Fixing the NFL rookie symposium

Fixing the NFL rookie symposium
Workshop designed to prep drafted players for life in the pros
Matt Bowen
Scouting the Bears

8:17 p.m. CDT, June 25, 2012
Back in the summer of 2000, I, and roughly 300 other NFL rookies, were instructed to put condoms on bananas. That's right, the NFL wanted to teach us how to properly use a prophylactic.

Some guys didn't even do it, while others held up the finished product, proudly displaying it like a trophy.

The league was treating us like high school kids and we weren't falling for it. It was just one of the many exercises we took part in at the NFL's rookie symposium in California, a four-day workshop designed to prep drafted players for life in the pros.

There were large group sessions on finances, proper behavior in public and lessons from former players. Most of the rookies were fighting to stay awake, counting the days until they went home.

The league used scare tactics, role-play sessions and even marched two beautiful women up on stage who revealed they were HIV positive.

I thought it was a bust.

What has the league done to structure this year's symposium, underway in Aurora, Ohio, to meet the needs of today's player? Plenty, according to Troy Vincent, the NFL's vice president of player engagement.

The former five-time Pro Bowl cornerback is leading the conference this week and is stressing a new format.

"We divided the participation level in half," said Vincent. "Three hundred kids in the room with the air conditioning on? It doesn't work. It's not a learning environment.

"I'm now dealing with less than 140 per session. Now when I get them into those breakout sessions, I'm dealing with 20-25 guys."

The players' attendance is now divided by conference (NFC: Sunday-Wednesday, AFC: Wednesday-Saturday) and will focus on four main areas of education: NFL history, experience, player expectations, professional and social responsibility.

But how do you draw (and maintain) the attention of close to 300 players, many of whom come to the symposium carrying a sense of arrogance and entitlement?

Former Packers and Jaguars defensive end Aaron Kampman says it is all about attitude.

"As a young player, I thought (the symposium) was great. But the attitude of the player has to be right. Personally, the best way I have found to get through to a player is to show him that you genuinely care. You can't fake it."

The symposium will again feature multiple speakers this week. Adam "Pacman" Jones, Terrell Owens, Hardy Nickerson, LaVar Arrington, Michael Vick and others will share their stories.

"Adam has a story I don't have," Vincent said. "I'm also bringing success stories. We are trying to cover the whole 360-degree environment of the National Football League.

"This is no longer a three-day orientation of what not to do. Absolutely not. We are going to talk about this NFL experience. Adam brings a testimony. Michael Irvin brings a testimony. Aeneas Williams, Hardy Nickerson, Ross Tucker. We have a variation of different people from different walks of life."

Vincent remains sold the new format will indeed cater to the rookies that want to get the most of the symposium.

"Keep the game plan simple, coach and let's just play," said Vincent. "Don't give them a whole lot. Give them what they need to be productive professionals."

But is it enough to make a difference, keep players out of trouble off the field and actually teach them how to be pros in just four days?

"I want to hold them all accountable," said Vincent. "The days are over when you're going to say a kid 'did not know.' ...This stuff is in your face. No such thing as 'I didn't know.' Nope, you choose not to."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...6300477.column

The best way is to have a highly respected vet on your team be a mentor to a young guy. It would have to be a player who did this voluntarily. You can't force it on a vet to do this. It would have to be a vet who had his own act together.

If anything would get through a rookies head, it would be from a veteran whom he respects.

It would not require a lot of time. He wouldn't be "taking a young kid to raise" but rather touch base periodically over that first year.

Good luck finding that mix though. Hurd and Harrison are two exmaples of guys that the team might have used; and both had very shady out of football hobbies.

I think Vick and Jones talking to these kids is a great idea. Both were very public players that got screwed b/c of their off the field issues. Any of them should know.

I think breaking it into smaller sessions will also help. It's easier to have a conversation that way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Good luck finding that mix though. Hurd and Harrison are two exmaples of guys that the team might have used; and both had very shady out of football hobbies.

I think Vick and Jones talking to these kids is a great idea. Both were very public players that got screwed b/c of their off the field issues. Any of them should know.

I think breaking it into smaller sessions will also help. It's easier to have a conversation that way.

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I thought Vick did well. I like that the league is trying to help these new rookies make better decisions. It may help if a vet, at the team level, could be an additional resource to touch base too. Not to be a babysitter but just to give the facts of life to them. Like an Urlacher, Peppers, Peanut, etc (there are others who could do this too).

You definately need someone the players feel they can goto in confidence; if that's a player or otherwise.

I actually did too, I thought Vic was great. Told them he made a poor decision, saw himself making a bad decision and couldn't stop until it was too late. then compounded it w/lying about it.

I'd like to see Big Ben in there too. Saying becarefull of who you meet and etc etc. Get all the problem kids in there still playing to say what happened and how they could avoid it. Irvin ecspecially. Heard him talk to 670 the score he seemed very forthright about owning his mistakes and trying to help people not do the same thing he did.

Guys like that; HoF'rs that no one can disrespect can go a long way in a small setting to these young guys.

I like this also for selfish reasons. When you get a high draft pick bust due to off-field issues, it's a killer for the team. We had the #4 overall pick in the draft, in Cedric Benson. Even if you hated the pick, it sure would have been nice to have been able to TRADE the guy for some value. Instead, we got zippo for him.

This is why, if I were a GM, I'd work out some "mentor program" for rookies. These draft picks are a priceless resource - your #1 resource in keeping a team strong over the seasons.

I'd have a few of the respected leaders on the team be confidants/mentors who would work with these guys so they don't blow their careers "off the field" and consequently hurt the team. There is more than money invested in these top draft picks - it's time too. You only get 1 draft per year. When a top pick blows it off the field it's crippling.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

You definately need someone the players feel they can goto in confidence; if that's a player or otherwise.

I actually did too, I thought Vic was great. Told them he made a poor decision, saw himself making a bad decision and couldn't stop until it was too late. then compounded it w/lying about it.

I'd like to see Big Ben in there too. Saying becarefull of who you meet and etc etc. Get all the problem kids in there still playing to say what happened and how they could avoid it. Irvin ecspecially. Heard him talk to 670 the score he seemed very forthright about owning his mistakes and trying to help people not do the same thing he did.

Guys like that; HoF'rs that no one can disrespect can go a long way in a small setting to these young guys.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

I'd like to see Big Ben in there too. Saying becarefull of who you meet and etc etc. Get all the problem kids in there still playing to say what happened and how they could avoid it. Irvin ecspecially. Heard him talk to 670 the score he seemed very forthright about owning his mistakes and trying to help people not do the same thing he did.

Guys like that; HoF'rs that no one can disrespect can go a long way in a small setting to these young guys.

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I agree with this, and when a current player uses their expierience as an example for the rookies to learn from, it is also a positive for the teacher.