"For me, going in my first year I spent a lot of time at home during the season after being cut," said Mondeaux. "I kept working, set goals for myself, and didn't stop ever trying to make it happen. I had a lot of support from family and friends, especially after the first few times I got released. Just talking with friends and other guys I knew who played and had been in similar situations. I always had a good support system.
"It can have a tough mental impact on you. It's important to realize that a lot of times you have to be in the right system. It might not be what you are doing. You have to fit into the scheme. It definitely is a league that comes with its ups and downs. I am glad I landed at a spot that feels like they can use some of the things I do well."
The feeling Mondeaux had last year versus two years ago, let's just say it's night and day.
"It was awesome for me," said Mondeaux of the 2020 season. "It was the first year that I got to play in an actual NFL game. It was like a dream come true for me. To be a part of our season in 2020 was very special, to be able to contribute to some of the wins and the run we had early in the season."
Getting the call up from the practice squad to play was something that was commonplace for players in 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, teams were given more freedom to call up players for games, and then they would revert back to the practice squad without having to clear waivers.
But in Mondeaux's case, this was just a straight activation to the 53-man roster. No going back to the practice squad following the game.
"With the new rules they put in during 2020, I felt it was like more on practice squad guys to be ready to play because you can swing up at any point," said Mondeaux. "I talked to my agent that week. He had a good idea about me being signed. I talked to the general manager (Kevin Colbert) and he said this is what we are going to do, we know you are ready, be ready. It feels pretty great to be called up, especially when you are coming from the practice squad to the active roster because that is what everybody is working towards.
"There is an added pressure that everyone on the roster feels because nothing is guaranteed. You are excited, but you want to do your best. There is a difference between we are bringing you up for one game and we have a new contract for you to sign. I was lucky I was able to sign a contract and then it was up to me to do what I needed to do to keep my job."
What he needed to do, more than anything, was fill a hole on special teams where injuries were mounting, while at the same time provide depth on the defensive line. He did both and had fun in the process.
"I love special teams, mainly because it was a big reason I got the opportunity to play last year," said Mondeaux. "It's a part of the game that may be overlooked by some people who watch. I think that it's a very important piece of the game that is necessary to be successful as a team, especially in the NFL. Special teams are also really fun. You get to go one-on-one, full speed, you run a lot and fly around the field. They're a great opportunity for guys that may be in situations coming off practice squads or are young, undrafted, or drafted in later rounds."
You might not pinpoint Mondeaux as a guy who would run down and cover kicks, after all, most 6-4, 280- pound defensive linemen aren't built to fill that role. But he enjoyed it.
"It takes a unique mindset to play any position professionally in football, but special teams is very different than offense and defense," said Mondeaux. "You do have to be ready for that open field, one-on-one, I have to beat this one guy every time we kick the ball off or receive it.
"I think a lot of it was trust in me and being in the program they have seen me run. They felt that I could run down there and keep up with smaller guys for the most part. I think that it was a lot of them trusting that my abilities would allow for me to do it at a high level."
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