CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Captain Munnerlyn will be the smallest player on the field for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday for their highly anticipated matchup with the Saints in New Orleans.
Everyone from Panthers coach Ron Rivera to linebacker Thomas Davis, whose locker is next to Munnerlyn's, has jokingly poked fun at Munnerlyn's diminutive stature during his two stints with the team.
But the 5-9, 195-pound cornerback wears his size proudly, and with good reason _ one that Munnerlyn has shared this week as part of the NFL's My Cause My Cleats campaign.
For the second year in a row, players will showcase their charitable causes by wearing custom cleats during Week 13 games.
Munnerlyn's Nike cleats promote his foundation, which supports his annual football camp in his hometown of Mobile, Ala., a holiday toy giveaway and the March of Dimes.
Munnerlyn's involvement with the March of Dimes, which works toward preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality, is personal.
Munnerlyn was a premature baby himself, arriving three months early and weighing 3 pounds when he was born in Mobile in 1988.
Munnerlyn wants his story of perseverance _ from 3-pound infant to nine-year NFL veteran _ to inspire other children who were born prematurely, as well as their families.
"My mama always tells me I could fit in a shoe box when I was so young. I was in and out of the hospital for the first year. I consider myself as a blessing," Munnerlyn said this week. "That's why premature kids and the March of Dimes is a big part of what I stand for."
Friends and family members say Munnerlyn's birth experience and short stature have helped shape him into a feisty, competitive player who will not back from an opponent, no matter how many inches or pounds he might be giving up.
"I think it really has made him what he is. He's always had a chip on his shoulder," Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis said. "He's always felt like he's had to prove himself. And that's kind of how he's lived his life. He's a tough kid and we're definitely happy to have him back."
