Football is pain. Professional football is, at times, excruciating.
Players endure hits that fill highlight reels and drop our jaws. Spectators experience the odd and ultimately cruel awe that comes when one body hurts another for the benefit of the team.
And NFL players know the unspoken rule: You don’t have to enjoy pain. But you sure as hell aren’t going to complain about it. They hide it with pills and tape and with splints and braces, cotton to soak up the blood and cold tubs to preserve their aching muscles.
But what about pain in the mind?