Jeff Zgonina had a parakeet growing up. Chirpie lived to be about 20, rest in peace.
But Zgonina really never was a pet person. That all changed after the 2013 NFL season.
“We all got let go at the Texans,” said Zgonina, an assistant defensive line coach there under Gary Kubiak. “I’m sitting at home, middle of the night, I get this thought after a couple vodkas: ‘I’m getting a dog.’”
Not just any dog, a Neapolitan Mastiff, a massive breed he had seen watching the “Dogs 101” show on Animal Planet with his two kids.