[Hail to the SteelSkins]

From playing College and High-School ball (which is not nearly as intense and draining on the body) I can tell you that playing nine games in a row with out a week off to let your body recoup is really tough. Basically if you are playing at 100%, like not taking it easy during the game, and really working at being the best on every play, its like being in a car accident, you know how you tense up right before impact, and your muscles / body is sore for a week or so after. You basically are causing you body to do that every play for 60 minutes with small breaks of relapse in between plays, which in my opinion from playing, that cool off period hurts worse then helping cause that's when the soreness kicks in and you start to cramp up.

I'm not saying their job is hard by any means... they get paid to play a game (was my dream before blowing out my ACL, and TCL, plus I'm to short to be an NFL O-Lineman 5'11") but the toll it takes on their bodies week in and week out is very intense. All that said I could see that they needed a week to "reduce the swelling" if you will, and hopefully the 10 day break between Turkey Day and Monday was a good second break so they can finish strong.