Powered by:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA
Contains commercial content
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / 4 Key Lessons NFL Players Can Learn from Professional Poker Players

4 Key Lessons NFL Players Can Learn from Professional Poker Players

A way to improve their game
Publish Date: 01/21/2020
Fact checked by: Mike Goodpaster

The 2020 Superbowl is fast approaching and will be upon us before you can say “hut!”. With many of the performances of the past couple of Superbowl games being widely derided as some of the most disappointing in years, it’s worth considering what this year’s players can take onto the field to ensure they bring their A-game in February.

While team coaches are famously known for looking for inspiration in unusual places, one area they have neglected is the poker table. Professional poker players, who many – including the IMSA (International Mind Sports Association) – consider professional athletes in their own right, have plenty of key skills that we should be seeing a lot more of from all of the league teams. Here are the key lessons that NFL players can learn from professional poker players in 2020.

Source: Pixabay

1. Actually Sticking to Strategy

While the trope of the NFL coach blaming their own player for not following the on-field strategy closely enough has almost become a cliche, it does bear repeating that many players would benefit from following their prescribed plays more closely. This is a skill that poker players must develop from the outset, as a rigid gameplan is absolutely key to keeping it cool and working your way up to a winning hand.

2. Self-Discipline

All top-level poker players are masters of self-discipline. Not only must they know how to keep their cool during the most intense moments of a game, but they also need to know when to hold back and not make any rash decisions when the chips are down. If the many, many, on-field fights and bust-ups in recent NFL history have taught us anything, it’s that a little self-discipline among players may go a long way.

Source: Pixabay

3. Recognizing an Advantage or Opportunity

It has been said that the key to a winning play is being able to recognize even the most fleeting window of opportunity and be able to act on it in an instant. This is something that poker players know all too well, which is why they meticulously search for online poker platforms that provide them with the best competition and odds of winning, using expert sites to find all the relevant information. This attention to detail and willingness to exploit an opportunity is something we need to see more of in football.

4. Getting into an Opponent’s Head

Any winning poker knows that a critical component of winning is being able to get inside an opponent’s head. Interrupting the focus of a rival and undermining their confidence is key to getting the upper hand. While football players typically have the opportunity to do this at the very beginning of a play, when they are face-to-face with the opposing team, the practice of taunting and trading barbs has apparently gone out of fashion in recent years. Perhaps reviving this practice would go a long way.

The key poker skills of mental resilience, agility, and discipline are all ingredients for a winning NFL team. Let’s hope we see more of these qualities at the Superbowl.

Read Also
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
Ranking the top 70 free agents in the 2021 NBA offseason
The 2021 NBA Playoffs are in full swing, which means many teams ...
BetMGM Promo
Grading every NFL team’s picks from the 2021 NFL Draft
Quickly, click away if you’re going to get upset by reading draft ...
Top 100 remaining 2021 NFL free agents after Day 1
This is the most up-to-date list of available NFL free agents following ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isn’t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Top 100 NFL free agents entering the 2021 offseason
Below is a list of the top 100 free agents available this ...
Ranking the top 50 NFL players under 25 years old in 2021
The NFL features plenty of superstars and future Hall of Famers. However, ...
Lady Tyger’s Tale: How Marian Trimiar Mauled the Boxing Establishment of the 1970s and 80s
To Feed the Ambition in Your Heart is Like Carrying a Tiger ...
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now!
-
Latest News
Devin Haney vs. Regis Prograis: Talking All That Jazz  
The back and forth between the fighters and ...
Top 10 NFL Play by Play Broadcasters of All Time
This list will be National Guys, so no ...
Top-10 Indiana High School Basketball Teams of All-Time
Of course, nothing was better than Hoosier Hysteria, ...
Our Latest YouTube Videos
Video: Indiana Basketball weekly W/Steve Risley: IU/Harvard Preview and UCONN and Louisville Recaps!
Indiana Basketball weekly W/Steve Risley: IU/Harvard Preview and UCONN and Louisville Recaps!
Video: #NFC East Clash - #Eagles at #Cowboys
#NFC East Clash - #Eagles at #Cowboys
Video: NFL *Betting* Show*: Week 14 Picking all games against the spread!
NFL *Betting* Show*: Week 14 Picking all games against the spread!
Betting Tips
12/09/2023 - 3:00 pm
Gillett Stadium
Tip:
Navy to Cover
3.00
FanDuel
12/07/2023 - 8:15 pm
Acrisure
Tip:
Patriots to Cover
6.00
FanDuel
12/05/2023 - 9:00 pm
Chrysler
Tip:
Indiana to Cover
7.50
FanDuel
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now!
-
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
DraftKings
DraftKings
DraftKings Review
4.6/5
FanDuel
FanDuel
FanDuel Review
4.6/5
BetMGM
BetMGM
BetMGM Review
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Review
4.5/5
DraftKings
DraftKings Bonus
Bet $5 Get $150 Instantly
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
$1000 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Place your first cash bet up to $1,000, and if the bet loses, you will have your wager refunded in Bonus Bets. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
Caesars Bonus
100% up to $1000
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterAuthor IconJosh SchwartzSamuel TeetsSimon Briffa
+10
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Content Writer
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
Author Icon
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Author Icon
Malik Zorrok
Author
Author Icon
Buddy Gibbs
Author
Brian Coburn
Brian Coburn
Author
aukje
aukje
Author
Peter Bonahoom
Peter Bonahoom
Author
berina
berina
Author
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
Players accepted in the US US Flag
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive promo code: TGTSOCIAL
  • Play Plinko, Hilo, Crash and more!
  • Get Stake Cash bonuses every day!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site