While Peter King kicks back with mojitos, enjoying a vacation before intensity and chaos replaces the dead-calm before training camp, current and former NFL players are filling in for his weekly Monday Morning Quarterback column on Sports Illustrated. Steve Gleason talked about his fight with ALS. Chris Kluwe and Jabari Greer also have substituted recently.
But there's something refreshing and simple with Austen Lane's entry on Monday. As a professional football player, Lane debates the need for planning tomorrow while focusing on today. And while reading through his perspectives, you realize to yourself, "wow, that's not terribly difficult." You even come to appreciate his understanding on the impact NFL players have on every day folk like us.
A perfect example:
Through the stress, injuries or just overall struggle to get out of bed in the morning, we must always remember not to take this job for granted. While other people slave behind a desk, struggle to make ends meet or are overseas fighting for our country, we have the chance to play a game that we have been playing since we were children. Those people struggling with economic hardships depend on us to take their minds off of their own stresses. We give them something to cheer for and believe in. Always be thankful for that.
For the most part, the entry provides wise words to younger players but it's always interesting to step inside the mind of an NFL player. Especially one that has his screwed on right.