May 11, 2011 | Kareem Copeland | greenbaypressgazette.com
Green Bay Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop returns an interception for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the 3rd quarter of an Oct. 24, 2010, game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. / File/Press-Gazette
The Packers linebacker finally had his breakout year after three seasons in Green Bay as a backup and special teams player. At one point some labeled Bishop “Mr. August” after annual strong performances in training camp before lackluster regular seasons.
All of that changed in 2010-11 as Bishop won the starting job when Nick Barnett was lost for the season with a wrist injury, ranked No. 2 on the team with 103 tackles and became came a Super Bowl champion with a game-changing fumble recovery in the title game.
Bishop was also rewarded with a four-year $19 million contract in January.
All that seems reason enough to treat himself to something nice, right? Not according to Bishop.
“Just getting away from football for a little bit, that was my vacation really,” Bishop said. “I haven’t went nowhere in particular. Just being at home in Arizona and San Diego, being with the family is kind of my vacation.”
But after 15 years of working towards a specific goal, there had to be a few moments of contemplation and personal gratification. Right?
“I kind of haven’t. I want to stay hungry,” Bishop said. “I feel like if I look at all that, there’s room for complacency. I only go back and reflect like that when I need something in particular.
“Getting ready for the next season, I don’t really need to gloat about the past. It’s kind of hard to explain. I’m looking forward already.”
Bishop admitted life is different as a Super Bowl champion. He’s recognized more often and there are several other perks that come with the territory. But, mostly, he’s continued to work out, take part in a few charitable events like the Packers “Tailgate Tour” and split time between Arizona and California.
One thing the title hasn’t helped is Bishop’s writing. He wants to write a screenplay one day and is currently working on a detective script involving murderous college students.
“Not only have I had writer’s block,” Bishop said, “but I never really finished my first script and I started moving to another one.”
As much as Bishop wants to keep things mellow and enter the 2011 season with the same mindset, things won’t be the same. Regardless of whether Barnett returns to the Packers or not, Bishop will enter training camp as the starter next to A.J. Hawk. The job is his to lose and every opponent will have plenty of film on the four-year veteran. Expectations will be high for him and an entire defense likely to return 10 starters, defensive end Mike Neal, safety Morgan Burnett, linebacker Brad Jones and linebacker Brandon Chillar.
“I’m still going to take the same mentality,” Bishop said. “I’m going to fight for everything. That’s just my mindset. I just want to do it at a consistent level.
“That never goes away. That feeling of trying to reach something and actually getting there, it never leaves. It’s always fresh in my mind.”
Still, nothing shiny and new to commemorate a job well done?
“No,” Bishop said with a smile.
