By Troy Vincent
NFL Player Engagement
Our annual Rookie Symposium is now complete, and was once again a resounding success as we prepared players for success as they come into our league.
Held in Ohio near the Cleveland Browns facility, we again tapped into our vast pool of current and former players, along with many other experts in a variety of fields, to tell the Class of 2013 what lies ahead.
But nothing hits home like the peer-to-peer model that we promote throughout our Player Engagement programs, and this was particularly true with the rookies who learned about what to do and what not to do from those who have sat in those same seats.
To drive these expectations home, we built our platform on the four pillars of History, Total Wellness, Experience, and Professionalism.
We then had the theme of “Defining Success” as presented by about a dozen current and former players to articulate what that term can mean for those embarking upon their new NFL careers.
“We told them that things are now different and they need to think long-term,” said former player Patrick Kerney, who was one of the dozen who spoke to the group. “They learn from us that a career means putting a roof over your head, clothes on your children’s back, and food on your family’s table.”
This daunting dose of reality applies not only for their upcoming NFL career, but beyond.
“We also asked them to think about what type of success they are really trying to get out of their NFL career.”
Kerney stated, adding, “since for some it may be financial, for others reputational, perhaps the impact they make on their community, and may even be the legacy they leave if they become a high-profile player.”
We support whatever objectives point the player in the right direction during this momentous time in their life, and emphasized that the time is now at hand to embark upon the process with training camps underway this month.
“The rookies need to ask themselves what level of preparation and performance is now the standard as football becomes their career?” Kerney noted. “With us, there were 12 different views on what success is, and positive ones at that, and hopefully the rookies plucked a few great ideas and started defining it for themselves, so they can keep that as their Northern Star for the length of their career.”