ATLANTA -- Devonta Freeman's carefully planning out his year.
He's not only mapping out the upcoming football season, which really is right around the corner with OTAs coming up in a few weeks and training camp in the summer.
He's doing community events and getting out to meet fans. He's also meticulously scheduling out his offseason rehab.
The Atlanta Falcons running back is now willing to admit that he spent a good portion of last season injured. On top of two concussions in the last calendar year, Freeman had a PCL and MCL sprain in his right knee that he played through as the Falcons battled through the postseason. The Falcons fell in the NFC Divisional round to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
After fighting through the pain for so long, he's finally taking care of his knee.
"It’s definitely progressing on the up and up. I’m doing a lot of rehabbing. A lot of treatment. Massages. Just strengthening to try and get it strong. But once again taking those baby steps and keep climbing those stairs until I get to the top," Freeman said in an interview with 11Alive on Sunday.
Freeman said the 'Brotherhood' was the reason he felt like he needed to play while injured. There's a saying in the NFL that everyone is always hurt, especially later in the season.
Freeman wanted to be one of those guys putting everything on the line. He didn't want to let his team down.
"If they go out and battle and sacrifice, I’ll do the same thing, and I’ll deal with my knee after the season," Freeman said. "Just try and keep playing for my brothers."
Freeman was less effective towards the end of the season. He still managed to rush for 865 yards and seven yards, but his stats were substantially less than the season prior. Fans felt like he may have been holding back or not giving it is all.
Then when the news came out about his MCL, it made sense.
"I never dealt like something like that around my knee before. I hate when I can’t play to my full potential, at 100 percent," Freeman said.
That's why he's taking his recovery seriously, and there's still plenty of time until he has put his body back in harms way. He said he'll be good to go for game one next season.
The Falcons are knee-deep in free agency. Their notable moves have been signing guard Brandon Fusco, cornerback Justin Bethel and tight end Logan Paulsen.They haven't made a big splash or been big spenders. That's likely because a lot hinges on quarterback Matt Ryan's extension.
Ryan's new contract is a priority to the team. Yet, with no real progress in weeks, it may drag on and tie up the front office's hands.
Freeman went through something similar last year. He received a contract extension during training camp. He received a five-year deal worth $41.25 million. He became the highest paid running back at the time.
He said he enjoyed the whole process-- learning new things and overcoming challenges in the process-- and he would do it all again. He added that it wasn't a big deal and is just a part of the business that gets blown out of proportion.
He's letting Ryan fight his own battle on this one.
"I haven’t talked to Matt about it. I also haven’t followed it. There’s nothing to follow because that’s his business," Freeman said. "I know as my brother, I have to love and support him unconditionally. And that’s what it’s all about."
Freeman hasn't followed free agency news because he believes "what we’ve got is what we need."
Plus, with offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian settling in, there should be a sense or normalcy going into the next season.
"To me, it’s all about being versatile and adjusting to whatever situation you’re in. New offensive coordinator, old offensive coordinator, new tricks in the playbook, whatever it may be. As a good player I feel like you have to know what you’re working with," he said. "You’ve got to adjust with it, and that’s what makes the elite guys elite."
Freeman recently spent a little time with Sarkisian in the Falcons locker room shooting the breeze. More just asking about the wife and kids. No football talk, yet.
When the time comes, he said he'll strike up some of those football conversations. He'll likely schedule it as he continues to map out the rest of his year.
For now, it's all about enjoying a little time off.
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