Life as an NFL player is exponentially easier when you have a bounce in your step instead of a hitch in your giddy-up.
Last year, his second as a Saint, barely resembled his first, when he was among the top players in his rookie class and introduced himself as one of the most ferocious safeties in the league, the initial debut coming against teammates who felt the full measure of his wrath and physicality during minicamp, training camp and any other activity in which defenders were given even the slightest chance to level someone.
Statistically, he had more tackles (113, up from 93) and interceptions (two, up from one), and almost as many passes defensed (five, compared to six in 2013).