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The following is a first-person narrative from former Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., who is attempting to make a comeback into the NFL this offseason, as told to Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport.

I love the game of football.

Playing in the NFL has been my main goal since I was five years old—my son's age right now. It's all I know. I grew up not just watching and loving this game but living it. Being able to see my dad play gave me a different perspective on football; it made me want to experience that same feeling of greatness.

I miss it. Miss the locker room. Miss bonding with the guys and the coaches. I miss running out of the tunnel and hearing the roar of the fans. I still watch the game, but it's hard, because I feel like I should be out there.

I've spent my time away from the NFL doing a lot of thinking. Thinking about how to get back to the game I love. About the journey to get there. About what it will take mentally to fulfill my destiny.

I've learned a lot during my time away from football. Too many things to name. I've learned everyone makes mistakes. I've made them. But there were positives to be taken away each time.

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My motorcycle accident [in 2005] was horrible, no doubt. I almost died. But it made me who I am today. It made me stronger. Made me have to study more. It put me on a journey I never could have imagined.

In some ways, my comeback is similar. Getting a second chance, being able to come back and play again. I've been out of the league for two years, and now it's time to once again prove the doubters wrong. That strength will help.

I learned from my positive performance-enhancing drug test that an athlete is responsible for what he puts into his body. I trusted a doctor here in San Diego whom I went to for allergies and inflammation, and I got burned—straight up.

I had been in the NFL a decade, and in my 10th season I tested positive. I'm not the first guy it's happened to, and I'm sure I won't be the last. But like I said, an athlete is responsible for what he puts into his body. I should have known better.

But I can't control what's already happened. All I can do is learn from it, move on and get to work.

And that's what I've been doing. It's all I've been doing. All I can think about. I'm all-in. I don't take days off because I feel like it would be a day wasted.

There's been physical work, too, of course. I turned into a serious cyclist a couple of years ago. I did it to help with training while I was playing, but as time passed and no teams called, I dove into training like a Cat. 1 rider—putting in 200-plus miles a week with barely any days off.

Cycling helped me unbelievably. It really transformed my body. I used to be so explosive on the field and depended on that, but cycling has turned me into an endurance athlete, and now I can rely on both.

If there's one thing I don't do a lot of as I train with an eye toward playing in the NFL again, it's lift weights. Everything I do is "body weight" (squats, pushups, etc.). The focus is on flexibility and endurance. Speed and agility over power.

I also run five to six times per week. Back when I was playing, I missed a lot of practices because I just couldn't run all the time. It's because I didn't know how to rehab properly. So I'm trying to build my endurance. It's funny—a silver lining to my time away. I'm healthier now than I have been in years. It's been a big gain for me in that respect.

I'm 32. I’m not a rookie, but I definitely still have a lot of football left in me. But with every year that goes by, I see my window closing. So I am hungrier than ever. I won’t let this be the end to my NFL career and my story.

I'm staying positive. There's been some interest from a few teams, and I'm confident that things will work out for the best. That I'll get another opportunity to play in the NFL.

And I honestly believe I can still be one of the league's top tight ends. That there's still a lot I can offer a team. I haven't forgotten how to play football or run routes. I still have a tenacious work ethic and knowledge of the game.

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I'm highly competitive. I think I push guys. I push them to another level. Whether it's in practice or a game. It's just something I feel. I am extremely competitive. I thrive off competition. I want to be the best, but I want the guy next to me to be the best, too. The better they do, the harder I work, so I am constantly pushing and motivating my teammates because that inevitably pushes and motivates me.

I push my opponents, too. Whoever I'm going against, I feel like they can't cover me. That's just how I feel. I think about beating guys all time, whether it's off the snap or down the field.

I just love the game of football. It's in my blood. It's who I am. The team that signs me will be getting someone who loves the game. Every time I am on the field, this overwhelming feeling comes over me: the feeling that this is where I am supposed to be.

I just feel at home there. At home on the football field.

And it's time for me to come home.