No club should have to endure losing its starting quarterback, running back and offensive tackles before the leaves fall, let alone the resignation of its offensive coordinator, the half-blinding of its head coach and the meltdown of a once-premier kicker.
Then again, the NFL is merciless with teams caught in its gears. “Wait until next year” is fine for baseball players who can play into their 40s with guaranteed contracts. For suddenly six-year veterans like safety Harrison Smith, the wolf is always at the door.
“There’s a lot of ups and downs and things that don’t always bounce your way and you have to overcome them,” he said. “When you have opportunities, you have to make the most of them. How can we turn that into a positive and not let things pass us by and take advantage of them now? It’s not tomorrow. No, it’s right now. It’s today.”
Tomorrows are a luxury Zimmer and Spielman will not enjoy unless they leverage yesterday’s losses into today’s gains.