When Ryan McMahon used to picture what his NFL future might look like, he had a clear picture in his mind.
Fishing every day, while fun and relaxing, was not part of that portrait.
"The big thing," the former Florida State center said Monday, chuckling, "is you've just got to be patient."
McMahon has done a lot of that. Thanks to the NFL's lockout, the undrafted free agent who turns 23 on Wednesday has found patience to be not just a virtue but a way of life.
"I mean, I wish I had more going on, but I really don't," McMahon said Monday. "Until they say the lockout is lifted, I'm just playing a waiting game."
Like several other recently-departed college football stars – guys like UCF receiver Jamar Newsome, Miami running back Damien Berry and Florida Gators Will Hill, Carl Johnson and Chas Henry – the two-time All-ACC lineman has spent the past two weeks readying himself for the day when the lockout is officially lifted and free agency can begin. That could last days, weeks or months.
Once the free agency process begins, McMahon and countless other undrafted free agents will finally sign their names to a contract, earn money and begin their professional fantasties.
But until then, a $20-per-month gym membership, a cycle of Olympic-style lifts and the quiet waters of the Atlantic Ocean occupy McMahon's time.
"Honestly, I've been enjoying it. I don't have anything else to do but workout and fish," McMahon said. "I mean, there's nothing I can do except to just try to relax and figure out a way to stay in shape."
If the lockout lasts too long, he could be adding a part-time job to his daily to-do list, too.
"I've thought about it if this thing drags on," McMahon said.
Now that the official draft process is over, McMahon, like many other undrafted free agents, is coming out of pocket to pay for his continued training. While he doesn't blink at dropping $20 a month to an all-hours gym in Savannah, Ga., he says there are others that are paying much more to stay in shape in preparation for when the lockout ends.
"Oh, I can imagine it's hard. I know it's tough," McMahon said. "You know, normally, if the lockout wasn't going on, we would be living where we would be playing right now and getting in and training with our teams."
Per conditions of the lockout, all NFL players and coaches are unable to show up at team facilities, nor can they have contact with prospective free agents.
Before the April draft, which concluded without McMahon being taken in its seven rounds, the near 300-pound lineman had heard from five or six teams that expressed genuine interest, he said. They had told him he would either be a late-round selection or would go in free agency. He, of course, has not heard from them since.
"Honestly, (the draft) went about like what I expected," McMahon said. "I wasn't happy about it, but I prepared myself for it, too."
In addition to McMahon, FSU has as many as seven other former players waiting to be signed. Only quarterback Christian Ponder, guard Rodney Hudson and defensive end Markus White were drafted.