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As always, the agenda will be varied and the discussions diverse when the NFL kicks off its 11th annual rookie symposium on Sunday evening.
But given recent headlines, and with the lengthy suspensions of three veterans this offseason, including the banishment of Tennessee Titans cornerback Pacman Jones for the entire 2007 season, one topic figures to dominate the lectures and workshops when the league's 255 draft choices convene in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for four days.
"Everything always comes back to how you [conduct] yourself," said 15-year veteran defensive back Troy Vincent, president of the NFL Players Association, and one of the several speakers who will address the league's 2007 rookie class. "But you can bet that the issue of personal conduct will find its way into virtually every discussion, in some form. It's going to be stressed, probably, more than ever."
The symposium, certainly one of the best initiatives the NFL has ever undertaken in partnership with the NFLPA, is essentially an orientation program to indoctrinate the league's newcomers to life in the NFL and all that entails.
Fine-tuned over its first 10 years, the program includes sessions on developing life skills, personal finances, football operations, the league's substance abuse program, career planning, and general circumstances that might confront a young player. It will once again feature speakers from the NFL office, the NFLPA, and from professionals in areas outside the game.
As has been the case in the past, current and former players will address the rookies about their experiences dealing with issues within to their profession. And about the pressures that are unique to life in the league.
Last year, former NFL defensive lineman Esera Tuaolo addressed the rookies about the pressures he faced as a closeted homosexual in the league.
"A lot of it is common-sense stuff, but still stuff that maybe you don't think too much about," said New Orleans tailback Reggie Bush, a member of the "Life as a Rookie" panel that will speak with the draft picks. "And some of it is stuff that, if you thought for a million years about things that could you might encounter, you'd still never consider. I'm sure, like a lot of the [rookies] last year, there will be guys wondering why this is necessary. But they'll find out it's a good, positive experience."
For the third year in a row, players will attend workshops that include an interactive component, where they will receive instant feedback on their answers to questions about the particular theme of a session. The topics will range from things like monitoring investments, what to expect in your first training camp and how to prepare for life after the game.
Commissioner Roger Goodell, who this spring enacted the league's tougher player conduct policy, will address the rookies on Monday morning.
The symposium marks the one and only time the league gets an opportunity to address its entire draft class in the same setting, and the NFL works hard, acknowledged league vice president of player development Mike Haynes, to deliver counsel and direction to its captive audience.
And it is a captive audience because attendance, by league decree, is mandatory. So serious is the NFL about the importance of the rookie symposium that it has levied stiff fines in the past against players who failed to attend or skipped sessions. Washington Commanders safety Sean Taylor was fined $25,000 in 2004 for departing the symposium early and without a valid excuse.
There have been no fines over the past two years.
"I think guys have come to take it pretty seriously, because the word has gotten around that it's about serious issues," Vincent said.
Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com
But given recent headlines, and with the lengthy suspensions of three veterans this offseason, including the banishment of Tennessee Titans cornerback Pacman Jones for the entire 2007 season, one topic figures to dominate the lectures and workshops when the league's 255 draft choices convene in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for four days.
"Everything always comes back to how you [conduct] yourself," said 15-year veteran defensive back Troy Vincent, president of the NFL Players Association, and one of the several speakers who will address the league's 2007 rookie class. "But you can bet that the issue of personal conduct will find its way into virtually every discussion, in some form. It's going to be stressed, probably, more than ever."
The symposium, certainly one of the best initiatives the NFL has ever undertaken in partnership with the NFLPA, is essentially an orientation program to indoctrinate the league's newcomers to life in the NFL and all that entails.
Fine-tuned over its first 10 years, the program includes sessions on developing life skills, personal finances, football operations, the league's substance abuse program, career planning, and general circumstances that might confront a young player. It will once again feature speakers from the NFL office, the NFLPA, and from professionals in areas outside the game.
As has been the case in the past, current and former players will address the rookies about their experiences dealing with issues within to their profession. And about the pressures that are unique to life in the league.
Last year, former NFL defensive lineman Esera Tuaolo addressed the rookies about the pressures he faced as a closeted homosexual in the league.
"A lot of it is common-sense stuff, but still stuff that maybe you don't think too much about," said New Orleans tailback Reggie Bush, a member of the "Life as a Rookie" panel that will speak with the draft picks. "And some of it is stuff that, if you thought for a million years about things that could you might encounter, you'd still never consider. I'm sure, like a lot of the [rookies] last year, there will be guys wondering why this is necessary. But they'll find out it's a good, positive experience."
For the third year in a row, players will attend workshops that include an interactive component, where they will receive instant feedback on their answers to questions about the particular theme of a session. The topics will range from things like monitoring investments, what to expect in your first training camp and how to prepare for life after the game.
Commissioner Roger Goodell, who this spring enacted the league's tougher player conduct policy, will address the rookies on Monday morning.
The symposium marks the one and only time the league gets an opportunity to address its entire draft class in the same setting, and the NFL works hard, acknowledged league vice president of player development Mike Haynes, to deliver counsel and direction to its captive audience.
And it is a captive audience because attendance, by league decree, is mandatory. So serious is the NFL about the importance of the rookie symposium that it has levied stiff fines in the past against players who failed to attend or skipped sessions. Washington Commanders safety Sean Taylor was fined $25,000 in 2004 for departing the symposium early and without a valid excuse.
There have been no fines over the past two years.
"I think guys have come to take it pretty seriously, because the word has gotten around that it's about serious issues," Vincent said.
Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com
