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SPORTS Thursday 12 January 2023
NFL offseason a mental, physical reboot process for players

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. “But it’s more just having last week and then playing Tennessee’s 19-16 loss to When that goal no longer
AP Pro Football Writer that balance, being able and beating New England Cincinnati in the AFC divi- exists, players recognize
Aaron Rodgers hits the to shut that off when you in the regular-season finale sional round last year. He the need to flip a mental
beach and has even host- get out away from here.” last Sunday. needed therapy to get him switch before gradually re-
ed a TV game show. Alvin This offseason will be a bit “Honestly, I don’t know through “a lot of sleepless starting the process.
Kamara has snowboarded “Allow your mind to shift to
in the mountains of Mon- other things you like and
tana. enjoy doing,” said Rankins,
Quinton Jefferson takes whose Jets have the NFL’s
his kids to school and runs longest postseason drought
errands. Sheldon Rankins at 12 years. “Because just
catches up on cooking like with anything, you stay
and traveling. too locked in, you’ll burn
Game plans and practices yourself out.”
are replaced in the NFL Jefferson, who’s married
offseason by all the activi- with four kids, takes the
ties exciting and mundane time away to, well, reintro-
players couldn’t do the last duce himself to his family.
several months. It’s also a “That’s the most important
chance to rejuvenate their thing, making sure I’m be-
bodies and minds from the ing engaged with my chil-
tolls of playing such a vio- dren and making sure I’m
lent, competitive game. being present,” he said.
Playoff teams can play “This is strenuous on a lot of
deep into January, and our wives. They don’t get
even into February if they us during the season. It’s
make it to the Super Bowl. hard.”
But for players on the 18 Players also use the time off
teams that failed to make to heal from all the bumps,
the postseason, the offsea- bruises, breaks and muscle
son begins when the clock tears they’ve subjected
hits zero in the regular-sea- themselves to the past sev-
son finale. eral months. Medical pro-
“You want to get to that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game cedures to fix nagging inju-
ultimate goal of the Super against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. ries aren’t uncommon.
Bowl and all that,” said Ka- Associated Press “It’s nice to have your body
mara, whose Saints have not hurt for a little bit,” said
missed the playoffs the more intriguing than most, how some of us did it,” cor- nights” after blaming him- offensive lineman Nick
past two seasons. “But if though, for the 39-year-old nerback Tre’Davious White self for the defeat. Gates, whose Giants play
you don’t make it, you fall Rodgers. He’s under con- said. Tannehill isn’t alone in seek- at Minnesota on Sunday.
short, it’s still like, ‘All right, tract for next season but is NFL players often mention ing help for mental health “But after a couple of
we lost,’ but now you’ve uncertain about his playing being able to compart- during and after the sea- months, you get bored and
got some time to decom- future. mentalize and separate son. you want to get back into
press and really just get “I want to take the emotion their lives on and off the “I go see a therapist week- the swing there.”
your body right, get your out of it and have the con- field. That’s why most use ly, definitely making sure I And it comes soon enough.
mind right. Because it’s de- versation and see where the first several weeks of even go see them in per- NFL players will find them-
manding every week. the organization’s at and their “vacation” to clear son now,” Jefferson said. selves back at team fa-
“You can’t do this job half- see how I feel after some their minds. Some eventu- “I do a Zoom in season, cilities in April, followed by
way. So, I just kind of dis- time has passed,” Rodgers ally explore new business but make sure I spend that organized team activities
connect from everything. I said after the Packers were ventures or work on earn- time to see my person. Just in May, minicamp in June
go on a hiatus, really.” eliminated from playoff ing academic degrees. really taking time to get and then training camp in
Rodgers, who has surfed contention with a 20-16 loss “At least early in the offsea- your mental and your body late-July as they prepare
the shores of California to to Detroit last Sunday night. son before I get back train- right.” for a new season.
unwind and guest-hosted Reflection and recovery ing, I’m not doing nothing,” The focus for NFL players Hopefully, physically and

10 episodes of “Jeopardy!” mentally and physically said Kamara, who spent from some time in late-Feb- mentally refreshed.
during the 2021 offseason, are part of the offseason part of his 2021 offseason ruary or early March, when “You allow that love, allow
knows the feeling. routine for every player, learning how to snowboard many start getting in train- that thirst for the game to
“I think we all take a deep youngster or vet. in southwestern Montana. ing mode with light work- truly come back,” Rankins
breath once the season “It is a mental strain,” said “I’m just chillin’, kind of outs and reviewing game said.
is over, and for me it’s not Jefferson, whose Seahawks flowing with the wind.” film, through the next 10 “Allow your mind to be free
that hard to get into that will play at San Francisco The disappointment of not months is performing at a and be able to look for-
offseason mode and enjoy on Saturday in the NFC making the playoffs or los- high enough level to help ward to it again. And then
my time away from it,” the wild-card round. “I’ve seen ing during them gradu- their team reach the play- you’re itchin’. You’re ready
Green Bay quarterback this game break down a ally gives way to relief dur- offs and hopefully the Su- to go all over again.”q
said. lot of strong dudes, strong ing the offseason, but the per Bowl.
“I think it’s important to men.” grind takes its toll. So does
actually take time. When Several Bills players ac- the overwhelming desire to LIKE US ON
you’re younger, you want knowledged the duress win.
to jump back into work- they experienced after wit- Titans quarterback Ryan
outs. When you’re older, nessing teammate Damar Tannehill acknowledged
you give yourself a little bit Hamlin being resuscitated he had a “deep scar” and
more time. on the field in Cincinnati was in a “dark place” after Facebook.com/arubatoday/