"Like I tell everyone, I play to glorify God in this game. I know it's an opportunity and skill that He's given me. Being blessed to come up from one of the roughest areas in Chicago and just be out there playing in this league is a total testament to how Jesus can change your life around. I'm just thankful to be here. Whether I catch none or I catch eight, it doesn't really matter. I just want to win."
The '06 fourth-round pick who many scouts said wasn't fast enough to play in the NFL has developed into one of the game's better slot receivers.
His sure hands, his toughness and his feel for the middle of the field have earned him Donovan McNabb's trust, even if there are many games when the QB doesn't look his way much.
Avant has had just 31 passes thrown his way this season, which is 35 fewer than tight end Brent Celek, 39 fewer than DeSean Jackson and 21 fewer than Jeremy Maclin.
But when McNabb does throw the ball to Avant, there's usually a happy ending. Those 31 passes have resulted in 23 completions. And 16 of his 23 receptions have resulted in first downs. Both his percentage of catches-to-thrown balls (74.2 percent) and his percentage of first downs-to-receptions (69.6 percent) are team highs.
Last week, with the Eagles using three- and four-wide receiver sets on 54 of their 71 offensive plays and McNabb heaving the ball a season-high 55 times, Avant was targeted nine times and finished with a career-high eight catches and 156 yards.
"When you're forced to throw the ball as many times as we were last week, you're going to catch more passes," Avant said.
Avant has become one of the offensive leaders and a role model for their two young wideouts, Jackson and Maclin. He is teaching them to play the right way and with the right mind-set. He is teaching them to pay more attention to the scoreboard than the stat sheet.
"Like I tell them, whether you catch zero or six or seven, it doesn't matter," Avant said. "As long as we get a win."
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