Sports – Page 8 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Dave Trimbur – Big33.org

Dave Trimbur, Executive Director, Big33.org (April 3, 2011):

First, can you explain the nature of your organization – when and why you began, how it got off the ground initially and what your mission is?

The PNC Big 33 Football Classic is entering its 54th year. We are often referred to as “The Super Bowl of High School Football” as there has never been a NFL Super Bowl played without a Big 33 Alumnus.

The Big 33 Scholarship Foundation Inc was founded in 1985. At this time we added an Academic Scholarship program as well as a Special Needs Children Program “Big 33 Buddies” to our Game. We have now awarded over 3.900,000.00 in academic scholarships students from Pennsylvania and Ohio. We also have over 200 Buddies that annually participate in our program, and we are poised to continue to grow both of these programs.

How does the Big 33 Football Classic work – how are games set up?

The Big 33 Football Classic is a game that matches the Best Graduating Seniors from Ohio vs. the Best Graduating Seniors from Pennsylvania. It is played the 3rd Saturday in June each year.

Besides the Big 33 game, what other programs do you offer?

Academic Scholarships
“Buddy Program”
Youth Football and Cheer Camps

If you visit our website – www.big33.org you will find some videos that can help explain our programs, and hear from some of our participants.

How do players get chosen for each Big 33 game – who decides and how do they do so?

Each year the respective state high school football coaching organizations pick the Big 33 Teams.

In the case of Pennsylvania, We collect video tapes and nomination form during the month of December from all participation High School Football coaches in Pennsylvania. The first weekend in January The PSFCA coaches and Directors from throughout the state meet at Penn State Football complex and spend the weekend reviewing all films and nominations that were submitted and after a weekend of film review, they pick what they believe will be the best PA Big 33 Team.

This group of over 70 dedicated high school football coaches from all across PA make up the selection committee.

Who are some of the big name players that have played in the Big 33 over the years – and who are the players to watch out for this season?

Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Jim Kelly, Tony Dorsett, Ricky Watters, This years Honary Chaiman Ty Law, Ben Rothlisberger, just to name a few.

There are so many this year. But if History holds true one of these young men will play in the Super Bowl at one time or another.

How do college teams use this as a recruiting tool and how much do they rely on this game?

The college teams do not use this game as a recruiting tool as these young man already have their scholarships. The colleges support our game for the reason that they see it as a growing experience.

This maybe the first time that these players play against this much talent and maybe even better talent as a group then they will see in college. The experience that they have during the week while staying with their host family, be paired up with the Buddy allows they to grow as young men.

Each year we have Head Football Coaches that come and speak the teams at our annual banquet. These coaches include Pitt, Ohio State, Penn State, Temple, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Maryland.

What restrictions are placed on colleges that attend the Big 33? What are they not allowed to do?

The colleges can only attend the Annual Banquet and speak they cannot attend the Game or the week long workouts.

Bob Gergerich – President, IHC Hockey

Bob Gergerich, President, IHC Hockey, Inc (June 16, 2011):

First, can you tell readers how the school got started and who you serve?

I started operating hockey clinics in the summer during my senior year of high school in a half sized rink in Bridgeville. I attended several hockey schools and always had an interest in teaching. In 1983, I came up with the name “ International Hockey College”.

Our official name now is IHC Hockey, Inc. as we have diversified over the years. Although we still operate hockey schools under the name of International Hockey College for players 5 years of age to adults, we also have tournament teams, give private lessons and schools, as well as advise and represent players under our IHC Hockey Management division.

Who are some of the better-known players that have gone through your program over the years?

Two local players that have attended many of our schools, and later became instructors at our schools as well, are R.J. Umberger of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Matt Bartkowski of the Boston Bruins.

Also, ex-Penguins Billy Thomas and Nate Guenin have attended our schools. Bobby Ryan, who is a star with the Anaheim Ducks, attended our schools in New Jersey. Sasha Lakovic (played with several NHL teams) attended our programs in Niagara Falls. There have been several other players who played in the NHL and/or AHL that have gone through our programs over the years.

