Ravens DT Michael Pierce Was Pulled From Practice for Being Out of Shape

The NFL offseason offers plenty of benefits to players -- it allows them to spend quality time with their families, get some much-needed rest after a grueling season, and kick back and enjoy life outside of football for a few months before returning to the practice field.

In the middle of all this, though, it's important not to get too carried away in the leisure life. They are athletes, after all, and staying in peak physical performance even during the offseason is a necessity. This was something that Ravens DT Michael Pierce apparently wasn't able to do during his break, leading to his removal from a Ravens practice.

Pierce reportedly hasn't practiced in the past two days, and DC Wink Martindale was less than thrilled with his conditioning, putting the DT on blast in front of the entire defense.

After a short discussion with Harbaugh, Pierce was sent back to the team facility and did not return to practice.

It sounds like a joke, but this is a serious thing for all football players and professional athletes as a whole. The offseason is great time to get away, but some duties still remain -- staying in shape for the sakes of your teammates and coaches is one of them.

Handful of players have dealt with difficulty maintaining shape, most notably former Packers running back Eddie Lacy, who was constantly making headlines for his weight.

Entering his fourth year in the league, Pierce is a prime candidate to have a breakout season, but it's essential he stays in shape if he wants that to become a reality.