TULALIP – Eddie McMillan, who was on the original Seattle Seahawks team in 1975, said he knows many fans can’t afford to go to Century Link for an NFL game.

So instead, he likes to bring the players to the fans. As executive director of Celebrity Events Consulting, he does just that.

On Oct. 27, he and other former Hawks, including defensive back Vic Minor and linebacker Shelton Robinson, helped out at a Toys for Tots Blue Drive at the Seattle Premium Outlet Mall.

Anyone who donated to Toys for Tots was eligible to have something signed by Hawk players.

“It’s a way to give back to the public,” said McMillan, who was happy joking around with everyone. “It’s for fans to come and be around the players.”

The defensive back played for the Hawks for two years, both for Chuck Knox and Jack Patera. He was in the league for seven years.

He admitted today’s player are bigger, faster and stronger. He said he would be willing to play “for a few plays” anyway for the amount of money they make today.

McMillan said there seem to be more injuries nowadays because players don’t “hit as much. There’s not enough contact. Everybody wants to deliver that knockout blow” and don’t wrap up on tackling, he added.

He also said players aren’t as tough as they used to be. “With Paterno, we were in Eastern Washington with no water,” he said.

McMillan said one of the toughest guys he played against was former Houston Oiler running back Earl Campbell out of Texas. Once, after Campbell rang his bell, he said, “They don’t pay me to tackle, just to cover the pass.”

McMillan said his company not only is good for the fans, but also for former players. “Many are ill-prepared, they didn’t plan,” for retirement, he said, adding people would be surprised by the number of bankrupt stars.