Do players often come back to the program once they enter the NHL/NHL affiliates to participate or help teach?

They have not but they are always welcome to. I work with some of the pro players individually though.

We are an independent self funded business and we get absolutely no support or help from the Penguins or any other leagues or teams.

What do you find are the skill-sets young players need to work on most – and what techniques do you use to help them improve?

Stick handling has always been called “the lost art”. Everyone needs to work on stick handling but it has improved over the years in the older players. Stick handling is your foundation to all your puck skills (passing & shooting).

And of course, you always have to work on your skating. Skating is a skill that can always be improved upon – and is so important to the hockey player.

How do you decide what position to play these kids at? Is it their preference, yours, or both?

They tell me what position they play. Of course I can always make a suggestion for change if I think a different position would suit him/his skill set better.

What makes your program unique?

We are unique for many reasons. From a technical stand point, we probably break down the skill into small components better than anyone else. We have the players work on those skills in three progressive steps.

First stationary, then moving slowly, then moving at game speed. Our instructors, who are all former IHC students, do a great job by pulling the players off to the side and reinforcing my instruction one-on-one as needed.

We also utilize the ice better than any of our competitors. You will not see players standing in lines or much down time during an IHC hockey school. We keep the players moving. We consciously make our schools a very positive environment for the players. We realize that we can influence the attitudes and habits of our students on and off the ice, so we try to make that influence a very positive one.

We are also unique because of our longevity and the services that we offer. There have been many hockey development programs that have come and gone in this area during our 28 years of operation. We are the only full time, full service hockey development company in this area where we develop hockey players from age 5 to pro, operate tournament teams, and advise, place and represent youth, college, junior, and pro hockey players.

What tournament teams do you role out, how do you ultimately choose the players that end up on the teams and who do they play?

We have several tournament teams. We have tryouts for our AAA Team IHC teams. These teams are usually made up of Bantams and Midgets and we play in high profile tournaments such as the Toronto Prospects, Boston’s Pre-Draft Showcase and Chowder Cups. We also have Pittsburgh Hockey Prospects AA teams that usually play in Canadian tournaments. These teams are made up of players who are committed to play for us without having tryouts.

What’s your main objective in working with the players in your program – what equals success for you?

My main objective in working with these young hockey players is just to be a positive influence on their lives.

It is great when NHL players come back and tell me that they would have never made it if it wasn’t for my instruction. But it is just as rewarding or even more rewarding when former students invite me to their graduation parties and their weddings and they and their parents tell me how I was a positive influence and role model in their life. There is no better feeling.

When I sit back and wonder if this business is really worth it, I think about those times and read those letters that I have received and realize that there is nothing else that I would want to do more. That is success for me. That is when I realize that someone has really got it. I have Mark Messier’s retirement speech quote on my website which I have always quoted – but in my own words: “It is not about becoming a professional athlete. It is about the journey and the people you meet along the way, and the life lessons you get while playing this incredible game.”

Hockey in Pittsburgh really seems to have improved tremendously with area players like Gibson, Saad, Miller, Trocheck and Houser all ranking high for the NHL draft. What do you attribute this to and how do you keep that momentum going?

Several of these players have come through our programs. I would like to think that I played a very small part in their success. But the real reason they are so successful is because they were LUCKY.

My definition of luck is when preparation meets opportunity. These players prepared themselves for success. They made the sacrifices, worked hard on and off the ice, and constantly worked on their skills

There are no short cuts. When the opportunity presented itself, they were prepared. The programs that they are currently in deserves more credit for their success than anyone in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, they had to leave Pittsburgh to get to the level they are at now. They started playing hockey right after the Penguins won the Stanley Cups in the early nineties. Hockey was booming and registration was at an all time high then. These are the players from that group who made the sacrifices and put in the hard work.

