OT: How NFL players recover on Mondays

Submitted by NoVaWolverine on

I read this great piece by Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated on the train to work this morning. Most of us football fans understand vaguely how tough the sport is on those who play it, but it's worth reminding ourselves just *how* tough it is. The article follows four players through the course of the 2016 season (one is a player Michigan/Big Ten fans will recognize, former PSU receiver Allen Robinson) and looks at how they spend their Mondays, known around the league as "Get-Right" Day.

Reading this article, a few things strike me. First, the absolute stupidity and/or greed that motivates the league to schedule Thursday night games and seek to expand the regular season to 18 games. I happen to be a Cowboys fan (sue me -- grew up in Dallas), and couldn't believe that after their traditional Thanksgiving Day game this season, the league scheduled them to play not the following Sunday (i.e., a nine-day break), but ANOTHER Thursday game the following week. That meant they played three games in a span of 12 days. That's brutal.

Second -- these guys are warriors. It's amazing what they put their bodies through. But they all seem OK with it -- the paychecks are too big and the thrill of competition to great for them to give it up voluntarily.

Some excerpts to whet your appetite:

Mondays, for any NFL player, are the equal and opposite reaction to what takes place on Sunday. For every collision there’s a chiropractor or an acupuncturist. For every sore limb there’s a yoga mat or stretching exercise. For every concussion there’s a dimmed light somewhere, to prevent the headaches. “The first thing I do on Monday morning is take stock,” says Harris. “You add up the bruises—which ones are new, which ones are worse.

[...]

Robinson awoke at his 21st-floor waterfront condominium and surveyed the physical wreckage of another Sunday afternoon. Other than some fresh bruises, he felt “fine,” which meant a sore neck and tired legs and a balky hamstring. On a pain scale of one to 10, with 10 being extreme, Robinson started his morning at a five. This late into the season, that’s basically healthy. Every NFL player, he says, is injured. It’s only a matter of degree. [...] Robinson’s Monday goal is simple: to feel human again.

[...]

Harris doesn’t reveal many details, except that the main bruise on his shin turned into a hematoma, had to be drained and then became infected, and when he arrived at Heinz Field for his game against the Chiefs yesterday, the Steelers’ doctors told him he should to go to the hospital immediately ... after the game. The team needed him to play first. Harris expected to be used sparingly, same as in Pittsburgh’s first three outings. But when right tackle Marcus Gilbert left with an injured left ankle in the second quarter, Harris played the rest of the game. [...] En route to the hospital, Harris’s wife had asked a reasonable question: Why had he played at all? Harris laughed it off as they stopped for one final cheesesteak before all the hospital grub to come. Harris is taking painkillers (he declines to provide specifics) and expects to spend somewhere between 10 days and three weeks in the hospital. He’s likely to land on injured reserve. “All worth it,” he says again. “My kids have college funds.”

 

 

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Wolverine In Exile

December 6th, 2016 at 10:59 AM ^

and Mondays were "get an autograph from Lions players day" for me as a kid, and that was back in the 80's. He also had a decent clientel from local professional wrestlers (George the Animal Steele was a regular) and a couple Red Wings.  

Joined: 11/08/2008

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oriental andrew

December 6th, 2016 at 12:47 PM ^

My dad (now retired) did acupuncture at his medical practice and had a few athlete patients. It's absolutely incomprehensible to me what they (heavy contact sport athletes, especially) put their bodies through. 

As a completely random sidenote, my uncle has a dry cleaner in Buckhead and has many athlete customers, also. 

And I once took a sandwich order from Dominique Wilkins at my summer job working at Gorin's in Atlanta. He signed a menu for me. 

What were we talking about again? 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 56047

The Reeve

December 6th, 2016 at 11:04 AM ^

This stuff scares the hell out of me because I purposefully ignore the wreckage caused by this game on human lives. If I look directly at the problem, I will see too much and lose the game I love.

I am reminded of Nick Nolte waking up in North Dallas Forty. That has always stuck with me. This is why I am pissed beyond belief that these players have the shittiest CBA, and worthless baseball players enjoy guaranteed contracts and long careers playing a country club sport. THEY should get the guarantees, THEY should get the big money.

Joined: 09/26/2013

MGoPoints: 1109

1464

December 6th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^

I played high school football and college soccer.  Those aches and pains happen no matter the sport.  Sports are physically taxing.  Aside from injuries, that soreness and tightness is something I actually kind of miss.  It means you worked your ass off.  I sit at a desk all day now, and I never feel full body soreness.  I wish I could go back to feeling like that once or twice a week...

Joined: 06/21/2010

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CRISPed in the DIAG

December 6th, 2016 at 11:38 AM ^

When the NFL lengthened the season from 14 games to 16 in 1978, they reduced the number of preseason games from approximately 6 to 4. I don't see this as a modern option - the League loves its revenue and coaches want game action to aid roster construction.  

There may be some wiggle room on the proliferation of Thursday games. Coaches and players proably aren't wild about the schedule fluctuations and - given low ratings and piss poor quality of play -  I don't think the NFL is a better product.

Joined: 11/08/2010

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JBE

December 6th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^

Articles like this always make me think how football as we know it will become obsolete in the near future, and for good reason.

Joined: 08/18/2008

MGoPoints: 19316

mGrowOld

December 6th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^

Or maybe they'll have to start signing waivers that say something like "In return for paying you an obscene amount of money for a few years in your youth you have to accept the following probable consequences:

1. Loss of some measure of motor control and mobility beginning as soon as your career ends and extending until you  pass away.

