Jerome Brown passed away in the summer of 1992, about a month or so before training camp. Of course, we missed Jerome as an All-Pro defensive tackle, someone who played an important role on our defense and was no longer there. But I missed my friend off the field even more than the player on the field.

	Reggie White and Eagles teammates raise a framed jersey in memory of Jerome Brown.

My situation was unique to others on the team. While Jerome and I were great friends, I also had to take his spot on the field. It was an odd situation; not only was he gone, but I was in his place, trying to put up Jerome-like numbers. But there was no replacing him. While I did my best, there would never be another Jerome Brown.

I found comfort in my craft. At the professional level, once a player is on the field, he is programmed to perform. Playing the game is what an athlete is trained to do. Whether it is between the lines, on the diamond, or on the ice, once the game starts, an athlete switches into work mode and locks everything else out. Certainly, we missed having Jerome on the field, but we had to push our thoughts of him out of our minds and play the game.

The downtime was the most difficult. It was much harder in the clubhouse, on the team plane or bus, and at the hotel, because those are the places where teammates spend time together. That is when I felt the void of Jerome's absence.

We dedicated the season to Jerome. On road trips, we brought Jerome's locker with us, so it would seem like he was still there. Some thought we brought his locker for extra motivation, but that was a misconception. As teammates, we just wanted to feel his presence.

To remember Darryl Kile, I'm sure the St. Louis Cardinals will do some of the same things we did -- and not always to foster a "win it for Darryl" mentality. In their own way, the Cardinal players will bring Darryl along so they feel he is still with them.

I guarantee that the hardest part for the Cardinals is riding the bus to the stadium or hanging out in the clubhouse. The fans never see what goes on behind the scenes, but those are the times when they will miss Darryl the most.

During a game, baseball has a lot more downtime than football -- whether it is between pitches, batters or innings. Fans may see some far-off looks from the Cardinals players when something triggers a memory of Darryl. Time heals all wounds; how close each player was to Darryl will dictate how long the memories will linger.

It has been 10 years since Jerome died, and we still have a camp every year in his name. Through fundraising, a community center was built in his hometown of Brooksville, Fla.

We certainly remember him. Things happen every day that remind me of Jerome. The Cardinals players will have similar daily reminders of Darryl. But as professional athletes, they will continue to do what they are trained to do -- play their sport. Like life, the games go on.

Mike Golic is an NFL analyst for ESPN.