With the NFL public relations department having a nightmare of an offseason, they finally have some positive news. For the third straight year, all 255 players drafted into the NFL showed up to the rookie symposium, which includes sessions on personal finance, life skills, substance abuse, and ways to avoid being a complete idiot.
“I don’t know that everybody was sitting up [ramrod] straight for every session, but I do know that guys paid pretty close attention,” said Oakland Raiders’ quarterback JaMarcus Russell. “I mean, this is business now, this is about your livelihood. It’s like the message was, ‘OK, [it's] time to be a man.’ Maybe sometimes, it was a little heavy-handed, but the message got through.”
Here’s the message: Don’t destroy the perception of an entire sport. Despite being at an all-time high in popularity, the NFL is also going through an all-time high of stupid actions on and off the field. It’s good to see them pushing this symposium as something that all players must go through. Whether it’s your average West Virginia rookie or seemingly squeaky-clean Brady Quinn, your ass better be there. I think that sends a good message to your fanbase.
Will every player that comes out of this session live a perfect life off the field? Of course not. These kids will now have more money than they’ve ever had and obviously, mistakes will be made along the way. Hell, Pacman Jones was in attendance during his rookie year, as was the Bengals’ Chris Henry. But it’s the message that counts. Roger Goodell means business and wants things to change. Hopefully, that message got across to the 255 players in attendance this week.
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I think it’s positive in name only. Remember when TO said he had no clue what the Tuna said at a team meeting because he was too busy thinking about his birthday party the next weekend? I think that about epitomizes the intellectual state of the NFL today.