Right mix of rest, sweat key to break

Some Steelers took more personal time than others at voluntary organized team activities, but after minicamp ended Thursday, everyone on the roster will get a nearly sixweekbreak.

How players will spend their time between now and training camp varies. Just about every player has plans to get in their work in the next few weeks, with some having developed routines over the course of their careers and others planning how to balance work and relaxation during this stretch. But even with it being the last break before training camp, getting in thatwork is important.

“Everybody should be going into the offseason knowing in their mind that they got to get better,” cornerback Artie Burns said. “Because when camp comes, it’s all guns firing. Everybody’s got to fight for their roles, and everybody [should] want to go back home with the mindset ofgetting prepared.”

Some players, such as defensive end Stephon Tuitt, plan to stay close; he said he and a couple of teammates regularly stick around the facilities after minicamp and work out together, welcoming others who “join along the way.” Others have found a routine back home that works. Safety Morgan Burnett said he plans to spend time in Atlanta, as he prefers to be outside this time of the year while also being with his family.

“I’ve been working with my trainer now down there for six years, so I’m going to be training,” Burnett said. “I’m going to be busy with my son — my son is playing baseball, soI’ll basically be training and ripping and running with my son.”

Cornerback Joe Haden, another nine-year veteran, has similar plans; he said it’s as nice to be home with his family during this time as it is important to get in his work because “it’s your last little break.” “As soon as training camp starts, it’s a wrap, it’s over,” Haden said. “So it’s just good to be able to get away from it a little bit but still making sure you’re getting your bodyright for training camp.”

For some of the younger players, coming up with the right plan especially is important. Having never been through a training camp, rookie first-round pick Terrell Edmunds said he plans to keep up his workouts with his brothers — Tremaine was a first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in April and Trey plays for the New Orleans Saints — and stay in the playbook. Quarterback Josh Dobbs said his plan last year led him to feelgood coming into camp, so he hopes sticking with it will producethe same result.

“The first week is grind, get back into the weight room,” Dobbs said. “The second week is vacation but still grinding while away on vacation. Then,when you get back from vacation,go hard until camp.”

No matter what age or status, the goal remains the same: Get to Saint Vincent College July 25 ready to take careof business.