CINCINNATI — Football eventually grinds down most players either physically or mentally, and sometimes both. The game’s Darwinian nature makes longevity and graceful exits rare.
NFL veterans tend to grit their teeth, not smile, which makes new Cincinnati Bengals linebacker A.J. Hawk a glimpse of blue sky in an otherwise overcast world. He’s greeting his 10th pro season with a grin.
“I do love the game,” Hawk said. “There’s too much that goes into it — too much violence and physicality and wear and tear — that if you’re looking at is as a job to make money, you’re not going to last very long.