Ya’ll remember Mike Neal. He used to play defensive end and outside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. He was suspended by the NFL for a PED violation in 2012. He was later implicated — along with Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers — in an Al Jazeera investigation into PEDs in 2016.
Said report was largely proven to be nonsense. Although, if you’re a conspiracy theorist, you could surmise the NFL had something to do with that, as their golden boy, Peyton Manning, was also implicated.
Unfortunately for Neal, he was a free agent at the time the report surfaced. And despite having a couple visits with other teams, Neal went untouched, the potential PED stink apparently too strong to get a contract. After a six-year career with the Packers, Neal’s NFL days were over.
In a fitting “Where Are They Now?” moment, we’ve just found out that Neal has reinvented himself as a realtor.
Allow me to reintroduce myself…
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things!" #Realtor #KellerWilliamsRealty #MichaelNealHomes #Reincarnated #Blessed pic.twitter.com/dp5FnkAqKV— Michael Neal (@mneal96) April 7, 2018
My name is Hov! H-to-the-O-V.
Sorry, that’s a good jam.
Mike Neal is now Michael Neal. He’s shed 70 pounds from his playing days. He has obviously put the NFL behind him. Neal now runs Michael Neal Homes out of Tampa, Florida.
I don’t know why Tampa, because Neal is from Indiana and went to Purdue, but not everyone goes home. It’s warm down there, I can tell you that. Warmer — and considerably nicer — than Gary, Frickin’ Indiana.
So you go on with your bad self, Michael Neal. Sling those homes!
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That’s cool that he’s moved on. Some players cling to the past. Dropping 70 pounds is proof that he’s serious about life after football.
Dropping 70 pounds in, like, three years, is proof he was previously heavily ingesting PEDs!
So, yeah, I guess stopping all that PED usage is technically proof he’s serious about life after football.
Clay Matthews will end up looking like a blonde Shaggy when he is away from football(PEDs) for three years.
But I do commend him making the transition with positive energy.
Good for him. I could definitely tell he lost weight. Looks very trim, still jacked though.
Gary Indiana is well known for being a shithole. I have been there a few times, always to a pretty good microbrewery. One day when I was in there, a guy threatened to shoot the place up. That was the last time I have been to Gary. Very fond memories.
Ahh must be talking about 18th street, right? Don’t know too many other microbreweries in Gary…I live in NW Indiana.
Realtors get 6% of the home sale; that’s about the same percentage of production the Packers got for their investment in him. Not quite a bust of Justin Harrell dimensions but close- I still remember exactly where I was when that ill conceived pick was made. I was incredulous then, and now even more so. Then I thought about Datone Jones- make it stop! Thanks Ted.
Another of many tweener draft picks who became a conversion project. didn’t see much playing time until about 2013. He was held back by injuries, but i was always rooting for him as he was able to penetrate the O line. Somewhat rare back then.
I never thought much of him as a player but Bob McGinn, whose scouting I admire and trust, always thought he was a pretty good player right up until the time he left and was never shy about saying so. Wrong place and wrong time for Neal shut him down early but it looks like he’s on to the next chapter. Good luck Michael!
I didn’t either until he got healthy and he was the only one getting home. Raji was mentally checked out already.