Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is back home after savoring the joy of a return with the New York Jets in the middle of the season. The time to decide with certainty on its future is not for now.
• Read also: NFL: Tom Brady announces his retirement … “for good”
• Read also: Dak Prescott is still the Cowboys man
• Read also: 49ers: no chance that “Jimmy G” will be back
He is a “Doc” in great shape who had a long talk with The newspaper.
After long months away from football, he signed with the Jets in mid-November and first joined the practice squad before being brought back to the regular roster. He even regained his position as starting guard for the match of 1is January.
As for knowing if this success encourages him to want to return to the game or rather to leave on a good note, it will be necessary to wait.
“The love of football is still there. I still have the passion, but I have to weigh the pros and cons,” he said.
For the player who will be 32 years old, the process promises to be similar to that of last year. In other words, there is no rush.
“I am not actively looking for a contract. I want to dive back into my plans here and see what might happen this fall. If along the way I feel that I no longer have the passion or that I no longer train as I should, I will make decisions accordingly.
“I reached a point in my career where I earned the privilege of putting myself in situations like I put myself this year. Only a small portion of players reach that point after nine years in the NFL,” he said.
- Listen to the podcast The Paid Zone below:
Late occasions
During the off-season last year, several teams showed interest in the spring, but Duvernay-Tardif wanted to start his medical residency during the summer. By fall, three teams, including the Jets, still wanted his services.
“Last year, I had the same speech as now. I’ll see if the phone stops ringing or just if I have more to lose than gain from returning to football,” he commented.
Photo d’archives, Getty Images via AFP
No regrets
As for his second experience with the Jets, Duvernay-Tardif is delighted to have jumped on the train even if the wagons derailed. The Jets have lost their last six games, finishing with a 7-10 record, and they were knocked out of the playoffs.
“On the team side, it was disappointing to go through this losing streak that prevented us from making the playoffs. It is shared with my individual satisfaction to have been able to find a starting position and I have no regrets. »
In the months to come, Duvernay-Tardif will not only have his future on the ground in mind. His heart also swings between family medicine and public health.
“To choose well, I have to give myself time to think about it to know how I can use the platform that I have built in the NFL to promote something that is close to my heart,” concluded the “Doc” .
Sincerely with the Kansas City Chiefs
We can get Laurent Duvernay-Tardif out of the Chiefs, but we can’t get the Chiefs out of Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.
The Montrealer may have spent the last two seasons with the Jets, but he can’t help but rejoice when he sees his former team end up in Super Bowl 57, against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Duvernay-Tardif was drafted in the sixth round by the Chiefs and remained with them until mid-
season in 2021, winning the Super Bowl in February 2020.
In recent weeks, he traveled to Kansas City, along with his wife Florence, for the first time since being traded to settle some issues and encourage the Chiefs in the playoffs.
“I was chatting with former teammates who live in Kansas City, but are no longer with the Chiefs, and everyone experiences the cut differently. Me, I went back there with a big smile on my face, I was so happy! “, he reacted.
Fans remember
Duvernay-Tardif spent four days in his adopted city and found that he had not been forgotten.
“It was important for me to come back, to take a few days to go to all the restaurants and all the little places that we liked, and then go to the game.
“Everyone welcomed us with open arms. I got so often hit on by people on the street telling me “Welcome back Doc!” I had the motton several times. It’s fun to see that you’ve left a mark in this city,” he said.
A big challenge
Duvernay-Tardif did not get wet in the game of predictions, but he cannot help but realize the magnitude of the challenge that awaits the Chiefs.
“The Super Bowl is often about who has the most complete team and there are a lot of injuries at the Chiefs. It will depend on how it evolves in the next few weeks, but the Eagles look very dominant too. It’s going to be a very good match, ”slid the one who does not hide his bias.
“I’m happy for the Chiefs. You can’t not want these guys to be successful. It’s solemn when I look at them. I live stress, happiness, it’s a mixture of emotions.
“It’s fun to know that I was part of this movement and to have contributed to quietly building the reputation of the Chiefs. My history in football is a lot in Kansas City. »
