Last week from Monday through Friday, I had the opportunity to work out with many of my teammates here in Arizona. Many of the skill position players were here and we had a few defensive players as well. Adding to the workouts were a few players from the Packers, Jets and Cardinals.

This is a great way for my teammates to share my regiment that I go through in AZ throughout the offseason. I try to do it with them right before training camp so that we can get used to the heat, know what to expect, and get a jump on the other teams.

From sun up to sun down we are taking different measures to prepare our bodies for a long, grueling season. We start at Fischer Sports for some drills and training. I’ve worked with Brett Fischer for a few years now and like the way he challenges me and trains me to be strong and flexible at the same time. Then it’s off to the gym for some weight lifting. The afternoon is set aside for stretching and/or massages – some guys just like to go back to their rooms and grab a nap. At 5:00pm we go to one of the local high schools and do some passing drills. The additional defensive players this year helped create some competition which made the drills more challenging while adding some fun too.

One of the side benefits is the camaraderie that is built from getting the guys together. On Thursday night we had some BBQ at my house and everyone had a chance to relax, enjoy some good food (we catered!), and spend time with each other.

We’ll know soon enough if that work pays off!