MINNEAPOLIS -- For the first time in his life, Michael Pierce got a glimpse into what he expects from retirement. He never had that much free time without playing football.
Concerns over the respiratory issues he dealt with since childhood forced the Minnesota Vikings nose tackle to opt out of the 2020 season last July when no one could predict how the NFL season would pan out.
Pierce, 28, grappled with the precautionary measures he took to ensure he’d be able to play in 2021. Sundays were rough, and the only way he could satiate the itch to suit up was by taking a long ride on his Peloton before watching the Vikings from his home in Alabama.