In a stunning admission, Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin said he wasn't in the best of shape for the 2011 season.
Austin missed a total of six games due to hamstring injuries.
"I'm feeling great right now, by the way," Austin said in a video interview for Men's Health magazine. "Right now I'm working with the trainers at our facility. I feel like last year, I wasn't prepared for the season in the way I should have been condition-wise, even though I looked and felt like it at the time. That's one thing I have to keep an eye on, to make sure I'm in the best physical shape I can be."
Austin first suffered a hamstring injury toward the end of training camp. He recovered in time to start the season but re-injured it in the Week 2 overtime victory over San Francisco.
He couldn't play in overtime because of the hamstring, leading to Jesse Holley becoming the hero that day when he caught three passes for 96 yards with Austin out.
Austin missed the next two weeks then returned to play four more games before suffering another hamstring injury while running down the sideline against Seattle on Nov. 6.
There were four more games missed until Austin returned for the Giants game Dec. 11.
Austin was asked several times during the season if last summer's lockout messed up his conditioning, and he offered no excuses. During the lockout, players were unable to work with team trainers.
"My legs feel very good right now," Austin said on Dec. 16. "I don't know what else to say. To me, no one honestly can answer that question. Has anyone ever?"
