April 14, 2009

For Easter, my wife, Jenny, and I took our 7-year-old Julie to Sea World in San Antonio. It was kind of cool because we stayed in the same hotel I stayed at with my family when I was a kid. Kind of like I had come full circle with my family, and we had a great time.

Being with my family really helps me keep things in perspective. There are a couple of different kind of guys in this league. Some are motivated by money, and that’s okay. But if the money weren’t as good, they might not work as hard, might not go through what we go through every day to play this game.

Then there are guys who would play football as hard as they can even if they were paid what the everyday Joe makes. I’m one of those guys. I love playing, love being out there. I don’t love the grind, and running and lifting are two of my least favorite things to do. But I love the competition. It’s never gotten old, and I think that showing up at Reliant Stadium for work is still the coolest thing you could ever do.

If that wears off I wouldn’t want to play anymore no matter how much money I’m making. It’s all about having fun, getting out there and playing the game. I’ve never forgotten that I’m doing something for a living that most people wish they could do and I’m grateful.

Of course, it definitely peaks your interest when you see the numbers on your contract. But I can honestly say that I would love playing this game and would do it if I were making way less.

Besides, I don’t know what else I would do. I see these guys who run businesses after their NFL careers are over and they’re really successful. I want to be one of those guys but I can hardly imagine it right now. Really, I don’t know how to work a real job. I wouldn’t know where to start. It’s a foreign concept to me.

I’ve always been blessed with great support from my parents. I was fortunate to get to go to college on a full scholarship. The business world seems so foreign, it’s hard to imagine at this point in my life.

Now that we’re working out as a team at the stadium, it’s all about setting goals for the season and getting back into it. The first couple of days aren’t hard because everybody’s just happy to be back. When you get to the middle of training camp, though, you have to push through it and that’s where guys really get their edge.

Some of these guys are so competitive, no matter what they’re doing, if it’s a competition, they’re coming after you. They want to win, whether they’re keeping score in their own head or on the scoreboard. A lot of great players in the league are like that.

I know from experience that Kellen Winslow is going to try to outlift you, be faster than you, catch more balls than you. And look at a guy like Terrell Owens. He’s ultra-competitive, he wants to win every one-on-one drill. With that personality it’s no wonder they are so successful. T.O. is always getting better. He’s 34 or 35 but it doesn’t look like his game has declined at all.

Our new strength coach has made camp more competitive. It’s a fun way to set things up and gives you more incentive to go out there and work. He makes the O line and D line run together and the slowest group has to run extra.

When you add that competition, it makes it more fun.

Oh yeah, today I’m doing a mock draft at www.houstontexans.com. It should be posted by tomorrow. And check out my interview with Brooke Bentley of Texans TV.

Eric Winston is a starting offensive tackle for the Houston Texans. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.ericwinston73.com.