SUNDAY'S HEROES IN JULY

THE SUN IS HIGH AND HOT, AND SURELY IT IS MADNESS TO GO OUT IN IT. BUT FOR THE 1,500 PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN 24 TRAINING CAMPS FROM CALIFORNIA TO FLORIDA, FROM TEXAS TO RHODE ISLAND, THERE ARE SIX MONTHS OF RICH SAUCES TO SWEAT OFF BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER KICKOFF. THAT PAUNCHY LITTLE COACH WHO SEEMS TO BE A STOCK ITEM AT EVERY CAMP SUPPLIES THE MOTIVATION: A WHISTLE AND A ROUGH TONGUE. WITH A SHRILL BLAST AND A CRY OF, "RUN, RUN, RUN, FAT MAN!" HE TRIMS SUNDAY'S HEROES DOWN TO SIZE FOR SUNDAY'S HEROICS.

HITTING THE SLED WITH A WHOMP IS ESSENTIAL WHEN TIRED MUSCLES ONLY WANT TO LEAN IN NICE AND EASY. SO IS FILLING UP THE STADIUM, AND NOTHING HELPS PUBLIC RELATIONS LIKE HAVING THE STAR ON CALL (RIGHT) FOR SOME CASUAL FAN WORSHIP.

STARK THOUGH THE FIGURES MAY BE, EVERY PRO MUST WEIGH IN BEFORE AND AFTER DRILLS. AND HEAVEN HELP THE OVERWEIGHT LINEMAN WHO TAKES ON MORE POUNDS BETWEEN SESSIONS THAN THE WORK TAKE OFF.

FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS

BILL CHARMATZ