Unfortunately, this city is a Penguin town, not a hockey town. If the Penguins have success like they are having now, then hockey enrollment goes up. Before Crosby, hockey enrollment was at a dangerous all time low in Pittsburgh. Now with registration being at an all time high, and the success of associations developmental programs, combined with the Sidney Crosby-Reebok Little Penguin developmental program,hockey is booming here. The talent level is higher than ever here as well. Again, I think this is a result
of the numbers game. More players that are playing, more will succeed.

Do you do any pre-draft/combine prep for players entering the NHL draft as well?

We are working on having a pre-draft combine for the players we represent next year. We represent several players in the greater Toronto area and we send them to a training facility in Toronto that offers combine testing. We may partner with them next year to offer our IHC Hockey Management Combine Camp.

How do younger kids who go to schools that have little or no hockey programs get started playing hockey, and found, by the better leagues and colleges? What’s the process they should go through?

Most players come up through the amateur leagues before they play for their high schools as well. Most players work their way up from playing at the A level to AA, to AAA, then move on to Junior Hockey after midgets. To be seen by NCAA college hockey, you have to play tier one or tier two Jr. ‘A’ Hockey which requires you to leave this area.

What advice would you offer young players trying to get started on the road to the NHL. What should they be doing to ensure they are on the right track?

First, they have to realize that the odds of making the NHL is very very slim. However, having a goal to be the best you can be and play with the best players in the world is not a bad thing, as long as they still enjoy the game and are getting the other benefits out of playing this great game.

They have to constantly want to improve their skills and put in the time and work on their off-ice training as well. They need to get away from playing so many games in the spring and summer and work on their skills and conditioning. I always tell my players, “you don’t play hockey to get in shape, you get in shape to play hockey.” You also have to play at the highest level possible. I don’t believe
that AAA hockey before Bantams is that beneficial. The money you save from playing AAA at young age can go towards hockey schools and clinics, and towards a structured hockey specific training program.

Scouts start looking at players at the age of fourteen, so this is a good time to be playing in a good AAA program. The tier one and tier two junior leagues have their drafts for players at the age of 15. If you are being looked at by junior teams and prep school teams, you may want to hire an advisor to help you through this confusing process. Just make sure that you are enjoying the journey while you have your sights set on your goal. Time goes by too fast so enjoy every minute of it and hopefully you’ll have great memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Any last thoughts for readers?

I am very blessed to be able to do what I am doing for as long as I have been doing it. It’s like living a dream.

Warren Anderson – Rehab Plus/MakePlays

Warren Anderson, President – Rehab Plus/Makeplays.com (April 1, 2011):

First, can you let readers know how you got started in sports training and offer any advice for those that would like to do the same?

To make a long story short, I was coaching in the old USFL, starting in 1983 with the Chicago Blitz and Hall of Fame coach George Allen, the next year they moved our franchise to Arizona. In 1985 we became the Arizona Outlaws and were coached by Western PA native and ex-Arizona State coach Frank Kush.

When the league went under in 1985 I started working in physical therapy with Coach Kush’s brother Steve. At the same time Coach Allen’s son Bruce became a sports agent and I began working with him as well. Bruce (currently the GM with the Washington Redskins) and I started the first NFL combine training camp in 1985 as a way to add a competitive advantage for agent services. We kind of merged all our services into a physical therapy/sports training facility and moved forward. In 1988 I opened my own
physical therapy/sports training facility, and we’ve grown and diversified over the years.

You focus a lot on combine training for players looking to get into the NFL. While so much emphasis is on physical training, how do you prepare players mentally for the litany of Questions and pressures that occur at the combine and in the NFL?

The combine was originally created to bring the top prospects together at one spot and conduct medical exams and physicals. It quickly morphed into all the physical testing, i.e. “measurables” and interviews and position drills. etc.

Today the combine is another venue for the league to broadcast, hype, “sell their product”. That being said, for most coaches and gm’s the combine is their first opportunity to see the new prospects “on the hoof”, get to meet with them, watch them move around and do some athletic things. Still today, the medical exams remain one of the most important aspects of the combine.

