Detroit Lions offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai got a taste of retired life, and he didn't like it one bit.
"There was just a bunch of stuff to do," Vaitai said Thursday.
Laid up after undergoing season-ending back surgery last September, Vaitai spent most of the fall at his home in Houston and the 205-acre ranch he owns about an hour north of town.
He played catch with his son after school and had long talks with his wife about his future. He had chores upon chores to do at that ranch. There were donkeys to feed and cows to breed and plenty of cleaning to get done.