The Truth of the NFL "Off Day"

We all hear it, especially in the coaches press conference on Mondays, "Players will have tomorrow off and then get back to work on Wednesday." Who are they kidding? There is no "off day" in the National Football League. Sure, the Players Union says that Tuesdays are the players' day off, as they are not required to practice or be at the facility. But, that is not totally true in any sense. It is one of those take the day off if you want, but coach will know if you were here or not. Granted, there is no practice or organized meetings on Tuesdays, but the players who act, talk, and walk professional will be there. When I played, Tuesdays were the best days to come in early, hit the weight room for a good workout, clean up any bumps and bruises in the training room, and then catch some early film on next week's opponent. The official game plans are still being prepared by the coaches, so it is your time to watch the next opponent and get a jump start on your own matchup come Sunday. And yes, coaches routinely walk around the building on Tuesdays, and occasionally stick their heads in a meeting room if they see the film light from under the door. They want to know who is there, who is preparing like a pro, and who to lay into come Wednesday if they don't see your face.  But, Tuesdays are also a day when players give back to the community, which is another aspect of acting like a pro. After your morning routine and film study are done, most guys meet up with the community relations department of their respective teams at schools, playgrounds (I helped build one with Chris Samuels when I played in Washington, D.C., and learned that I need work with the hammer), hospitals, daycare facilities, boys and girls clubs, and so on. The afternoon on Tuesday is always spent giving back to the community, especially the young kids in the area and the underprivileged fans of the team. For me, I always went the school route. Reading to first graders, talking to high schoolers about the importance of going to college, and working with junior high students on their reading skills. I've always felt that pro athletes should do whatever they can to make a difference in a kid's life. If you are going to be labeled as a hero then act like one. Plus, it is fun and those kids will make you smile all day long.  Tuesdays are also time to catch up on normal daily activities that players miss by working all weekend. Going to the movies, rounds of golf, hitting the grocery store for the single guys, Play Station battles with your teammates, and so on. It is the player's time to catch up on the world, enjoy the weather (while you can if you play in Buffalo or Green Bay where you will probably shovel the driveway instead), hang out with your children or your wife, or just close your eyes and take a nap-- a real one. And I am sure it is no different than your Saturdays or your Sunday evenings. Once that clock strikes about 6 o'clock in the evening, the harsh reality sets it.  It is time to go back to work in the early morning. Wait a minute? Didn't I just go in on my day off? You better have.

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