Napa, Calif. – Frank Ragnow couldn’t remember which of his veteran teammates gave him the advice, but it’s become an important part of Detroit Lions rookie offensive lineman’s training camp routine.
“One of the old guy’s advice was to find that hour, that hour a day to kind get away from it, not think about football and keep your mind right to freshly attack it every day,” Ragnow said.
Training camp is a physical and mental grind that extends well beyond the two-plus hours on the practice field. Players are often at the team’s facility well beyond the parameters of a normal work day – in the weight room, the classroom, and sharing three meals together.