Like a fast twitch muscle workout, Marvin Austin's football career has been a series of starts and stops.
After missing his senior season at North Carolina, it looked like Austin was back on track when the Giants selected him in the second round last year. However, a torn pectoral muscle in a preseason game in 2011 derailed his rookie campaign before it could fully start.
That makes it two years since Austin has seen the field in meaningful games, and he's itching to get back. He told ESPN New York’s Ohm Youngmisuk as much recently when he caught up with Austin.
"All I want to do as of now is play football," said Austin, who sat in on football meetings while rehabbing last season. "It was a bittersweet thing for me, being out of football for a whole other year, you got to deal with all the things that people are going to say and stuff. But everything happens for a reason. Last year before the draft, I went in the second round but went to one of the best football teams. And then [critics] say, 'Can we trust this guy?' I go to the biggest media market in the country where the most eyes are going to be on me. I am going to go out there and bust my butt to perform.
"But at the same time, I am not an idiot," he added. "I understand this game is a young man's game and one day I will get old."
But that won't be for a while as the 23-year-old Austin began lifting weights again to strengthen the injured muscle.
During the layoff, Austin had time to explore other avenues of his life, most notably his passion for music. He recently attended the inaugural Business of Music Boot Camp, a weeklong program for 20 current and former players selected out of more than 100 applicants.
"I am going to put my best foot forward," said Austin, who could be a part of the defensive tackle rotation this season. "As in music, you don't make a record and say it is going to be a hit record. I just go out there and be the best defensive tackle I can be. If that is the defensive tackle they choose to start, that is who it is."
CLICK SIX>> Chung says he avoids watching replays of Manningham's big catch. [Boston Herald/NFL.com]
New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung told fans last week that he still hasn't watched Mario Manningham's sideline catch in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVI, which ignited the Giants' game-winning drive.
"When I go home, I watch 'Real Housewives,'" Chung said at a question-and-answer session with fans, the Boston Herald reported.
Fresh off winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants, Porterville (Calif.) native Bear Pascoe will spend some time with Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register readers.
Pascoe will be their guest on the next T.C. Chat on Wednesday. Readers who have questions for Pascoe can participate in the live chat, which has been scheduled for 6 p.m.
Linebacker Herzlich helps raise cancer-fighting funds at Syracuse Crunch game. [The Post-Standard]
Giants re-sign punter Steve Weatherford. [Giants.com]
Who's the greatest NFL team in the Super Bowl era? The second round of the NFL's own version of bracketology is underway now. Cast your votes on NFL.com.
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