Nick Mangold had to make a tough decision this offseason between two unique opportunities that would only happen in the bizarro, circus-like world of the New York Jets.
Mangold had to choose between leaving Jets' training camp to watch his 350-pound sister compete in the Summer Olympics in London, or stay in New Jersey to work on snaps with Tim Tebow.
The Jets' standout center picked the latter option, despite Rex Ryan granting him a blessing to miss a portion of training camp to watch his sister compete in person.
"That's a long jump over the pond in the middle of August," Mangold said. "We're going to make sure I can watch it and everything. I'll support her the best I can. ... It's disappointing. If it was a week earlier, I would have been there. It's just how the schedule worked out."
Rex Ryan took a different stance on the matter. He said "It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see your sister do something that is absolutely incredible -- competing against the world's best in a weightlifting competition I think would be incredible. I know that if I was in a similar situation, I would want to see my brother in a weightlifting contest."
Ryan has a point that it's important to show support for siblings, but Mangold did right by his team for staying behind to keep training.
If the Summer Olympics occurred in June, my feelings on the matter would be different. I believe Mangold would have been in the wrong for not supporting his sister in person if the event were to happen this month, as the NFL season is still a long ways away.
But Mangold deserves a pass for skipping the in-person viewing of the London Olympics because the event his sister is competing in doesn't happen until late-July and early-August, which is extremely close to the start of the NFL season.
You can't be missing out on training camp when the calendar turns to August, as that is when the intensity kicks up a notch and the season comes into full view.
Nick's younger sister Holley, a 22-year-old weightlifter in the superheavyweight division, understands that her brother still very much supports her.
"It's not that he doesn't want to go, (but) football is my brother's life," Holley said in USA Today's report. "You wouldn't see me missing training or a big meet to watch one of his games. I know it's different because it's the Olympics. But (camp is) a big part of their season, especially with a new quarterback in town."
I would compare the situation to my own personal support of my mother's passion for running.
I watch her cross the finish line at local races as often as possible, but sometimes I can't be there for whatever reason. Even when I'm not there in person, she knows I am there in spirit and support her until the very end.
Should Nick Mangold go to London to watch his sister compete in the Olympics, or was he right to stay behind with his team? Let me know in the comments.
Eric Holden is a lifelong New York Jets fan. Follow him on Twitter @ericholden.
