It’s no secret that NFL players are some of the toughest, most resilient guys in the game. They have to be to play at the highest level of football for a three hour game, plus the weeks of 4-6 hours daily training with no break. Even so, I can tell you from experience that after every game the NFL players are indeed sore.
Take for instance when I was on the Jaguars team, after every game my friends and I would be cringing as we limped off the field. We’d all complain of soreness in our legs, arms, and backs from slightly over or under throwing and catching, and the pounding that came with tackling and being tackled. After the game, it seemed like every single player was walking in slow motion from the pain.
No one ever wanted to be the first one on the bus, we were all too sore and tender. Everyone would start pacing up and down the sideline taking their time getting ready, hoping for their pained muscles to warm up a bit. But there was no escape from the stinging… even after the game had ended.
We would rush back to the locker room just to take a shower and take off the muck and sweat, but you couldn’t help feel that you’d gained a couple more bumps and bruises during those three hours of play. My running back friends, they seemed to be the most punished, having to dodge and dive and carry all the guys through the field.
We’d hot tub it, massage it, bandage it, and do anything else we could think of to ease the pain. That soon became the unwritten and unspoken routine and soon afterwards, we’d reward ourselves with a hearty meal or two. Delicious food and drinks was often enough to make us forget about how much our bodies had taking on.
Even after all this, the team members still managed to keep their stern, strong look, although I could tell from their pained expressions that they were aching all over. Our coach knew that too, so he was always careful to give each man a couple of days before our next practice.
And yet despite all the soreness, I can’t help but miss the NFL and the thrill and rush it brought. I know for a fact that every player I’ve had the honor of playing with felt the same way – soreness and all.