Allen Park — Lions defensive end Brandon Copeland hadn’t taken a true vacation — beyond just weekend trips — in nearly three years before spending a couple weeks in Europe this January.
Copeland spent his rookie season in 2013 on practice squads in Baltimore and Tennessee, so he didn’t want to be complacent heading into Year 2. He returned to the Titans, but again failed to make the 53-man roster.
After two more weeks on the Tennessee practice squad in 2014, Copeland was out of a job and didn’t find one until the Orlando Predators, in the Arena Football League, made him an offer in March 2015.