A few years ago, DeMarcus Ware says he would’ve been a lot more crushed by the Dallas Cowboys releasing him after nine seasons. But now, having emerged on the other side of a (relatively) rough couple of years with a three-year, $30 million deal with the Denver Broncos, Ware is beginning to think beyond football.
“If I wasn’t in a business state of mind and I was thinking about my ego, I would ask, ‘Why?’” Ware told MMQB this week. “Before 2009 I would’ve been devastated, like, ‘What is going on? Why do they not want me here? What did I not do last season?’ But in 2009 I had my career almost ended by a neck injury. I started thinking seriously about life after football. Now it’s like, I’ve had a fulfilled career, I know what I want, and it’s business. You have to move on knowing you created a lot of relationships you still have, and now this is another hurdle. Just jump and keep running as long as you can.”
Ware spent last Thursday at Notre Dame, attending a seminar in connection with the NFL’s Player Engagement program.
“It’s a great program, and it’s free, so why wouldn’t you do it?” Ware said. “When it’s in the offseason, a lot of guys feel it’s going to take away from their time off. It’s about your priorities and what type of person you are. You can go on vacation, but this right here is a vacation to me. You learn a lot and you’re stimulating your mind instead of staying stagnant.”
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