| NFL players are individuals by nature, and each position | | | | player in front of him, and the player with these skills |
| and scheme demands different physical and mental | | | | has a distinct advantage over those that don't. |
| capabilities in order to maximize success. As such, | | | | Boxing |
| offseason training that used to be a matter of running | | | | During this offseason, Chargers LB Shawn Merriman is |
| a few miles per day to stay in shape has become its | | | | making a name for himself with his teammates by |
| own cottage industry. We'll take a look at some | | | | working with a boxing coach. He has replaced many |
| different things players do to stay in shape and to get | | | | pounds of fat with muscle, and everyone at the team |
| bigger, faster and stronger during the offseason. | | | | facility noticed the difference immediately. Boxing |
| Cardiovascular Training | | | | works every muscle in the body, and the sport by |
| Perhaps the oldest form of training in the NFL, every | | | | design pushes its participants beyond the point of |
| player needs to be able to keep his wind if he's to play | | | | fatigue. |
| football. In recent years, however, innovations within this | | | | Yoga |
| discipline have grown increasingly popular. Some | | | | With the rise in the popularity in weight training came |
| players just run for long distances. Others run wind | | | | the simultaneous collective loss of flexibility in players all |
| sprints ad nauseum. Many combine the two, and other | | | | over the NFL. Flexibility is a crucial element in avoiding |
| legendary cardio routines include Jerry Rice and | | | | injury, and core strength, many feel, is the fundamental |
| Walter Payton, who famously ran up and down their | | | | basis of all conditioning. Yoga is also a mental form of |
| chosen hills near their offseason homes religiously. | | | | preparation, and it grows in popularity every offseason. |
| Weight Training | | | | Ballet |
| This is a staple of nearly every player, and like cardio | | | | Although this form of training is generally not publicized |
| training, weight training has grown much more | | | | by players, several prominent players have worked |
| specialized in recent years. Gone are the days when | | | | within this discipline to improve footwork. Former RB |
| players would do a few sets of bench presses, | | | | Herschel Walker famously touted his routine, and very |
| squats and arm curls and call it a day. Every player | | | | few players in recent history could boast of better |
| and every position now has a particular routine | | | | footwork than Walker. Quietly, ballet is part of many |
| designed to maximize muscle development, strength | | | | players' routines. |
| and explosion that fits the needs of the individual player | | | | Although there are many choices for players to train |
| and position. Strength coaches are paid very well to | | | | during the offseason, one common denominator is that |
| put together and manage these programs. Without | | | | all players need to do something, and do it diligently. |
| strength, balance and explosion, players will have no | | | | Coaches and management teams expect every |
| chance. | | | | player to report for training camp bigger, stronger, |
| Martial Arts | | | | faster and healthier every season, and many players' |
| Martial arts in and of themselves offer several choices | | | | contracts contain incentive clauses for staying in shape |
| in regards to particular routines. Regardless of the | | | | and meeting certain training requirements. |
| chosen discipline, many players train with martial arts | | | | For the players, there is no more offseason in the NFL, |
| masters to improve balance, quickness, mental focus | | | | and they all know this. That's why you may see some |
| and the ability to use their hands as weapons. Many | | | | familiar faces from time to time as you head to a |
| linemen use this form of training to learn to defeat the | | | | yoga class or work out at the boxing gym. |