Six-Point Stance
The Lions' newest
back-up lineman is
proud of his Jewish
heritage.
DEBBIE K. SCHLUSSEL
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
I
n the world of professional
football, Jewish Davids must
be the size of Goliath. Ariel
Solomon, a Goliathesque 6'5",
295-pound guard, fits the de-
scription. He recently signed a
one-year deal to play for the De-
troit Lions.
A six-year veteran of the Na-
tional Football League, Solomon,
who was drafted in the 10th
round in 1991, played five sea-
sons with the Pittsburgh Steel-
ers. In 1995, Solomon played on
the Steelers' squad that won the
AFC Championship and played
in Super BowDOCX. Last season,
the offensive lineman played for
the Minnesota Vikings.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the
28-year-old Solomon grew up in
Boulder, Colo. He attended the
University of Colorado, where he
won athletic honors in football
and academic honors as an eco-
nomics major. During his senior
year, Solomon helped Colorado
win the national championship,
participating in more plays than
any other Buffalo
Solomon, who was an unre-
stricted NFL free agent after last
season, has played all five offen-
sive line positions.
He is proud of his Jewish her-
itage and upbringing, and feels
that his size and profession make
him an important role model for
Jewish youngsters, a role which
he enjoys.
"When I was a kid, I was a
sports fan, but I didn't really
have many Jewish role models
in pro sports. There weren't a lot
of us that were as big as I am,
and I think that it's nice for Jew-
ish kids to be able
Left: Ariel
to look up to some-
Solomon,
one like me in the (--
No. 69, adds
C3)
NFL."
CD
size to the
He is one of a —
Lions' line.
few Jewish NFL a;
players, including
Inset:
Solomon
Harris Barton of =
'II
wants to be a the San Francisco
role model.
Forty-Niners. But,
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