To be successful at anything, the truth is you don't have to be special.

You just have to be what most people aren't.

Consistent, determined, and willing to work for it.

No shortcuts.

It's hard when you're young to wake up in the off-season at 6 a.m. to go train and work out,

knowing that all your friends are sleeping in and eating pancakes.

It's hard when you're on your way to practice,

way down with all your gear, and it's 90 degrees out,

and all the other kids are at the pool or at the beach,

and your body is already completely exhausted from workouts in two

a days.

It's hard to throw, catch, block and tackle and hit kids when they're way bigger and way

more developed than you, only to go home that night bruised and battered and strained, but

knowing you have to show up again the next day for just the chance to try again.

But understand this, life is hard.

No matter who you are, there are bumps and hits and bruises along the way.

And my advice is to prepare yourself because football lessons teach us that success and

achievement come from overcoming adversity.

You know, f*** a tired body, f*** that unmotivated mind, and get out there and do it anyway.

You know, you better fight yourself because you're not only winning when things are going your way.

You got to figure out how to win when things aren't going your way.

You got to figure out when your body's fighting you, when your mind's fighting you, how do you still, you know, just say

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