He is entering his fourth NFL season, so this could be it with Washington.
That could be said of several Commanders, those drafted in 2021, who received a four-year deal. Even more, this is the first year of the Adam Peters-Dan Quinn era. They feel no commitment to these players they did not draft.
Benjamin St-Juste worked hard to get ready for this important season. But much more was the fact he became a father this off-season, and feels that weight. He spoke with Craig Hoffman following Wednesday’s practice.
“A lot more motivation and it just feels great to live for something bigger than myself,” said St-Juste. “I noticed it instantly as soon as she came out of the womb, honestly. Wow! I created this. It was kind of like a wave of responsibility and at the same time a wave of great energy. Like I said, to live for something bigger than myself.”
The fourth-year cornerback out of the University of Minnesota is beginning to realize there are things bigger than his job, but his job is now bigger as a result as well. “Whether I am motivated or not, I have somebody that depends on me. I have a family. Those values and discipline now translate to the football field.”
Certainly, that has been a life experience for many young adults. Of course, there are many who don’t get it and run from maturing. However, for many of us, fatherhood and family are used by God to mature us and grow us into better, more responsible adults. We begin to learn through being forced to live for others.
Young people who often lived for ourselves now develop into adults living for others, becoming contributors to society and teachers of their children. It sounds like St-Juste is beginning to see this. He is headed on a better path for himself. It will benefit the Commanders in 2024 and, more importantly, his family for years to come.
