RI native, NY Giants player gets key to Providence
PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Rhode Island native and
Providence Mayor Angel Taveras called Blackmon a "son of Providence" and positive role model and declared Thursday "Will Blackmon Day" in the city.
Taveras, a Patriots fan, joked that he told Blackmon before the ceremony he had only one rule. "I will not speak about the team he beat in the Super Bowl," the mayor said.
The Giants' 27-year-old cornerback and punt returner is a native of Rhode Island's capital city. He attended Bishop Hendricken High School, an all-boys preparatory school in Cranston. He played college football at Boston College before being drafted by the Giants in 2006. His jersey number at Bishop Hendricken was retired in 2008.
Blackmon called the honor "unbelievable" and said he has always remembered where he came from.
Before signing autographs, Blackmon gave the key to the city to his grandmother to hold, reminding her: "You can't have it!"
