By Troy Vincent
NFL Player Engagement
March is an exciting month for Player Engagement as our season is now in full swing, which for you means that it is your offseason.
We trust that it is an equally exciting time for you as every player finally has a full month off from the rigors of an NFL season and can capitalize on the learning and networking opportunities that accompany the privilege of playing on this grand stage.
For a few of you, that means attending our first NFLPE Boot Camp of the year, the Consumer Products Boot Camp in Baltimore. For others, you kicked off activities already at either the NFL-NCAACoachesAcademy in Phoenix or during Super Bowl Week in New York City.
If you were in NYC, most likely you stopped by our “PE TV” set in the Super Bowl Media Center, which became the gathering place for current and former players to be interviewed, reconnect with colleagues, and open the offseason with maximum visibility.
This sample list shows just some of the current and former players who stopped by, including Adrian Peterson, Bobby Sewall, Josh Gordy, Derrick Faulkner, Jacob Green, Ryan Mundy, Johnny Mitchell, Hank Baskett, Chris Ward, Cato June, Daryl Richardson, Fred Jackson, Eric Dickerson, Jeff Charleston, Jermichael Finley, Stevie Brown, Takeo Spikes, Tiki Barber, Gary Reasons, Ike Taylor, Christian Okoye, Ricky Watters, Chris Draft, Shaun O’Hara, Keith Bullock, Brian Mitchell, Robert Griffith, Matt Birk, Elias Campbell, Brian Baldinger, Chris Chester, Steve DeOssie, Greg Hardy, Zach Sudfield, Brian Scott, Kevin Reddick, Adrian Wilson, Quinton Coples, Leger Douzable, Visanthe Shiancoe, Bill Romanowski, Charlie Batch, Eddie Mason, Mitch Berger, Delanie Walker, Sam Madison, Randy Grimes, Plaxico Burress, Tony Richardson, Jamal Lewis, Jack Youngblood, Fred Willis, Blaine Bishop, Mike Daniels, and Chad Brown.
And when players were done interviewing with either newly-elected Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams or David Tyree, they could head over to PE’s new “Legends Lounge” for some R&R that featured gifts, refreshments, music, and camaraderie.
So regardless of what Player Engagement activities you may have attended, March is the month to follow up on these interactions with old friends and new acquaintances as you develop and/or enhance your personal brand through learning, training, and always, networking.
Lastly, if you were not yet involved in any PE activities so far in 2014, the year is young, so make March the month that we connect, which we always welcome.