October 1, 2009

When fans look at the weekend’s NFL matchups, they use records as one of their main aspects in determining who is going to win. But it’s not that easy. Winning games in the NFL is tough. Everybody on the outside looking in is saying that Kansas City should be an easy game for us, but that doesn’t matter. As a player you can’t allow yourself to think that way.

If you don’t come to play, you’re gonna get your butt kicked. It’s part of the job of being a professional athlete, you have to be prepared to play, no matter what else is happening, no matter what people are saying. You constantly strive to become a better player and a better team.

Our team has a great attitude and I love the direction that we are headed in. We had a great day of practice today, guys are fired up. You can never take for granted your current state. It’s always about where you want to be, not where you are now, and it’s all about how you’re going to get to where you want to go.

The Chiefs defense has some great players even though their record doesn’t show it. They have four first-round picks on defense, they play hard, they’re fast, they run around and attack to the football. I’ve never played in Kansas City before but everyone talks about how loud Arrowhead gets. It’s a tough environment. The season isn’t going the way they want it to at this point, but I know that as competitors and athletes, they’re going to go out there and lay it on the line on Sunday. They are going to do whatever they can to get their home crowd to get behind them and come away with the win.

We’re preparing for another fight, a solid, 60-minute fight. We’ve been working all week to get better, because if you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse.

Someone mentioned to me that I’ll be starting my 100th straight game since I was drafted in 2003. Obviously, it’s a great feeling, but I still have a long way to go. I’m not looking to end my career anytime soon. Knock on wood, the whole point is just to keep going out there and starting every game.

It’s an accomplishment and something to be proud of. I definitely take pride in always being there for my teammates and playing no matter what the circumstance, fighting to do whatever it takes to win the football game.

But I’m far from done, and I’m far from being where I want to be as a player. I will keep doing whatever it takes to be out there for every down of every game for as many years as I can play.

Dave Diehl is an offensive lineman for the New York Giants. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.davediehl66.com. Find him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/davediehl66.