HEAV
10-11-2007, 02:15 PM
By Christopher Smith
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- If you had a single weekend off in four months -- four days to escape the stresses and enjoy life -- what would you do?
That's the pressing decision the Broncos were faced with. It's an important one too, considering it's the one time they have multiple days of free time during the season.
The bye-week destinations break down into four basic categories: family, football, parties or lounging. Which category a player fits into definitely depends on his age and experience in the NFL.
"There's a large difference. Sometimes rookie guys are probably sprinting out of here right now trying to get to the airport, but there's no need for me to sprint. The person who I would normally sprint to go see is already here, so it really doesn't matter," Nick Ferguson said, referring to his wife.
"You would say that veteran guys and young guys tend to do different things at this time. I'm going to try to relax a little bit and refocus and try to get my mind right for the second half of the season. Hopefully everyone is doing something that will gain them perspective so that when we come back we can turn this thing around."
Count Ferguson in the family group. He'll be getting some quality time in with his loved ones and perhaps seeing some parts of Denver he hasn't gotten around to in his five years with the team.
Jeff Shoate will also be turning his attention to his family, revealing the sacrifices he makes to play in the NFL. He's taking his son back to Los Angeles to see his wife, who is a graduate student at USC.
"I'm getting used to it, getting used to finding things to do out there (in Los Angeles). I don't get to go as much as I'd like to to get used to it. It's an adjustment, but it's still California and I'm used to being in California, so it feels like home to me when I go out there," Shoate said. "Most important for us is just getting to go see her and spend time with her for a few days, especially for my son."
Jarvis Moss is in the party group, but he can't quite settle on a destination.
"It's a tossup. I was going to go to (Las) Vegas for a few days. If not that, I'm going to go back to Gainesville, Fla." Moss said. "I'm really thinking about doing both, like two days in one and two days at the other. Just get away for a few days."
Moss has taken the maxims about being a professional and treating this like a job personally, and he's thrilled to escape for a while.
"Oh, hell yeah (I'm excited)," he said.
Tim Crowder is another rookie sprinting to catch a flight, although his plane departs at 7 a.m. Thursday.
"I'm going back home to Texas to go relax and get me some Texas barbeque. That's what I've been thinking about all week," Crowder said. "I'm definitely looking forward to it. Any time I have off I'm looking forward to it. I'm just thinking about Texas and my flight leaves at seven so I can't wait to get down there."
Selvin Young seconds Crowder's affinity for home-cooked meals.
"I'm going to be doing a lot of relaxing," Young said. "I'm going to chill with my little brothers, watch some of their football games, see my grandmother, and get some of that Southern cooking."
Some players are getting away from football with, well, football.
Jay Cutler is back in Nashville, Tenn., getting honored by the National Commodore Club as Vanderbilt hosts Georgia.
John Lynch will be commenting on Fox NFL Sunday.
Dre' Bly is rooting on his alma mater in Chapel Hill, N.C., as North Carolina faces South Carolina.
Brandon Marshall and Andre Hall will be on opposite sides of the Raymond James Stadium field this Saturday as Central Florida, Marshall's alma mater, tries to upset No. 5 South Florida, where Hall starred in 2004 and 2005.
"I'll be out there on the sideline supporting my fellow Knights. I say UCF 24-21," Marshall said.
Hall has other ideas.
"I watch every game. I can't wait 'til I go home this weekend. I think we've got UCF this weekend? I'm there. Me and Brandon Marshall? There!"
For some, settling onto the couch and propping their feet up for once won out.
"Originally I had planned on going back to Michigan, checking out my high school and that sort of thing, but I'm going to stay here in Colorado and relax and enjoy the time off," Tony Scheffler said. "Sleep in two or three days and just kind of lay around the house. You kind of miss that once you start the season, so just get some rest and get a good jump on next week."
Head Coach Mike Shanahan doesn't care what the players do with their free time as long as they stay out of trouble and come back ready to work.
"These guys are grown men," Shanahan said. "We've got a schedule and whatever they like to do with their time off, they'll do."