2. Loss of cognitive reasoning skills at an early age and the probable onset of early dementia

It would be interesting to see how many would still sign up anyways.  The prospect of being able to live like a God on earth, even for a short while, is pretty alluring to most people.  Especially if their homelife growing up was rough.

Joined: 10/04/2010

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LJ

December 6th, 2016 at 11:20 AM ^

I'm sure they already have significant injury waivers in their contracts.  I really don't get the consternation over all this, especially at the professional level.  They guys know what they're getting into.  They understand the risk/reward ratio.  Many get to follow a passion and make a ton of money doing it for 5-10 years.  I don't get why so many feel the need to feel so sorry for them.

Joined: 07/05/2008

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NoVaWolverine

December 6th, 2016 at 11:47 AM ^

That's one of the striking things. It's not particularly pleasant, going through the pain and physical punishment, but every one of these guys seems to think the trade off is worth it, whether because of the money or the competition or the chance to live out a dream. As long as they are clear-eyed about it, OK. But I do wonder how many will feel differently 5 or 10 or 20 years after their careers are done.

Mostly, I'm just fascinated at the lengths these guys will go to endure/manage pain so they can stay on the field and get through the season. There's a reason Harbaugh said (using a bit hyperbole, no doubt) in that HBO interview that he feels football is the "last bastion of hope for toughness in America in men."

Joined: 09/07/2010

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pdgoblue25

December 6th, 2016 at 1:38 PM ^

Nobody forces anyone to play in the NFL.  Any one of these guys could have taken their free degree and gone into a different profession.

Run as fast as you can and smash into someone else who is running as fast they can.  Do it for 5-6 months a year, for 5-10 years and then tell me that you're shocked to find out that it's not good for you.

Joined: 03/03/2010

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xtramelanin

December 6th, 2016 at 11:08 AM ^

i played ball until i was 41 in a law enforcement league.   we played all over the country and it was a gas.  we raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various charities and causes over the years, but the real reason we played was truly for the love of the game.

most of the starters on our team and the bigger teams we played (LA, NY, Miami, etc) played either D-1 and/or at least had a cup of coffee in the pros.   i was the exception as the lone hockey player.    the games were highly competitive, but more along the lines of a decent I-AA game.  we had big dudes, sophisticated schemes, but everybody was a few years or a knee operation or two from their prime.  

the day-after for us was a sunday. i never thought i was more sore because of my age, and thankfully never had an injury that caused me to have surgery.  the day after would be a day of decent sleep if you weren't too sore, some help from the medicine cabinet, and some stretching and possibly walking depending on how banged up you were.  i tried to re-hydrate as best as i could, too.   much like the article, you couldn't help but notice the fresh bruising on forearms, thighs and other body parts.  there was also what i call 'good muscle soreness' which never bothered me and candidly, i still think about these years later.   

 

Joined: 12/09/2014

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1464

December 6th, 2016 at 11:25 AM ^

Funny.  I posted just above, and you echo my sentiments.  Unless you tear or break something, that soreness almost made you feel.. accomplished?  Is that the word I'm looking for?  Even the brusies and scrapes.

I used to be a goalkeeper.  During the season my hips were always raw and weeping from ground burns from diving and sliding all the time.  I had permanent wounds for months at a time that used to stick to my boxers during the day and I'd have to peel them off.  Showers HURT.  

In football, my legs would feel so used up the next day.  It sounds weird but that was part of the fun.  Nursing back from that kind of stuff.  There's nothing like living with teammates and all kinda recouping the day after.

There were a couple of injuries that weren't fun.  I had a couple concussions, a huge hematoma and a partial break in my leg from football hurt like mad and ended a season.  My last injury was a hyperextended knee in soccer that pretty much put me out for long enought that I've never gotten back to my playing form.  I'm so out of shape now that I don't play sports consistently...

Joined: 06/21/2010

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coldnjl

December 6th, 2016 at 11:32 AM ^

During their next labor contract discussion, they NEED to emphasize independent medical staff...I know they will target Rodger Goddell's authority to dole out punishment, but for the good of all, they need to get rid of this unethical medical oversight...

Joined: 12/31/2009

MGoPoints: 13934

Lou MacAdoo

December 6th, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^

There's no reason they should screw over a team like they did with the Cowboys. Jerry should get that sheduler fired. The crazy thing is that they won all three and didn't suffer any serious injuries. The boys are legit this year. 

Joined: 10/16/2011

MGoPoints: 6398

Sambojangles

December 6th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^

I disagree. The Lions had a Thursday night game last year the week after Thanksgiving. To me it's a good compromise: you get a short week, then a full week to recover, then the 10 day break following the Thursday night game. Why "screw over" two teams for the Thursday night short week when you only have to do it to one?

Side note: I was reading about the CFL during the Grey Cup last Sunday. They play (1) 18 games per season (2 bye weeks for 20 week season plus playoffs) and (2) because there are 9 teams, one team has to play two games in one week (they do Wednesday/Monday night). It's pretty crazy.

Joined: 12/15/2008

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MartyinDayton

December 6th, 2016 at 12:27 PM ^

Was always sore until Thursday. Can't imagine what those guys go through. It's criminal how long the season is & how many Thursday games they havse. Equally criminal is the expanding college season.  Lloyd was right. They should have an 11-game season, with the last game on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. That way the kids could spend Thanksgiving with their families, & have time to study for finals. 

Joined: 04/03/2015

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