Perhaps Bob Winkel, a defensive tackle from the University of Kentucky, was excited about being chosen by the Vikings in the 1979 NFL Draft and wasn't thinking clearly. Because when he planned his trip from the Lexington campus to Minnesota's training camp, he bought a map instead of a plane ticket.
"My first thing that I had to do was figure out where in the hell in Minnesota, Mankato was. And I actually drove up there and not knowing. Being stupid and whatnot," Winkel laughed.
"And they were really late getting into camp. There were some guys at U.K. that had already been cut (by other NFL teams) and were back before I even went away for the first camp."
The only defensive lineman drafted by the Vikings that year, Winkel was released a week-and-a-half before the end of the preseason. Discouraged, he thought his first camp would also be his last.
The Jets would prove him wrong.
"When I was put on waivers, I was thinking, 'Well, this is it for my football career,'" Winkel said. "And by the time I got back to Lexington, I was picked up by the New York Jets. So I got on a plane the next day.
"And as soon as I got there, the taxi let me out and I walked over to Walt Michaels, who was standing on the sidewalk, and introduced myself. He said, 'Good. Get in there and they'll process you.' That was the extent of our conversation."
True, the head coach didn't go out of his way to chat, but Winkel would come to find out that was the norm around the Jets' facility on the Hofstra campus, and not the exception.
"Veterans, at that time, and I'd say it's probably true today, they don't really talk to the rookies much simply because they're not going to be there very long, most of them," Winkel said. "So I ended up befriending the other rookies.
"I hung around with Stan Blinka, Mike McKibben, and also Marty Lyons. And at the beginning of the season, once you're on the team, then the veterans start talking to you."
Making his NFL debut in Week 2 of the 1979 season, a 56-3 shellacking by the Patriots in New England, it was not only a memorable, but a new experience for the rookie. Literally.
"It was the first professional football game I ever saw live, and I played in it," Winkel said. "And I remember telling (the defensive line coach, Dan Sekanovich), 'Coach, I don't know any of the plays or calls or anything.' And he said, 'Don't worry about it. Just get out there and play football.' And I did get in and made a couple tackles."
Playing in all but one game his first year, Winkel played in each of them during the 1980 season. And besides being a solid backup defensive tackle, he was a standout on special teams. So much so that Michaels would call him "our special teams leader."
Winkel not only racked up tackles that year, breaking Mike Hennigan's special teams points record, but during a game against Buffalo in Week 10 at Shea Stadium, he got his hands on the ball and returned a kick four yards.
"It was one of those things. I was more surprised than anybody that it hit me," Winkel laughed. "Yeah, I did try to return it. But there wasn't anything special about it because of the way that they did the onside. One thing I regret though, going left when I should have gone right."
There was another occasion when Winkel may have regretted not going to his right because it would have been less painful. It was during a game against the Houston Oilers and he was facing the future Hall of Fame running back who resembled a cleat-wearing brick wall, Earl Campbell.
"He almost beat me to death with his running," Winkel said. "I was playing tackle at the time because somebody was out. I don't remember whether it was Abdul (Salaam) or if it was Marty (Lyons). But anyway, he went to his right and I went to my left. I tried to tackle him, and when I did, I flung around and he dragged me about 10 yards down the field.
"And as he was running, his heels were kicking me in the chest. And finally, Burgess (Owens), the safety, came over and tackled him the rest of the way. I just kind of rolled over and he stuck his hand out to help me up, and said, 'Winkel, man, when you're going to try to tackle Big Earl, you need to get help.'"
Following two seasons, Winkel was released at the end of the 1981 training camp.
"I really enjoyed the game. I enjoyed practicing. I enjoyed football. But I did know one thing, and that was every year that I played, it put me one year further behind what I'd be doing the rest of my life," Winkel said.
"Because I knew it was a game and it was unrealistic, because you're being paid a certain amount of money, and even at that time, it was kind of double what you would end up getting starting a job coming out of school.
"So it was unrealistic. But to be honest with you, I was happy to just be able to do what I had done for umpteen years."
In 1982, less than a year after leaving the Jets, Winkel joined his second team, the Eagle Distributing Company. He's been with them ever since and is now a managing partner for the Anheuser Busch distributor's branch in Memphis, Tennessee.
"I started out with a gentleman in Kentucky, Ray Hand, and he bought a distributor out in Knoxville," Winkel said. "I went with him and started the branch, and then about three years later, I started running that. I ran that for about 30 years, and I've been here for close to nine years."
And what does Winkel enjoy about what he's doing?
"Where else do you get paid to go in bars," he laughed. "You're dealing with people every day. And I don't know whether you've been around many beer people, but there's not many mean beer people. So it's a joy to be around not only the employees, but also getting out and meeting with your retailers. It's a great business."
Winkel and his wife, Shannon, make their home in suburban Memphis, and have three adult sons. Ryan, who graduated from the University of Arkansas, where he played on the offensive line for the Razorbacks. Russell, who graduated from the University of Central Florida. And Robert, who also graduated from Arkansas, where he was a cheerleader.
