got married deserves a special shout out to my incomparably understanding now wife.

I just hoped it would be worth the trouble. After seeing the finished product yesterday, I attest it absolutely was. But I knew that the moment we hit the road leaving Gadsden. That's because the access Dre provided and his desire to let everyone know where he was from, who he really was -- warts and all -- was as fantastic as any story I've done. I hope that came across when you watched the videos and read the story. Hopefully you get a better understanding of what life is like for these athletes. Now, nobody is feeling empathy for a player with a driveway full of cars and playing for millions vs. mega millions. That doesn't make the pressures that affect their daily lives any less real.

Dre took us to (almost) every corner of his hometown and wanted us to see it how it really is and wasn't afraid to tell stories about how he screwed up there. Some of the places players might want to hide from us, but he opened it up and just said this was/is my life. And feel free to call it as you see it.

His family took us in with open arms, had people over, covered the counters with food and gave anything we could want.

Let's just say reporters aren't used to being treated like this. You can play I Spy The Bald Guy with this picture.

One of the most telling details about this story went untold -- which is hard to do when writing almost 3,000 words. Once Sam and I returned from our drive back, no sooner than an hour after arriving home Dre called me just to check in that we got back to Cincinnati all right. If trying to explain specifically the type of hospitality we received, I can't do better than that. That's the way the whole trip was and why the piece was able to shine such a distinct light on him and his family.

A ton of people helped to make that piece, one of that magnitude has a lot of working parts across our entire newsroom and you can't say enough about the work we do here to bring special stories like this and many far more important ones to you daily. More than anything, though, specifically with athletes who need us less and less now with social media, you need a willing participant. I was blown away by the hospitality.

To call it refreshing would be an understatement.

ON TAP TODAY

First fully padded practice of camp on the fields next to Paul Brown Stadium. It goes from 3-5 and the gates open at 2:30.

TWITTER QUESTION OF THE DAY

Thanks for the question, Brendan.

You can get in line as early or late as you want. Nobody is getting turned away at the gates and practice is free to the public. They open at 2:30 so if you want to get the best seat in the house, maybe 2 p.m. would be a good time. The crowds won't be as large as the huge numbers they churned out this weekend. Weekday practices are never as well attended.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Michael Johnsonwas carted off at practice Sunday. It appears the Bengals might have dodged a bullet with it looking like a Grade 2 MCL strain. That injury typically takes 4-6 weeks. The Bengals open at Oakland six weeks from yesterday.

Notebook from Jim Owczarski on the linebacker room, Rex Burkhead's versatility, Tyler Eifert and AJ McCarron.

Make sure you check out our daily reviews of the day at camp. Here's from Sunday. And you can go back and read what happened on Friday and Saturday.

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BENGALS INSTAGRAM OF THE WEEKEND

Make sure you follow us on Instagram, too. Lots of behind the scenes photos and videos from camp. We are at enqbengals. You get the real serious stuff, like this shot of the most side-by-side hair we found all weekend.

AROUND THE DIVISION

Ravens: Big news out of Baltimore as starting safety and former first-round pick Matt Elam is expected to be out for the season.

Browns: Rookie RB Duke Johnson is expected to be out for a while with a hamstring issue.

Steelers: Pittsburgh traded for CB Brandon Boykin and injected a quick upgrade to the defensive secondary.

BENGALS VIDEO OF THE WEEKEND

There's no way 6-foot-9, 340-pound lineman Matt O'Donnell was thrilled with his positioning on a kickoff coverage drill. He's a placeholder on the scout team.

RANDOMNESS

A development that doesn't receive near enough attention in United States is what Australia did with gun control 19 years ago and where they stand now.

Thankful I don't cover the Bears, who decided more misinformation out there would be a good idea.

You don't realize how amazing dogs are. Here's a list of 10 things dogs can sense. Our dog can sense when our couch needs to ripped apart and fluff scattered all over the room like snow.

Interesting read on how Ferguson changed America.

AND FINALLY

First day in full pads today. So, how about a little obscure Nelly.