Lucas at Large: What does it take to survive in the NFL?
August 18, 2016 | Football, Mike Lucas
The pro ranks are well stocked with Wisconsin linemen, which speaks to Badgers' staying power
 |
||
|
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Survival has taken on a much different appearance and dimension for the Bearded Wonder, the Unheralded Grinder and the Ever Hopeful Underdog.
As a result, each of these former Wisconsin offensive linemen has their own story to tell about their respective journeys from the Big Ten and Camp Randall Stadium to the National Football League.
"Survival? It takes a lot of luck I would say," said center Travis Frederick, a first-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2013 draft. "It comes down to body preservation and not getting hurt. That's probably the number one deal.
"From there, it's about learning and evolving as your career extends. What you need to do is keep up with the level of the people who are coming in and are younger and more talented. The older guys kind of help you learn these things and help you transition and you follow their lead.
"I have had great examples; guys like Tony Romo and Jason Witten. They've been in for 12 and 13 years and you see the things that those guys are doing and you kind of mold that into your game a little bit as well so you can hopefully make it to 13 years one day."
On Sunday, the 25-year-old Frederick agreed to terms on a contract extension that will make him the highest paid center in the league. Reportedly, it's for six years and $56.4 million — with $28.2 million guaranteed. That money could stretch a long way in his hometown of Sharon, Wisconsin (Pop. 1,500).
Overall, it's quite a jump, too, from Big Foot High School to Big Bucks.
"One of the biggest things that has helped me is the way that our offense was prepared, and the way I was always prepared at Wisconsin," Frederick said during a summer alumni outing in Madison, where he and his wife, Kaylee, parents for the first time, own a Capitol Square condo.
"It made for a pretty seamless transition into the NFL. We had a very similar playbook as far as the pro-style offense. Obviously, Coach (Paul) Chryst spent some time in the NFL (with San Diego) and that made it easy as far as learning the position."
Frederick also credited the UW strength and conditioning staff for building his confidence in the weight room, where he would routinely bench press 500 pounds and squat nearly 800. "It prepared me well," he said, "for being able to go up against some of the best guys in the NFL on a daily basis."
After back-to-back Pro Bowls, he's one of the best of the best. But he doesn't think that way.
"To me, it's not about individual performance," said Frederick, whose beard is as much of a trademark as his intellect (he's a computer engineering and computer science grad). "What we do as an offense, what we do as an offensive line, doesn't mean anything if we don't win a championship."
•  •  •  •
Kraig Urbik has made the most out of his survival instincts.
"Survival? You have to be a pro at your craft," said Urbik, a third-round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009. "It's not just from the end of July until January. It's a year-round process. It's what you eat, how you lift, how you train. It's all of the film study, being diligent, just clawing away."
After one season in Pittsburgh, Urbik caught on with the Buffalo Bills and ended up playing every position on the O-line while starting 57 of 84 games. "After my rookie year, I didn't know if this was for me," he admitted. "But my agent talked me through the whole process."
Urbik has the same agent as Frederick — Joe Panos, a legendary UW walk-on, a first-team All-Big Ten offensive tackle and the co-captain of the 1994 Rose Bowl team. Urbik heeded Panos' advice about "doing the right things all the time and being consistent about it, too."
It paid off this offseason when Urbik signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins.
"The NFL is obviously a business," said the unheralded Urbik, still grinding at 30. "The older and more expensive you get, they're always looking for someone younger and cheaper. So you have to be better than you were before just to survive that long."
Survival isn't enough, though.
"I want to win, too," said Urbik, entering his eighth year. "I want to make the playoffs."
•  •  •  •
Ryan Groy might be the ultimate survivor; ever hopeful that he will still find an NFL home.
"Survival? It's endless work," said Groy, a free agent signed by the Chicago Bears after the 2014 draft. "You can't have someone come in under you and worker harder than you. So you're always going to have to be at the top of your game in all categories.
"It's going to have to be film, it's going to have to be the weight room, it's going to have to be all of the above. You can't just be getting by. You have to be above and beyond better than the person who's younger than you because they're getting paid less."
After landing on the Bears' practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster and started three games late in his rookie season. That was a high. But it was followed by a personal low, a family tragedy. In February of 2015, Groy's father, Doug, was killed in a snowmobile accident. He was 55.
In August, the Bears traded Groy to New England where he was subsequently waived by the Patriots. Tampa Bay signed him to its practice squad, from which the Buffalo Bills later claimed him. This was a breakthrough for Groy, who appeared in four games as part of the Bills' jumbo package.
"When I was in Chicago," said Groy, a 25-year-old Middleton native, "a lot of guys taught me that you have to be a vet at all times. You can't get complacent. You can't get lazy. You have to always compete, no matter where you are on the roster because you can always be replaced.
"I need to keep working hard and show the coaches that I'm determined and committed. Kraig Urbik was really helpful (last season). So were (Buffalo offensive linemen) Eric Wood and Richie Incognito. They showed me how to go about your business."
On the current Buffalo depth chart, Groy is listed as the backup to Incognito. But with Incognito nursing an injury, he got first-team snaps in the Bills' preseason opener. Groy's value is his versatility. He can play guard or center. At Wisconsin, he even started games at left tackle and fullback.
"Every year is a new opportunity," he said. "Especially for me, an undrafted guy."
In late June, Frederick, Urbik and Groy were present for the Legends of Wisconsin Classic at University Ridge. They were joined by a handful of other former O-linemen for golf. Joe Thomas and Gabe Carimi, two of the school's Outland Trophy winners, attended the dinner the night.
"We all keep in touch," Urbik said. "It's a good tradition."
Not much changes over the years, either.
"When you come back here," Groy said, "it's the same guys, the same stories, the same laughs."
It's a fraternity. Especially at Wisconsin.
"The O-line sticks together," said Groy. "It's kind of how it has always been."