The interview process has taken on added importance and most prospects will be well versed on this component as well as the physical testing component. The combine is an intense, pressure filled event for the players, and, given these circumstances, allows teams to observe how the player handles the environment. We just want to have our players thoroughly prepared for every component and understand they may have to “adjust on the run”.

For example if a team wants to send a player off for an MRI it may alter his schedule some, and the player has to adapt to that. We like to use the adage “be intense but not tense” when dealing with all the pressures of the combine.

Do players often find the mental aspect of the game and combine more difficult than the physical demands of the game, in your opinion? How do you work with them to improve their mental approach to the game? What techniques do you use?

In regards to the combine, the mental pressures are definitely more of a concern to players.

Candidly, most of the players in this era have been doing all the “measurables” since they were attending high school combines. The tests like the short shuttle and 3 cone are learned skills that aren’t that difficult. Speed can be improved, but at the end of the day, the evaluations are going to go back to game tape.

The evaluation BEGINS with the tape and ENDS with the tape, all the other things help fill in the blanks. In my opinion, one of the biggest misconception players have is that if they blow away all the combine tests they’re going to be a high pick. We’ve had kids call us before the season wanting to know about getting ready for the combine, we just tell them they better worry about making plays on the field because that is going to get them drafted well before what they look like running around in their underwear.

Continuing on with preparing players mentally/psychologically for the NFL game and combine – how much do you alter your techniques and approach depending on the position an athlete plays- and how so?

In recent years, more facilities and agents are bringing in position coaches to work with prospects preparing for the draft. In my opinion, this is one of the smartest thing a young prospect can have available to him.

After the draft, all these rookies are going to have to perform on the field, and understand it is their ability to make plays and DO THEIR JOB that coaches care about. We’re very fortunate to work with some great coaches.

Rod Dowhower, who was an OC and QB coach for 25 years in the NFL, is unbelievably good in working with young QBs. An old Pittsburgh Steeler, Andre Hastings, works with wide receivers. Dre is a wealth of knowledge that is put from a players perspective. Dre has no patience for anything less than 100% and he’ll let them know.

Doug Plank, a Western PA guy who played with the Chicago Bears ( the 46 defense was named after him) and has coached most recently with the Jets, is fabulous with secondary players. Position coaches like this can prepare the player for what he will incur at the combine, but more importantly, have an understanding of what it takes to play in the National Football League.

What do you find are the biggest misperceptions most of these players have when they first start working with you?

As I stated earlier, I think the biggest misconception is that how they perform in the “measurables” will make or break their draft status. Especially offensive lineman. We always use the saying “you gotta know who you are”.

A kid with a late round or free agent grade, for example, has to understand that the measurables may have more relevance to him because, if he tests well it is an impetus to go back and look at some more tape, Again, the game tape is the critical factor.

What’s the toughest adjustment for college players coming into the NFL – both physically and psychologically?

In my opinion, the biggest adjustment for young guys is to understand the National Football League is all business. “No more marching bands or cheeleaders”.

You better have a thorough understanding going in you are trying to take someone’s job and livelihood away from them and the body of work you produce on a daily basis will be evaluated and scrutinized. I think the complexity of the NFL game is different for some players, and they have to understand they must have the ability to process information quickly then translate that information into physical execution.

The length of the season is tough on young guys too, when they’re used to their college season ending, the NFL is just starting to kick into high gear.

Is there a worry on your part that the pre-combine preparation you give to players won’t “stick” once their training with you ends? How do you help prevent that from happening?

Working with prospects prior to the draft, you just try and educate them on the process. From bowl games (senior bowl, etc.) to the combine, to pro day, to visits with teams, to the draft, then you get to your team and the real work starts.

You better keep yourself in great physical condition all the way through, keep working on your skills, until you get to a team. The team you end up with will train you and coach you the way they see fit.

