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.