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The great defender

Men's Fitness, Nov, 2007 by Nate Millado

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Bigger isn't necessarily better, says Indianapolis Colts sack specialist Dwight Freeney. Prior to the 2002 NFL Draft, the 6'1", 268-pound defensive end was considered by several analysts to be too small to make an impact. "I heard so much bull. What's the point of being 6'4"? I'm not jumping up there catching rebounds," Freeney tells MF. "I'm a football player; I'm here to make tackles." And that he did. After being taken as the 11th-overall pick, he silenced haters, finishing third in the league with 13 sacks in his rookie season. Now, he's a reigning Super Bowl champ and--after signing a six-year, $72 million contract in July--the highest-paid defensive player of all time.

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MF: How do you condition your body to withstand the pounding it takes for 16-plus weeks?

DF: It's really in the off-season where you build the foundation to endure all the punches your body takes during the season. I'd go hard for two and a half months, just to try to get to my peak level of strength and endurance.

Any specific exercises you prefer at the gym?

I'm big with the squat rack. You can't run from the squat rack. [Laughs] There's no cheating; either you do it or you don't. It's all about your leverage, your base. There's a functional movement to it. You're using your entire body to stabilize the core. It's a complete workout.

What's the most you've squatted?

I think my max was 725 in college. I don't recommend it, though. [Laughs]

The failure rate for getting a sack is about 80%.

That's the hardest thing to get in the game, other than an interception. After all the hard work, getting a sack is the ultimate pat on the back for a defensive lineman. It's an amazing feeling.

You ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash in the NFL Combine. Any tips for improving speed?

When you work out, everything should be an explosive movement. It teaches your body to move quicker, your muscles to fire faster.

What happens on the field that people watching on TV don't get to see?

Trash-talking. Dirty playing. You get everything. If the other guy heard something about you, your girlfriend, or whatever, it's gonna be used on the field.

Are there any past football greats that you modal yourself after?

Well, there were a couple players I really respect. But the main one was Lawrence Taylor. I grew up an LT fan. How he hustled, his relentless pursuit of the ball.

Which QBs do you enjoy sacking?

There's an equal amount of, I'm not gonna say dislike ... OK, I'll say it, dislike [laughs] for all quarterbacks. Everybody is protecting them, from the offensive line to the media. It's my goal to get after them. It's something I love to do.

The Colts were long criticized for underachieving in the postseason. How sweet was that Super Bowl victory?

Oh, it proved everyone wrong. It doesn't matter what the media or anyone else says. The only people that matter are the guys that are out playing on the field every Sunday. It was very sweet. Imagine your dream since you were 8 years old was to be president, and then waking up and you were. That's what it feels like.

The great defender

Men's Fitness, Nov, 2007 by Nate Millado

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