Editor’s note: Rookie cornerback Domonique Foxworth, whom the Broncos drafted in the third round this year, will share his thoughts and experiences with readers in a weekly journal during the preseason. Foxworth was a three-year starter at Maryland, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies and graduated in 3 1/2 years.
What if a hospital’s top neurosurgeon had to reapply for her job annually, regardless of the number of successful operations she completed the year before? What if a teacher was asked to resubmit a résumé and go through weeks of interviews at the beginning of each semester? What if the post office brought in 10 new mail carriers to compete for two existing delivery routes every year?
While it is somewhat far- fetched for most professions, this is the reality of life for a professional football player. There is no job security from year to year. There are no guarantees that your friends will be putting on the same jersey as you on Sunday. The constant pressure and competition forces every man to prove himself daily.
This dynamic creates a unique work atmosphere. Undeniably we are pitted against each other in a way that under normal circumstances would breed intense hostility. Any player on the preseason roster could be viewed as a threat to your livelihood. Whether you have a family of four to support or you’re a 22-year-old bachelor, the fact remains you are competing for one job.
In spite of these severe implications, bonds are formed. Rather than feeling disdain toward one another, respect and friendships are born. The understanding that we all are experiencing the same unsympathetic situation brings us closer.
No matter what the final roster looks like, I am appreciative for the experience and the relationships that have been forged.
