Crazy Dol-Fan Diary

NFLドルフィンズを心から応援するひとのページです

Thomas tries new workout strategy

2005-05-05 | Weblog
Miami Herald

Linebacker Zach Thomas said he has changed his workout regimen this offseason in hopes of prolonging his career and avoiding the injuries that have plagued him in the past.

''I'm not doing the body-building lifting as much,'' said Thomas, who has worked independently and with Dolphins trainers this offseason to devise a suitable program. ``I'm doing more of a track workout, and I'm doing more core-strength work -- from abs to hips to everything.

``It's not the curls all the time and the [triceps], where it looks good. But looks can cheat you, especially on the field. It has nothing to do with how much you bench on the field. It's all that core strength, your speed and how you move. That's all I've been working on.''

Thomas, 31 and entering his 10th season, missed three starts and the better part of four games overall because of a hamstring injury last season. He has missed at least one game in four of the past five seasons.

His new regimen is similar to what teammate Junior Seau has been doing for years. Seau is returning for his 16th season.

''I'm finally doing the Junior workout,'' Thomas said. ``That's why he's played for so long. That made me change my workout. We'll see if it works. It's easy to talk. If you get hurt before the first game, it doesn't mean anything. I'm just trying something different. Hopefully it works out. The whole body-building thing wasn't working for me.''

SEAU'S `LAST STOP'

Seau said he considered other teams during the offseason when the Dolphins allowed him to seek a trade before he agreed to restructure his contract.

Ultimately, however, Seau said the fact that coach Nick Saban asked him to return, plus Seau's desire to finish his career in South Florida, clinched his decision.

''There were talks with other teams wanting the old man,'' Seau, 36, said. ``It was nice to hear. But I didn't want to go to another place and start over in the locker room. . . . They know me here as a player, as a person. For me to go somewhere else, I didn't want to do that Jerry Rice kick where I'm floating. This is going to be my last stop.''

Seau, who missed the second half of the season with a torn pectoral muscle and said he considered retirement, said he took three months to recover after surgery.

He hopes to avoid another serious injury before ultimately calling it quits.

''I want to walk out on my own terms,'' he said. ``Every player would like to do that after a career of playing at a high level, and that's something I have an opportunity to do. More importantly, I have an opportunity to come out here and help this team win.''

ザックの常に努力を怠らないその姿勢には
ほんと頭が下がります。


Seau glad Dolphins want him back in 2005

2005-05-05 | Weblog
Miami Herald

DAVIE, Fla. - A 36-year-old linebacker coming off a major injury still has a place in the NFL - with the Miami Dolphins, at least.

Junior Seau is back on the practice field, learning new Miami coach Nick Saban's defensive scheme after weighing whether to return for a 16th pro season.

"There were thoughts of retirement," Seau said Wednesday. "It was nice to have Nick call me up and say he wanted me to be part of this."

When Saban phoned in February offering a chance to return, Seau accepted. A torn pectoral muscle forced him to miss the final ei

ght games of the Dolphins' miserable 2004 season, and that wasn't the way he wanted his career to end.

During the past two weeks, Seau participated in six days of voluntary practices for veterans - "flag football," as he called it.

"I feel great," he said. "I had a long vacation. It has been six months since I've been out on the field. Getting back with the guys and back in the locker room - we're all excited."

Seau likes the new mix of 4-3 and 3-4 alignments, which reminds him of the scheme he played during the pinnacle of his career with the San Diego Chargers. The change could allow him more playmaking opportunities, and teammates say they're glad Seau was invited back.

"Who are they going to bring in that they could upgrade over Junior?" linebacker Zach Thomas said. "I thought it was a great move. His love for the game rubs off on you."

Eager to prolong his own career, nine-year veteran Thomas has adopted some of Seau's offseason regimen. Until last season, Seau never had a serious injury, missing just nine games in 14 years. And he played well in 2004, ranking second to Thomas in tackles before being hurt.

Seau, who still lives in San Diego, said other teams expressed interest in acquiring "the old man." A move to a new team didn't interest him, and he considered calling it quits.

"Golfing in San Diego is pretty tough to leave," he said. "Every day I think about retirement. This game is not meant for human beings to play beyond a certain amount of years."

But Saban, hired to reverse the fortunes of a franchise that sank to 4-12 last year, made Seau feel wanted.

"With the record we had, there had to be some big changes," Seau said. "When the captain of the ship calls and says, `We want you to be part of it,' it gives you another thought to think about. ...

"I've had a great, great career, and I look forward to this year. I look forward to the Nick era

セイオウ、同級生なので頑張って欲しいです。
かれはベテランでもう十分すぎる成果を出してきていますが、
自分は何してるの?ちょっとへこみますが...

でも1~2年で引退して、Crowderが#55を背負うんだろうな