NFL Lockout: Why Veteran Players Are Enjoying the Lockout and Time off

As the fans sit in the torture that is the NFL Lockout, players like Reggie Bush and DeAngelo Hall are enjoying the time off.

And why wouldn’t they?

First off, I understand that these comments can hurt the NFL players. You can’t have players telling the court how illegal the lockout is, while other players publicly state how much they love it.

That’s just foolish—I get that.

But I understand players like Bush enjoying the lockout and time away from Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamps.

“Everybody complaining about the lockout!” Bush tweeted n Monday. “Shoot I'm making the most of it! Vacation, rest, relaxing, appearances here and there! I'm good”

“Right about now we would be slaving in 100 degree heat, practicing twice a day, while putting our bodies at risk for nothing.”

And why should players enjoy being out in OTAs?

As many fans have learned throughout the course of this lockout, most players only get paid during the actual NFL season. So if there wasn’t a lockout, players would be at OTAs working out on a voluntary basis.

My roommate struggles to get me to wash my dishes voluntarily let alone anything else.

I know there are some players out there that get bonuses for working out. But there are a lot more Jesse Holleys in the league than there are D’Brickashaw Fergusons.

(I just made a couple dozen people Google the name “Jesse Holley”).

So Mr. Bush, I applaud you for your openness and honesty. I wouldn’t expect you to enjoy voluntary workouts under the blazing Louisiana sun.

I’m sure neither he nor many top-performers are just sitting on their couches doing nothing. These players are working out under their own circumstances (most likely with air conditioning) and staying in playing shape until this lockout concludes.

Washington Redskins’ DeAngelo Hall may’ve said it best, “I’m definitely enjoying this time off,” Hall said, per Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post.  “I’ve still been working out and doing things like that, definitely staying in shape, but to not have any pressures of being [in Ashburn], strict rules and things like that, it definitely feels good.  Feels good to just have a break.  You know, we normally start this stuff up March 15, so to have all that time off feels great right now.”

My boss can extend my vacation anytime he pleases.

Fans will often state how they want players to be at OTAs, workouts, and minicamps all the time. Their getting paid millions anyways right? Might as well make them earn it!

Truth is, veteran players don’t learn too much from these workouts. Unless there’s a new scheme or new coach, players are there for the camaraderie more than anything else.

You think Sean Payton was ready to hand Bush a playbook with 200 new plays in it?

Regardless, if the teams work together during the offseason or not, A.J. Hawks even knows the defense doesn’t gain much from them.

“The most the defense can do when we get together is seven-on-seven.  I can understand quarterbacks throwing to receivers and stuff like that.” He told the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. “I think it’s more of a camaraderie thing…We’re all ready to come back. We never got out of shape.   The player gatherings are a good thing to get together and be with your teammates – that’s the most I would take from it.”

Camaraderie is a special thing to football players. If you ask most of the retired players from the NFL, you’ll find that a lot of them miss that part of the game more than anything else.

Nobody will say they missed the voluntary workouts and blazing summer two-a-days.

The NFL veterans will continue to enjoy the unusual vacation up until the fall when they realize their checks aren’t being delivered.

And until then, don’t be surprised if you hear more honest players let us know how the lockout isn’t the worst thing to happen to the league.