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Postseason means everything

Postseason means everything

By Thurman Thomas

Questions or comments for Thurman? Send him a note at Thurman@nflcanada.com

The last week of the regular season is really a separation more than anything else, that is, a separation between the haves (playoff teams) and the have-nots (non-playoff teams).

As a player your goal is to make the playoffs, anything else is a disappointment. I played thirteen years in the NFL and missed the playoffs two times; I vividly remember the sick feeling after the final regular season games at the end of those two seasons. I would look around the locker room and see guys just as disappointed as me and if they weren’t, they didn’t remain teammates very long.

The worst part of it is the feeling that your whole season is somehow invalid because you failed in your most important team goal, to make it into the post-season. Just like in every other major sport, an athlete is judged on how he performs in the playoffs; just ask Alex Rodriguez (bad) or Claude Lemeiux (good).

Let’s look at the haves first. When you’re in the playoffs, everything is heightened, from your practices to your attitude.

As a veteran, your first priority is to try and get the rookies as mentally and physically prepared as possible. The mental part is the most important, young guys have to realize that some things are going to go wrong during the game and that they will have forget it quickly and play on. Contrary to some opinions, not a lot of your basic game planning is changed.

We would mix in a few different formations and a couple of different plays to exploit some match-ups with our opponent. Otherwise we would concentrate on the things we did well during the year. It was a great time, no doubt, everything you dreamed of as a kid and all the goals you set for your team as a pro, were within your reach, just an awesome feeling. I can only speak for my teammates and myself; the playoffs were our stage, a chance to showcase our talent. Just like the lottery, you have to be in it to win it.

Now, the have-nots. Who cares!

Ok, that’s a little harsh, especially since my Bills didn’t make it, but it is the reality, you need to be in the post-season, in the pro’s, nothing else matters.

Thurman Thomas

Buffalo Bills legend Thurman Thomas rushed for 1,000 yards in eight consecutive seasons, was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls, and was named NFL MVP in 1991. Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, and is now an NFL ambassador in Canada and will be making community and charitable appearances on behalf of the league north of the border.