I punted in the NFL for 12 years. Let me tell you: Punters have mental challenges too!

Editor’s note: Jon Ryan played 12 years in the NFL, two with the Green Bay Packers and 10 with the Seattle Seahawks. He won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2014 and also played in the Canadian Football League. Almost every night before a game, I had the same dream. I would put so much pressure on myself and would get so nervous because I cared so much. In my dream, I would play the whole game, and then, when I woke up, I would think the real game was over – but I still had to get up and play. It was always stressful waking up to that. The pressure was always there, 24 hours a day. Even in my sleep I couldn’t escape it. I still have punting dreams – sometimes nightmares – a couple of times...