NFL training camps are now in full swing around the country and players are working on getting back into playing form. Success in the NFL demands the highest level of fitness and for most NFL players, it all starts in the weight room during the off season. The strongest NFL players are hard at work in the off-season, when others are taking time off and there are no cameras watching. Have you ever wondered what players focus on to get ready for the season? How do they get to a level of fitness where they can compete in the NFL for the entire season? Here is a quick run down off some workouts that NFL players use to get ready.
Drew Brees
Drew Brees is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and a perennial all-star but how does he get into top shape before the season? He works out with a trainer who focuses on speed and power as well as helping to keep athletes on the field. It shows, as Brees has only missed 2 games since 2004. He warms up with dynamic stretching, including skipping and lateral skipping. Some of the more interesting and notable exercises that he does include hitting a tire with a sledgehammer for full body strength and conditioning, dragging a weighted sled to increase shoulder strength as well as lower body strength and throwing a 60 pound medicine ball over his head. Then he moves on to throwing and agility ball drills to help with football skills.
Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson is one of the NFL’s most notorious gym-rats, Since his 2011 season ending knee injury, he has
come back to have a career year in 2012 and show that he is still one of the best running backs in the NFL. A lot of his success can be attributed to his work ethic in the gym. He alternates days between upper and lower body in the off season and leading up to training camp. He focuses on maintaining his speed as well as building a strong core to help break tackles. One of his most notable exercises are Romanian Deadlifts which help to increase leg strength, a very important exercise for a running back. He works out in the off season at the Vikings training facility for multiple hours a day.
JJ Watt
As a pass rusher and defensive linemen, it is all about power, JJ Watt is able to achieve this through intense weight lifting as well as power drills. He works on squats during the off season as well as pushing a 450 pound sled 50 yards at a run. This training helps him to have the strength to push offensive linemen and rush the quarterback. He is focusing on lower body and core to help achieve more explosiveness.
NFL Training
As the season gets closer, players are now focusing on team training as well as preparing new plays and schemes. However, it is easy to assume that they are still getting in their gym time and maintaining strength and conditioning.
