We all make choices in life that we have to live with, despite the consequences.
For Cameron Kinley, his choice involved his selection of colleges. Kinley accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated this year as the president of his class.
That in itself is quite an accomplishment. The Naval Academy accepts only about eight percent of the students who apply each year. It's a very selective process.
In Kinley's case, he also happens to be a pretty good football player, as well. A defensive back, he was the captain of the Navy football team, a good enough player that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him as an undrafted free agent rookie.
But Kinley won't be going to camp with the defending Super Bowl champions. His request to delay the start of his Naval commitment was denied. Instead of reporting to training camp with Tampa Bay, he'll be report to his Naval assignment June 28 and begin serving his mandatory 5-year commitment.
He can apply for a delay in his service again in two more years, but by that time, the NFL might have passed him by.
"It's hard not to look at all the comments on social media, but I always see the, 'Go serve your two years. You know David Robinson did it. Roger Staubach did it. Serve your two years and come back,'" Kinley told ESPN. "And I'm like, 'That's cool.' But at the same time, I'm not just gonna be chilling these two years. I'm a commissioned officer in the Navy in the information warfare community. I have a commitment. It's not impossible, but to think that I'll be the same player that I am right now two years from now -- that's no easy task."
Staubach and Robinson are two of the more famous players to serve their Naval commitment and then go on to have great professional careers. But they also were far more talented than Kinley -- no offense to Kinley.
A 6-1, 201-pound safety, Kinley ran a 4.60 40-yard dash at his pro day. He's more of a long shot. In this case, he'll probably have no shot at returning to the NFL.
But he also knew the deal when he accepted the appointment to the Naval Academy. You get your schooling for free, but there's a cost in service at the end of it all.
It's harsh. And some might even look at it as being unfair. But nobody forced Kinley to sign on the dotted line to go to school. A good student and football player, he could have gone just about anywhere.
And let's be honest, his chances of earning a spot in the NFL were slim to begin with.
We all make decisions with which we have to live with the consequences. And Kinley can always tell his children and grandchildren about his tryout with the defending world champions.
But he also can't just report for duty whenever it suits him. He made a choice. Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Harker, who declined Kinley's deferment, made his decision.
Now, Kinley has to move on. He's not the first player to have his deferment declined. He won't be the last.
It stinks. But he knew the rules when he made the decision to go to the U.S. Naval Academy.
YOUR TURN: Was the Navy right to decline Kinley's request for a deferment?
