PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - We’ve seen NFL players come up with some really interesting ways to spend their time. The Steelers are no different in that they have had their fair share of players remaining active and entertaining the fan base throughout this especially long offseason.
That’s because Washington has 26 acres around him to roam free on his very own farm, which he purchased during this offseason. After growing up on his family’s farm in Texas and gained the necessary real-life experience as a child that taught him how to properly work and operate a farm, he furthered that interest at Oklahoma State by majoring in agribusiness with a focus on farm and ranch management.
No gyms available during the quarantine? No problem. Washington told Teresa Varley of Steelers.com that he is “always out running sprints” along with practicing routes, getting strength training in by maintaining the landscaping throughout the property and going on long bike rides through the Texas countryside.
As a result, he says he’s lost an additional eight pounds and feels quicker and lighter than he did last season. Though he can’t go through legitimate football drills, he’s ordering a Jugs machine soon to fire some passes on his routes and isn’t worried about missing out on too much training. Considering the circumstances, as all public facilities are closed down and there are CDC mandates that prohibit the usage of those training centers, the farm life seems pretty good for a player looking to maintain his health.
Owning and operating a huge farm isn’t all play, though. He’s got to do the usual things you’d associate with the rural lifestyle, maintaining the property and plowing the fields in order to fulfill the farm’s basic upkeep.
Washington also told Varley that he eventually wants to buy cattle, raise them and sell them to make some additional money.
"[My dad has> a cow/calf operation,” Washington said. “In the spring when they have calves, they calve them, grow them out and sell them when they grow. I will get there at some time."
The next step? The rodeo. However, Washington is “waiting until [his> playing days are over to even think about that.” That seems like a smart move, considering the scrutiny that All-Star pitcher Madison Bumgarner faced after his rodeo alias, Mason Saunders, was revealed to the public.
Washington enjoyed a breakout campaign of sorts in 2019, managing to accumulate 735 yards despite shoddy QB play from Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges. He led the team in yards amid an injury-riddled campaign from JuJu Smith-Schuster and the lack of any other consistently productive targets.
If the fitness and health he’s maintained from isolating on his huge farm is any indication, Washington could have an even better 2020 season in store.