AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL NFL DRAFTEES AND FREE AGENT SIGNEES

Gentlemen,

It's almost here. April 25-26, 2009. Big weekend. Life-changing weekend for you and your families.

You are going to hear a lot of things throughout the course of the next several days leading up to the draft, straight through the completion of your first season. You may hear your name called. You may not. You may go in the early rounds. You may not go at all. Your phone may ring. It may not.

You will hear a lot of things about yourself in the media. Some positive, some less than favorable. Expectations. Hype. Where you'll go in the draft. Why you're falling to the later rounds and the reasons for it. Opinions. Criticisms. Fans will boo with your selection. Fans will cheer with your selection. Hell, you will hear sports pundits across the nation declaring you are everything from the next greatest whatever to, "I cannot understand why they drafted an unproven commodity with that pick."

They will talk about your personality, your skill set, your background, your life, your college career, your NFL expectations, your character – wait — what's that? Your CHARACTER?!? Wow, what a novel concept. Let's stop here for a moment, because this is perhaps THE most important and defining aspect of what opportunities will await you both during and after your playing days.

You have heard about it, but you NEED to understand the magnitude of this. It's not just about your ability to make plays, son. It's about what type of person you are both on and off the field. Whether you end up in the NFL as a draftee or free agent selection, you need to understand what is expected of you.

Like it or not, you are a role model to others. Your family, your friends, and all of the kids in this country (and around the world) who look to elite athletes because of the special talent you have. So remember, to whom much is given, much is expected. That is reality. Accept it.

It's fine to take care of your families and yourself, but be smart about it. For starters:

1. Your talent makes you special on the field but it does not make you better than other people. It will afford you many luxuries, but it is not a license to wild out. It does not put you above the law. Your life is officially under the microscope and the world is going to watch you grow up, wait for you to screw up, and see how you will react. Look, you're going to make mistakes. The pressure is going to be tremendous. But if you limit your mistakes to what you do on the field, what you do off of it will enhance your ability to create a post-NFL career WHILE you are in the league.

2. Kill the entourages and eliminate ALL distractions. Don't assign titles and give jobs to people who have no experience in this arena. I'm not saying cut your crew or cut your boys loose (unless of course they are operating an illegal dog fighting ring...), but make sure they add value to the equation - YOUR equation. Dude, you are the sum of the parts here. Build a strong, solid team around you — lawyer, agent, strategic PR/communications team (NOTE: THIS IS MORE THAN THE SKILL SETS A PUBLICIST BRINGS TO THE TABLE), marketing, financial manager, etc. Trust me, the money you will pay to have solid people in your circle of trust protecting your name and brand, and working in lockstep as a unit, PALES in comparison to the amount you will lose if you screw it up.

3. Think about the financial and social mistakes made by other athletes that cost them their fortune, fame and freedom. Millions in lost endorsements and salary, prison sentences, financial ruin, social embarrassment, and the untold and often permanent damage to their reputations. Need examples? Rae Carruth, Michael Vick, Adam "Pacman" Jones (even though I know he officially changed his moniker, his continued mistakes will not at this time allow the public to see him for any differently), Ryan Leaf, Chris Henry, Sean Avery, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Marion Jones, and the list goes on. Look, we can do this all day. SO DON'T BE THAT GUY (or person).

4. Stop focusing on the bling, the cars, the homes, the toys, the women, the excess. It's fine to have a few things, but don't be stupid. Be smart. You do not want to end up like so many others before you when it ends, because one day your career will end. Enjoy the moment, but start focusing on the future.

5. Listen guys, we see this every day in our line of work. You see, one of the most important aspects of what we do for a living is reputation management and crisis communication. And the best way to make sure you keep your reputation intact is simple — do the right thing – ALL THE TIME.

This isn't a joke fellas. This is your career. This is your life. Take it seriously. Focus and eliminate the distractions. You don't play around making sure you are prepared to play the game on the field, so don't play games with your reputation off of it. It's not worth losing everything you've worked for your entire life because it can come crashing down in a matter of minutes. Real talk.

God bless all of you and good luck this weekend.

PASSION & ENTHUSIASM + FOOTBALL + SPORTSCASTING = JOHN MADDEN

A lot is happening this week in the world of sports. The new Yankee Stadium is here (economy be damned!), the NFL Draft is a week away, and John Madden, a legend in the greatest sport in the world, football (at least in the not-so-humble opinion of this sports comm exec and enthusiast), has decided to call it a day.

Best sportscaster ever in the sport? To some, yes. To others, maybe. To me? Arguably. But more importantly, the most influential with respect to bringing the combination of true passion and knowledge for the sport, and being able to convey that to your average fan who may know little to nothing about football, just as easily as to your expert.

