Retirement time has not yet come for Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. Although he is not yet ready to move from football, the offensive lineman, who has no contract with an NFL team, is currently focusing on his other professional goal: the start of his medical residency.
The 31-year-old guard didn’t hide it, the idea of bowing has been occupying his mind in recent months. He preferred to stop his athletic career to prioritize short -term medicine and see what the future holds for him in September.
Four years after getting his doctorate in medicine at McGill University, it’s time for Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to begin his residency, the deadline for applying has been set for 2022.
” Although McGill always gives me a lot of flexibility, I always tell myself that I want to stay within the rules, within what is allowed. I don’t want to ask for special permission. Maybe I found a way, but it’s important that I give myself the best chance to be a good doctor because the decision to play football or not is 100% personal, but medicine, it still has to do with other people, starting with the patients. “
His decision was completely not made on a whim. It took quite a while to ripen, the process officially started in late autumn.
In the weeks following his move in November from the Kansas City Chiefs to the New York Jets, after he removed his no-trade clause, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif began the process of completing his medical residency in Quebec. . A series of interviews followed in March, and he was selected by McGill University Health Center.
While she was preparing for the continuation of her medication, several organizations interested in her services contacted her agent Sasha Ghavami. Three formal offers were received, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif said, but all were rejected because he had to miss the first collective training sessions, the camp and the preparation calendar.
I decided to start my residency on the 1st of July. It also made it so that I would not sign the contracts offered to me. The good news there, we’ve been loyal to the teams that have approached us, and there’s still openness on the part of some of them to consider signing for the start of the season.indicates an aspirant to specialize in family and emergency medicine.
The door slightly opened
The duration of his residence in medicine extends to two years. His first obligations, the introductory period in the program, take place over two months until the end of August.
After that, the guard will re -evaluate his options, whether his heart is still beating hard for football, first and foremost, and whether a team with a favorable situation is showing interest in him.
The desire to play football is the most important thing. If I come back to play, it’s because I love football, it’s not for contract or money, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif assured. Ultimately, playing football again will put an end to many other businesses in my life. I had to do it because I wanted to be there. This is the biggest factor.
Honestly, I don’t know what will happen this fall. I think there is a good chance that I will be offered a contract, but at this stage maybe I’ll realize that with medicine, I’m a bit behind. I may never have the call to play football againadded Super Bowl champion LIV to the Kansas City uniform.
” Of course I’m not helping my chance. In the sense that if the only thing in life I wanted to be with at the start of the 2022 season, I would have signed in March. But my goal is to be a doctor in the next 30 years and be able to play another football season. After eight years in the NFL, I give myself the right to make the decisions that are best for me from a global and holistic perspective, not just in football. I know there is an associated risk, but I’m really comfortable with it. “
By his own admission, the principal in charge made a difficult transition during the 2021 calendar after exchanging the Chiefs ’offensive playbook, which he knew like the back of his hand, for Jets, which he needs to assimilate. in a hurry. way to get repetitions.
He believes his flexibility is an added value in the eyes of organizations that may seek reinforcements at the end of the preseason or when the campaign is underway. However, his will will prevail.
It is difficult to know all the possible scenarios in a football match and practice consistency. This is very difficult. I never thought it would be this difficult. But as long as I did it and it went pretty well, it would give me arguments to join a team, if I wanted to do it.said Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who has 68 games behind the tie, including 64 starts, since he was selected to the draft in 2014.
It’s all good and good playbook study and gym training and all that, but when you’re in a stadium in front of 80,000 people and you have Fletcher Cox or Aaron Donald in front of you, you have to feel that you have everything in you to be successful. Football is a physical game, but largely mentalhe added, referring to the commitment needed to pursue his athletic career.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif may conduct his residence outside the province, or even outside the borders of Canada. He finally chose to return home, on the one hand for the environment offered by McGill University Health Center, on the other hand to be closer to his family.
It’s a beautiful environment. I think we are fortunate in Quebec, for the accessibility of care, for the cultural diversity in Montreal and also for the languages, it is a treasure to be able to work in English and French. All of this combined, along with the closeness of family and friends, makes it a place where I want to evolve, train, contribute.explained Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.
Asked if one or the other of the political parties had approached him recently with the impending provincial elections, he satisfied himself with answering, between two bursts of laughter, no comment.
Needless to say, the man with many hats has been in-demand for several years, in fact, in almost every field. And it will be even more so when its removal from the competition is confirmed and announced. This fall or later.
Source: Radio-Canada
