NEW ORLEANS — Hundreds of children from 14 New Orleans-area schools earned the opportunity Wednesday to participate in Kids Day at NFL Experience, before it opened up for all fans later in the day.

The children participated in a throwing station, where they tried to get passes into nets over life-size cutouts of NFL linebackers and defensive backs. The kids also ran through tackling bag drills, caught passes on a post route and tried their hand — or foot in this case — at kicking field goals.

“Your job is to work hard,” New Orleans Mayor Mitchell Landrieu told the students at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. “You want to go to school every day and do what you’re supposed to do, but you’re supposed to play hard, too. It really is important for you to get your exercise and do the things that are necessary so you can be healthy.

“You guys are a really important part of what we’re doing, and you guys are going to shine for America and the city of New Orleans.”

New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks joined Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and the Gronkowski brothers (Rob, Dan and Chris) at Kids Day. Graham and Hicks helped present each of the 14 schools with three Xbox Kinects.

“Your body is literally the remote, and it allows you to play in the house,” Graham explained. “It enables you to be active when it’s raining outside. It’s a great way to get off the couch with your parents, with your brothers and sisters and be active for 60 minutes.

– Matt Florjancic, ClevelandBrowns.com Staff Writer