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=7375
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- If you had a single weekend off in four months -- four days to escape the stresses and enjoy life -- what would you do?
That's the pressing decision the Broncos were faced with. It's an important one too, considering it's the one time they have multiple days of free time during the season.
The bye-week destinations break down into four basic categories: family, football, parties or lounging. Which category a player fits into definitely depends on his age and experience in the NFL.
"There's a large difference. Sometimes rookie guys are probably sprinting out of here right now trying to get to the airport, but there's no need for me to sprint. The person who I would normally sprint to go see is already here, so it really doesn't matter," Nick Ferguson said, referring to his wife.
"You would say that veteran guys and young guys tend to do different things at this time. I'm going to try to relax a little bit and refocus and try to get my mind right for the second half of the season. Hopefully everyone is doing something that will gain them perspective so that when we come back we can turn this thing around."
Count Ferguson in the family group. He'll be getting some quality time in with his loved ones and perhaps seeing some parts of Denver he hasn't gotten around to in his five years with the team.
Jeff Shoate will also be turning his attention to his family, revealing the sacrifices he makes to play in the NFL. He's taking his son back to Los Angeles to see his wife, who is a graduate student at USC.
"I'm getting used to it, getting used to finding things to do out there (in Los Angeles). I don't get to go as much as I'd like to to get used to it. It's an adjustment, but it's still California and I'm used to being in California, so it feels like home to me when I go out there," Shoate said. "Most important for us is just getting to go see her and spend time with her for a few days, especially for my son."
Jarvis Moss is in the party group, but he can't quite settle on a destination.
"It's a tossup. I was going to go to (Las) Vegas for a few days. If not that, I'm going to go back to Gainesville, Fla." Moss said. "I'm really thinking about doing both, like two days in one and two days at the other. Just get away for a few days."
Moss has taken the maxims about being a professional and treating this like a job personally, and he's thrilled to escape for a while.
"Oh, hell yeah (I'm excited)," he said.
Tim Crowder is another rookie sprinting to catch a flight, although his plane departs at 7 a.m. Thursday.
"I'm going back home to Texas to go relax and get me some Texas barbeque. That's what I've been thinking about all week," Crowder said. "I'm definitely looking forward to it. Any time I have off I'm looking forward to it. I'm just thinking about Texas and my flight leaves at seven so I can't wait to get down there."
Selvin Young seconds Crowder's affinity for home-cooked meals.
"I'm going to be doing a lot of relaxing," Young said. "I'm going to chill with my little brothers, watch some of their football games, see my grandmother, and get some of that Southern cooking."
Some players are getting away from football with, well, football.
Jay Cutler is back in Nashville, Tenn., getting honored by the National Commodore Club as Vanderbilt hosts Georgia.
John Lynch will be commenting on Fox NFL Sunday.
Dre' Bly is rooting on his alma mater in Chapel Hill, N.C., as North Carolina faces South Carolina.
Brandon Marshall and Andre Hall will be on opposite sides of the Raymond James Stadium field this Saturday as Central Florida, Marshall's alma mater, tries to upset No. 5 South Florida, where Hall starred in 2004 and 2005.
"I'll be out there on the sideline supporting my fellow Knights. I say UCF 24-21," Marshall said.
Hall has other ideas.
"I watch every game. I can't wait 'til I go home this weekend. I think we've got UCF this weekend? I'm there. Me and Brandon Marshall? There!"
For some, settling onto the couch and propping their feet up for once won out.
"Originally I had planned on going back to Michigan, checking out my high school and that sort of thing, but I'm going to stay here in Colorado and relax and enjoy the time off," Tony Scheffler said. "Sleep in two or three days and just kind of lay around the house. You kind of miss that once you start the season, so just get some rest and get a good jump on next week."
Head Coach Mike Shanahan doesn't care what the players do with their free time as long as they stay out of trouble and come back ready to work.
"These guys are grown men," Shanahan said. "We've got a schedule and whatever they like to do with their time off, they'll do."
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=7375