MIAMI—An annual event on Saturday, Feb. 6, the day before Super Bowl XLIV, featured unique artwork created by former and current NFL players. 

The 5^th annual Smocks & Jocks NFL Players Association Retired Players Jazz Brunch and Art Auction was held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the private estate Villa Vecchia located on Miami’s Intercoastal Waterway. Many pieces of art, created by some of the NFL’s finest and most talented, were auctioned off in a silent auction format. This year, raffle tickets were available to purchase for prizes, including tickets to the Super Bowl between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts.

“We’re all creative people,” said Cornelius Bennett, an NFL great in attendance who spent his most memorable years starring for the Buffalo Bills. “Artists have always been known to be strange people, and when you think about it, to play football, you have to be a little strange, too. So there’s a little correlation between the two when you really think about it.”

Each year, dozens of proud players contribute their artwork to the event. This year, the participants were James Anderson, Malcolm Blacken, Steve Christie, Andre Collins, Chris Cooley, Phillip Crosby, Larry Gagner, Chet Hanulak, Jeff Hatch, Sydney Justin, Cedric Killings, Markus Koch, Todd Marinovich, George Nock, Matthew Rice, Kendall Simmons, Jeffery Stephenson, Duane Thomas and Lynde Washington. Many of the player artists spent portions of their careers playing for the Washington Redskins.

“With football being such a creative game, art and football together just makes sense,” said Collins, NFLPA’s Director of Retired Players and an artist himself. “There’s so much creativity on the field, it makes sense that some of these guys would be creative.”

Smocks & Jocks, which included a jazz brunch, brought together the diverse art and football communities for a worthwhile charity event. Selected artists from VSA Arts of Florida also had artwork included in the auction. Representatives from the VSA presented a gift to Collins, who thanked everyone involved, especially those who submitted their art.

“This wouldn’t be the event that it is without the player artists,” he said. “We think this is the finest show that we’ve had in the past five years.”

Tickets, which costed $125 each, were completely tax-deductible. Proceeds benefitted the Gene Upshaw Player Assistance Trust Fund and VSA Arts of Florida (http://www.vsafl.org). The ticket price included a full brunch, a jazz performance adjacent to the water, an art auction and the opportunity to mingle with several former and current NFL players.

“[It] was developed to show a different side of the professional athlete or the professional football player,” Collins said. “Players had always expressed having the opportunity to showcase a different side of their talents. It’s kind of blossomed ever since.”

Football players are often considered performers on a big stage, so it’s a natural fit for them to showcase their talents in another arena—the art community. The crowd enjoyed the musical entertainment while mingling bidders hoped to take home their favorite piece of artwork.

Bennett said, “It shows a more sensitive side of the life of athletes, especially football players. I’ve heard about this event over the last few years, and it’s gotten bigger and better. Andre Collins … convinced me to come out. I used to dabble a little bit [in art], so I’m trying to get my confidence up enough to come back and do it next year. I had to come and check out the competition.”

Meant to show an often overlooked side of professional football players, Smocks & Jocksbrought attention to the arts and the sport of football in a relaxed, elegant setting. According to Collins, Smocks & Jocksgot its start when older formerplayers at the chapter level expressed an interest in attending a stylish event they could call their own during Super Bowl weekend. Participation from other players who are excited about the arts has steadily increased since the event’s inception.

“We’re just trying to grow this in the best way that we can,” Collins said.

Bennett, who attended the event for the first time, said he specializes in pencil sketching and drawing. The South Florida resident called it a casual, social event taking place during a hectic week of Super Bowl-related functions.

“Of course it’s Super Bowl-related, but you could see this happening any given Saturday in South Florida,” he said. “I live here, so you could pass down Collins Avenue, look over here and see this kind of function happening any given Saturday.

“I had a chance to play in five Super Bowls and really didn’t get a chance to see this kind of stuff—the other events during Super Bowl week—so to actually get a chance to see what people do besides go to the football game is pretty cool.”

The NFLPA formed the Professional Athletes Foundation Player Assistance Trust (PAT) in 1991 to assist former players in financial crises. Since its inception, the PAT Fund has distributed more than $6.4 million to 1,062 players. Last fall, the foundation’s board members unanimously agreed to rename the PAT Fund in honor of Upshaw, who led the players union for 25 years until his passing in August 2008.

VSA Arts of Florida’s mission is to create a society in which people with disabilities can learn, participate and enjoy the arts. Headquartered at the University of South Florida in Tampa, VSA Arts of Florida is an affiliate of VSA Arts, an international nonprofit organization that promotes the creative power in people with disabilities. VSA Arts of Florida serves over a million people each year through a network of statewide affiliates.