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BRADENTON, Fla. -- The NFL lockout has prevented Marcell Dareus from cashing in on turning pro, so he mows his godfather's lawn in exchange for a place to stay.
And Aaron Williams does ranch work, throwing hay and fixing barbed-wire fences.
"Acres and acres of land; you're always moving," Williams said. "But it's better than sitting on your butt playing Xbox."
"You come out of college with plans of making big money, and everything goes on hold," said Dareus, the third overall pick by the Buffalo Bills. "It grinds you."
Dareus, a 320-pound defensive tackle from Alabama, said he earns his keep while living in Birmingham with his godfather.
"Everybody calls him 'Sergeant,' because he was a sergeant in the Army," Dareus said. "At 6 o'clock in the morning, we're up cutting grass. He ain't playing. He's crazy about keeping his yard cut. He has kind of a big yard. We cut it twice a week and trim his hedges. It's an all-day thing."
When asked if Sergeant provides a push mower or a rider, Dareus groaned.
"He's old school."
Dareus hardly is the only extraordinary athlete settling for an ordinary summer job. Castonzo, an offensive tackle drafted in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts, is living with his parents in Chicago and making deliveries for their restaurant, just like he did growing up.
He's a bit bigger now, though.
"When I show up at someone's door, a 6-7, 315-pound guy, they're like, 'Oooooookay. Put the food over here, please,'" Castonzo said with a laugh. "I make basically whatever they tip me. With my parents, I'm on a volunteer basis. I'm living like I'm still a college kid -- there's no money to spend."
And Aaron Williams does ranch work, throwing hay and fixing barbed-wire fences.
"Acres and acres of land; you're always moving," Williams said. "But it's better than sitting on your butt playing Xbox."
"You come out of college with plans of making big money, and everything goes on hold," said Dareus, the third overall pick by the Buffalo Bills. "It grinds you."
Dareus, a 320-pound defensive tackle from Alabama, said he earns his keep while living in Birmingham with his godfather.
"Everybody calls him 'Sergeant,' because he was a sergeant in the Army," Dareus said. "At 6 o'clock in the morning, we're up cutting grass. He ain't playing. He's crazy about keeping his yard cut. He has kind of a big yard. We cut it twice a week and trim his hedges. It's an all-day thing."
When asked if Sergeant provides a push mower or a rider, Dareus groaned.
"He's old school."
Dareus hardly is the only extraordinary athlete settling for an ordinary summer job. Castonzo, an offensive tackle drafted in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts, is living with his parents in Chicago and making deliveries for their restaurant, just like he did growing up.
He's a bit bigger now, though.
"When I show up at someone's door, a 6-7, 315-pound guy, they're like, 'Oooooookay. Put the food over here, please,'" Castonzo said with a laugh. "I make basically whatever they tip me. With my parents, I'm on a volunteer basis. I'm living like I'm still a college kid -- there's no money to spend."
Bills Rock!
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