Deaf Seattle FB provides more than just inspiration By Bart Hubbuch

RENTON, Wash. — Derrick Coleman might be new to the national spotlight, but the first legally deaf offensive player in NFL history has been inspiring his teammates and coaches all season.
It didn’t take a dramatic national TV commercial or a touching exchange of letters with a 9-year-old deaf girl for the Seahawks to realize they have something special in their midst in the form of Coleman, Seattle’s first-year fullback.
Though the former undrafted free agent from UCLA is just an occasional starter, Coleman is a full-time positive influence on the Super Bowl XLVIII-bound Seahawks.
“He doesn’t want that to be a reason for him to feel like he’s different,” running backs coach Sherman Smith said last week. “He doesn’t want to be different. He’s an inspiration to me and to a lot of people. We’re blessed to have Derrick on our team.”