Do you ever pinch yourself when you think about where you've gotten and the path you've taken to get there?LAURENT DUVERNAY-TARDIF:Every year, you reach new goals when it comes to personal development. There are lots of things to accomplish, but at the same time, that's what's fun about it. I'm the kind of guy who gets motivated by plans and projects, so when it's the off-season - which is four months long - I don't see that as an opportunity to just "chill." (laughs) Last winter, I did everything I set out to do, including three months of medical school, and it went well. We set up a foundation which is promising and well-structured, with good partners. Through all that, I was able to work out intensely so I'd get to Kansas City in shape. I always come a bit late, Coach [Andy] Reid gives me a hard time for coming a month after the others. I'm always a bit nervous to see how I'm going to fit in with everyone who's already there, in terms of the amount of workouts and physical preparation. It went really well.
You spent the winter studying in order to eventually complete your medical degree. Was it tough to go from protecting your quarterback one week to diving back into your books the next?LDT:I had three good weeks between the time the Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs and the start of my semester last winter. During that time, I was able to get back into the groove of studying and shake off the rust with medical concepts and terms. On the other hand, I didn't really think I'd be signing a contract extension in my first month of studying. This year, getting back into it wasn't so bad, because I've already done it where I only had a six-day break between the end of my season and resuming my studies. A football season is very taxing on the body, so the transition from one season to another allows you to recover. The NFL supports us very well in order to help us optimize our performance. When you get to the world of medicine, you're at the bottom of the ladder. You're not at your peak. It really changes your dynamic and perspective, because all our attention is given to the patients. They're two completely different dynamics, but at the same time, it allows you to stay grounded. When you come back to the department of medicine and you go back to being at the bottom of the ladder, your ego takes a hit.