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| Nate Jackson (#81) |
In chapters five though eight of
Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile, Nate Jackson, a former NFL wide receiver, shows how the NFL requires a very strong drive and much determination to succeed as well as adaptivity and knowledge of where you are needed most. Nate enters his second season on the
Denver Broncos as a young and talented wide receiver, waiting for his chance to show the organization what he has. Coming back the next season the coaches conclude that Nate should be moved to the position of tight end, a bigger, more aggressive type position. The author highlights the importance of being able to adapt in the NFL to survive. Nate makes the team with minor stress and focuses on learning his newly assigned position. He takes note from more seasoned tight ends on the team and tries to mimic their play and style. Through all of the practices and hitting Nate acquires a new
hamstring injury. Instead of taking time off to heal it he plays through it and tries to build muscle around it. This yields no positive outcome and has to go to a professional to look at him. Nate has to rest his hamstring and sit out most of the pre season. The author emphasizes that all professional athletes are constantly working through injuries that should have them on the bench. The author mentions the fact that drug use is commonly used as a pain killer in the NFL. Drugs such as marijuana are commonly used but for "medical purposes" as Nate says. The section ends as Nate gets back into Denver from a road game and meanders into Broncos Headquarters to sleep.
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| Marijuana commonly used as a painkiller in the NFL. |