John Madden made watching football an EXPERIENCE in the way he talked to you about the game. The unpretentious manner in which he spoke, his energy, enthusiasm, zest and love for the game, came across clearly. You never got tired of a telecast with Madden and his partners in the booth through the years. And if you did? Well then my friend, not only do you simply not understand "football guys" and what makes them special, you don't understand or you can't recognize how great it is to watch someone do what they love with 100% pure, unadulterated passion for it. Or, you're just a plain hater.

Madden and My Mom - The Impact of A Sportscaster on A Family

Madden's biggest impact in my life? Helping my mom understand, grow to appreciate, and eventually love, the sport of football.

You see, many, many moons ago, my younger brother (who is now an attorney and football coach himself in Chicago) and I told our mom we wanted to play football after her rebuking us for the first 12 or 13 years of our lives. Then one day, she said yes, and from that point, my brother and I had the incredible opportunity to play football all the way through college. As for our mom? Oh man, when we first started playing, she'd cover her eyes and hold on to the other parents in the stands whenever we'd take or dish out a punishing hit. But she was there. Every game. All the way through.

As she tried desperately to understand why we wanted to leave soccer after so many years and "punish our bodies in that collision sport" (picture a mom making crazy faces here....). So we tried to explain the game to her, all to no avail. Enter in John Madden (now remember, we're going all the way back to his CBS days in the booth with Pat Summerall) and the opening of our dear mother's mind to the world's greatest sport was underway! She'd watch the games on Sunday with us as kids, and say, "This man really helps me get what they're doing out there. I like that John Madman!" (And yes, we corrected her...). So there it began. Fridays and Saturdays our games all over the country, then Sunday? After church (East Coast gang, remember, 1 p.m. ET kickoff, you can still make church and not feel guilty on the compromise) it was NFL Football and John Madden in our living room. Together, we'd watch. He'd talk. She'd learn. We'd explain. She'd laugh.

Fast forward, well, let's just say a "bunch of years" all the way through college and to today. I'm 3,000 miles away in California and Ma is still in Jersey. But thanks to DirecTV and NFL Sunday Ticket (one of the GREATEST inventions of our time, I might add) we still watch the Giants games every Sunday over the phone, and Ma's understanding is unparalleled, man! Seriously? She's talking pre-game strategy on what Eli needs to do today against a tough Eagles defense and the swirling winds in the Meadowlands!

Professional Perspective on John Madden:

He wasn't just a broadcaster. He led 'Da RAYYYYYYYDDDAAAAZZZZZ" to the Super Bowl - and won (for that, the Raider Nation will forever love him). He's the face and name of the most popular video game franchise ever, and he has the ability to communicate to the common fan in a way that helps them understand and enjoy the game. He's a Hall of Fame Coach. He had fun doing his job. He was excited. He loved it. Every game. What made him great was that he made you love the big guys in the trenches (Nate Newton and Jumbo Elliott became household names because of him), appreciate the little things about the game, all the while helping you enjoy and understand it. He was the broadcaster who didn't go to school for it and was actually GOOD. He just knows the game.

In addition to the "BOOMs," "WHAMs," and the infamous Telestrater, Madden brought a non-cliche, let-me-get-the-heck-away-from-everyone-saying-the-same-ol' thing, credibility to the game. He was - and is - good for the game. He's the classic football guy. He's a guy I'd want my kid to play for - a guy I wish could have coached me. There was no "schtick" with Madden. He is just a guy who loves football.

The Madden Lesson - Don't Miss It:

Frank Caliendo does one hell of an impression of the Hall of Fame Coach and yes, it is funny. But how lucky are we to have the opportunity to have Coach Madden in our living rooms and on the big screen all of these years? Better yet, how lucky would we be if we were as fortunate to spend a career, a lifetime, working in something we love more than anything else? Frank Caliendo is one of the lucky ones. Bob Costas - although a different approach to sportscasting and sports journalism overall - is one of the lucky ones. Hopefully you are, too, in whatever your profession may be in. As for myself, my business partners and our staff? Well, we're in that lucky and blessed bunch too.

So, if you take away anything from John Madden's career, take away this. If you find something you're passionate about and make a career out of it, you are among the blessed and lucky ones. Appreciate the passion and the person. It shows, and it does make a difference in how people relate to you, respect you and appreciate you. So if you haven't already, get inspired, find your passion and go after it. It will make a difference in your life. This I know to be true.

Yes, John Madden, you played a part in this. What a talent you are. Thank you for making our lives more enjoyable.

So what happens to the Madden Cruiser now?