Nelson Attempts To Balance Work And Play
Wide receiver Jordy Nelson discusses enjoying the Super Bowl atmosphere yet keeping his focus and trying to win the game at the same time.
Wide receiver Jordy Nelson can't believe he's going to play in the Super Bowl.
With two historic teams like Green Bay and Pittsburgh set to do battle on the football field, Nelson almost feels as if it's the '60s-era Packers against the '70s-era Steelers that will be playing next Sunday and not him.
The magnitude of the game is not lost on Nelson. Even though his professional career is still relatively young in only his third year, he realizes an opportunity like this doesn't come along every day, and he wants to soak it all in.
"I have a feeling that once we get down to Texas, it's going to be hard to avoid," said Nelson. "You're going to see 'Super Bowl this, Super Bowl that' all over the place. I'm trying not to think about it, but once we get down there, I'm going to try to take in as much as I can, because you never know, this could be the only time."
There's a danger in getting caught up in the atmosphere of a Super Bowl appearance, however. There's going to be glitz and glamor in Dallas: parties galore and celebrity sightings.
Meanwhile, the mantra of head coach Mike McCarthy ever since the Packers won the NFC Championship game has been that the Packers are on a business trip. They're there to win the game.
So how does a player like Nelson embrace the spectacle while at the same time prepare to win a game?
"That's what's nice about this extra week," said Nelson. "All the game planning and stuff – all the hard gameplanning – is done now. Given when we get down there, we'll still be practicing, still be watching film and stuff.
"But everything we do down there, you'll already know, you just kind of review and stay on top of it. You just have to keep focus on what the goal is."
Comments (13)
January 29, 2011 at 09:49 am
Great work, Brian! Looking forward to more of this when you get to Dallas!!
January 29, 2011 at 11:32 am
This is the kind of talk that makes me nervous.
January 29, 2011 at 02:50 pm
The kind of talk that makes me nervous is more along the lines of: "Give me your wallet, and do it quick if you want to see tomorrow."
This kind of talk doesn't concern me at all.
January 29, 2011 at 12:03 pm
If I was the coach, I would say. Soak it up, soak all the atmosphere up. All the glitz that leads up to the game, but at the same time tell them that at the same time that this doesn't have anything to do at all with the game at hand.
This doesn't transform the football into a sticky football, you can still fumble at anytime.
Remember that you guys are not here for the parties and the pre-game events, because you 53 players are getting to be viewed by over 170 million people in 8 days.
Its alright for the players to embrace the glamor of this once in a lifetime moment, they earned it. They just have to remember, and focus that what they have is a game and a shot at history new week.
January 29, 2011 at 05:11 pm
What do you mean, "once in a lifetime"?
I get that a bunch of players won't be Packers next year, but TT has the team ready for a long string of success!
January 29, 2011 at 12:42 pm
I have complete confidence in the members of this team being able to balance business and pleasure. Many of them have shown themselves to be true professionals time and again.
January 29, 2011 at 05:49 pm
They have fostered the "business trip" mentality and if we see the gentlemen's handshake after the first big play, rest assured the game is over for the Stillers.
January 29, 2011 at 12:52 pm
I would tell them: "You play your whole lives to get to this moment. You'll have the rest of your life to enjoy the parties and festivities, but this, right now, is your chance at immortality. And for some of you, it could be your last. Now lets go kick some ass!"
January 29, 2011 at 05:12 pm
Thats what I want to hear!!
January 29, 2011 at 07:20 pm
Oh man, look at this . The Steelers have their own comic strip now at "Fans N'at" at http://fansnat.com (or steelercomics.com).
January 29, 2011 at 11:19 pm
I'm sick of hearing all this sissy talk about how "this talk makes me nervous". You have to have confidence in the packers! Yea it IS a superbowl but they are aware of that and as much as they say there preparing just like any other game.. They know that this isn't just a game! And they will go through the same routine but the plays will be different and the players will work harder.
The green bay packers will win the superbowl! I know it ... I feel it.. They WILL win!
January 30, 2011 at 02:08 am
"There's going to be glitz and glamor in Dallas: parties galore and celebrity sightings."
Win this game, Jordy and YOU'LL be the biggest celebrity in Dallas. And, there'll be no better party than as the final seconds tick away on the tin men, and for days after.
January 30, 2011 at 02:10 am
Make that 'YEARS' after. Glitz glamor and greatness. Bring it on, and bring it home!
Go Packers!