"The offseason approach for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was clear: Stay out of the spotlight as much as possible. Stroud was coming off a season where he admitted that the fun of football was missing at times. He dealt with more criticism off the field while taking a beating on it -- suffering more quarterback hits than almost anyone in the league."
""When you're young in the NFL, trying to have fun being around, you enjoy a lot of the different things that it comes with," Stroud told ESPN. "And I think I've just grown as a person. ... So I just try my best to learn as a man of God, first and foremost, and then, just as an NFL quarterback -- just the things to do and not to do.""
"Stroud started the approach dating back to February, when he was given the opportunity to go to his second straight Pro Bowl as an alternate -- but he passed. He wasn't pleased with how he played in Year 2 after a stellar rookie year, despite his team making it to the divisional round of the playoffs. The decision, also, indirectly contributed to him staying out of the spotlight."
C.J. Stroud adopted a low-profile offseason, deliberately limiting public appearances after a sophomore season that left him questioning his enjoyment of football. He endured heavy physical punishment, taking more quarterback hits than almost anyone, and faced increased off-field criticism. Stroud declined an alternate Pro Bowl invitation in February and prioritized football, family and faith while focusing on personal growth. He emphasized learning to live as a man of God and refining conduct as an NFL quarterback. He still made some appearances, including courtside attendance during the Houston Rockets–Golden State Warriors playoff series.
Read at ESPN.com
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