30 // VARSITY January 30, 2014
C
hris Maragos has already thought about
that first kickoff in Super Bowl XLVIII and
what might be running through his mind.
As he's jumping around just seconds before
sprinting down the field to cover the kick for the
Seattle Seahawks, he knows that he'll be full of ner-
vous energy. But beyond that?
"I'll be thinking about all the things that it has
taken to get to this point,'' said Maragos, a fourth-
year safety out of Wisconsin. "I'll be thinking about
how it all molded and shaped me.
"I'll be thinking about those times when I was in
high school and I was doing hill charges by myself
in the summer when all of my friends were out at
the beach.
"I'll be thinking about those times when I had to
transfer schools and I wasn't quite sure what was
going to happen next or where I was going to go.
"I'll be thinking about those times after I was cut
(in the NFL) and I was doing defensive back drills
with my cleats on in the front yard of my in-law's
house ― staying ready for my next opportunity.''
Maybe he'll be thinking about those times when
he relied on the guidance and support of his wife
and family when he was struggling to stay afloat
while coveting and chasing respect.
"What it all boils down to ― no matter what it is
that we're striving for ― is that we want respect,''
Maragos said. "Why do I play the game so hard? I
want respect. Ask any person, 'Why is it that you do
what you do?' Everything really comes down to re-
spect. That's the biggest thing we search for.''
Respect comes with a price in the National Foot-
ball League; everything does.
"First off, you understand how tough it is to make
it in the NFL because of the limited rosters ― plus
the level of athletes is unreal,'' said Maragos. "It's
not like college where there are 120 guys and you're
going to get some time to get acclimated and figure
out what's going on.''
Instead when you arrive at a pro training camp,
especially if you're an undrafted free agent ― like
he was ― Maragos said, "You've got four months to
show what you can do before the final cuts. At that
point, there are only 53 guys on the team. That's it.
If it doesn't work out, then you're done.
"So you have to understand that. It's a business
and they're going to do what is best for the team
and the organization based on how they think guys
JEFF
MOFFETT
/
ICON
SMI
