I love the game just as much as anybody else. But at the same time, I also understand that life is more than football, too. People might get that misconstrued sometimes, too, that I don't care because I'm not die-hard football, eat, sleep and drink it all day and all night.

I never felt like my effort was a problem.

That one thing that people say about me taking plays off, I feel like somebody said that when I was playing in college and it has followed me throughout my career. Because I feel like if we had the film and you wanted to pick one person who was taking a play off on a particular play, you could pick anybody.

Obviously, we know people aren't as fortunate and blessed as we are. I learned a little bit about the impact we have as professionals, and how we can help, how impactful it is for just your presence.

I've learned a lot. Being more compassionate.

I guess more than anything, Green Bay just felt like home. You know, small town, good people who love their football... it was a really great experience being a part of that culture.

I was sad to leave Green Bay, and I don't think I would have left to go anywhere but home to Carolina.

At the end of the day, the wins are the wins and the losses are the losses. But the relationships are everything.

I was lucky because growing up in tiny little Bailey, North Carolina, we had a satellite dish, so we got WGN. Which meant we got almost every Bulls game.

I didn't grow up playing football. I wanted to be a basketball player.

I'm thankful that I have been able to play so long and still be healthy. I'm not all banged up and beaten down. I still feel good. But as much as I would love to play forever, I know that I can't.

Seventeen years is a long time to be playing this game. It's two careers for a lot of people.

As a player, I don't want to come off the field.

People will hear one thing and just run with it.

How can you say you want to be somewhere when you're not really sure if they want you there because they're not even talking to you?

I like to run in the offseason.

I've been doing that since college. I like to run. That's my thing.

Sometimes, you're on the field, you get tired. If I'm not playing as hard on play 66 as I was on play number 1, then... come on.

If the opportunities are a little limited, then you've got to try to find a way to make something happen the best way you can.

I want to try to execute my role to help the team in the best way possible.

I think everybody would like to play a little more.

Sometimes you've got to just dig down deep and be accountable for the role that you have on the team.

I know I can make plays.

I wouldn't change a thing about this journey. It was the best teacher I've ever had and was everything I could've hoped for.