How Good Do You Want To Be?

I just got off the phone with an old friend. Retired Detroit Lion's standout LB Scott Kowalkowski. We chatted about current events, the projects we're working on and shared a few NFL war stories. The topic of conversation then shifted.
     
 Unheralded at Notre Dame, Scott was drafted with the 216th pick in the 1992 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Eventually traded to the Lions, Scott was the epitome of 'The Little Train That Could'. I can relate. No respect.

Scott Kowalkowski ended up playing 11 years in the NFL. ELEVEN. Eight(8) with the Detroit Lions and three(3) with the Phiuladelphia Eagles, the team that originally drafted him.When I was his teammate with the Lions in 1994, Scott was the leader on special teams. He was the first man down on kickoff coverage and always had 'bad intentions' when he hit you. He was a football player. He outlasted probably 90% of the draft picks prior to him in the 1992 draft. So much for Mel Kiper.

When I hurt my back prior my junior year in high school in 1981, I was the starting middle linebacker on my high school team, a starting  'first shift ' defenseman on the hockey team and number one pitcher in the rotation on the baseball team. After visiting the New York Jets team orthopedic surgeon, I was given devastating news. No 'contact sports' ever again. I could either spend 12 months in a body cast or use daily swimming as a method of rehabilitation. I chose the later.

When returned to my home in Shrewsbury, NJ,  I wrote down on a piece of paper, "In the year 1988, I will become a professional specialist in the NFL". And I did it.

The moral to the story here is that when we put our minds to something, anything is possible.

And with a warrior spirit, the cream always rises to the top. I proved it., Scott Kowalkowski proved it.

Note to punters - Do you have the patience and desire to implement the 'Set & Pull' punting technique?  Do you want to be the best and know exactly where the ball is going when  it leaves your foot? Or you happy with the 'hit and hope'  approach? The antiquated  'over stride, short drop, lean back, cut across , "Peter!"  ball that usually doesn't turn over and bouces backwards when it lands?

Just a thought............. punters(coaches and parents) . GM