Have you worked with athletes that are resistant to the process or your specific techniques? How do you handle those circumstances if so?

Through the years we really haven’t had any players that were resistant to anything. All the kids we’ve been fortunate enough to work with just want to get better and insure themselves they’ve done everything possible to give themselves the best chance to play in the National Football League.

What do you think would surprise readers most about the athletes and pre-combine process?

With the NFL Network and all the media coverage I don’t know if too much would surprise your readers.

One thing I have found kind of disturbing is some players go to facilities with the sole purpose of improving their 40 or whatever, and neglect their position skill work. We’ve had a number of quarterbacks in recent years, and quarterbacks are basically evaluated on their ability to throw the football effectively.

Especially with QB’s who have played in a spread type offense, their ability to learn the proper footwork in the 3,5,7 step drops, for example, are of much more relevance than what their broad jump, for example, is.

For Pittsburgh fans here – have you worked with any Pitt players and/or players that have gone on to become Steelers? If so, who, and without getting into any issues of confidentiality, how were they to work with?

We have a long and very fond relationship with Pittsburgh.

Starting back in the 80’s we had Pitt players like Tony Woods (DE), Craig “Ironhead” Heyward (RB), Alex Van Pelt (QB) , Bob Buckowski (DE) to name a few. One of my real good buddies is Eric Metz who is from Monroeville and is a prominent NFL agent.

I mentioned Andre Hastings, former Steeler WR who resides out here in Phoenix and helps us out with football training. Dre also has a real successful dog training business which is really his passion. Back in 2001 we worked a project at UPMC in conjunction with SFX sports to do some combine training. That was a ton of fun and we had some good players in Pittsburgh training with us, Deuce McAllister , Justin Smith, Chris Chambers, Matt Light to name a few.

Brett Kiesel who presently plays with the Steelers trained with us. What a great guy. Brett had a great story coming out, you just knew he was a tough guy that wouldn’t be denied, plus he had really good athletic ability. Jeff Otah who played at Pitt and is currently with the Carolina Panthers is out here in Phoenix rehabbing a shoulder with us. Jeff is getting in a ton of strength and conditioning work at the same time. He’s working real hard and looking forward to getting back on the field next year.

On a sad note, one of my good buddies was Tony Brown, who played OT at Pitt in the 80’s. Tony passed away from cancer last June. He was one of a kind.

Last thoughts?

Young high school players keep working on your skill sets as well as your strength,speed, re-direction skills, etc. Be an athlete. And if you’d like, feel free to drop a note to our website: www.makeplays.com.

Thanks Ron.

Justin Evans-Riverhounds

Justin Evans, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Riverhounds (April 16, 2011):

First, can you tell us about yourself – your playing and coaching experience?

I grew up in the South Hills of Pittsburgh (Peters Township). I was the 1st player ever signed by the Riverhounds Organization in 1999. I had a 10 year Pro career. Played a couple of years in the MLS for the San Jose Earthquakes, Chicago Fire, and the Dallas Burn. Played two seasons in Poland; one season in the Polish 1st Division and one season in the Polish 2nd Division.

Also played in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) for four seasons. Last year was my 1st year as a Professional Head Coach, after being player/Asst. Coach for the Riverhounds in 2009.

Can you tell us a bit about the Riverhounds – the team, league and where/how fans can watch the team?

We return a solid core of last year’s team who made the Playoffs for the 1st time since 2006.

This off-season, we added some players, including four players with MLS experience, that should help us be a better team this season. Also in the off-season, we have moved into a new League (USLPRO), which is the League right below MLS. Their are 15 teams in our League across the country, which also includes a Carribean contingent.

We play our Home Games at Chartiers Valley High School and fans can find our schedule at www.riverhounds.com

For those new to the Riverhounds, what should they look for in your team and league in terms of style of play?

In terms of style of play for our team this season, we are going to look to continue to build on last years success. We had the stingiest defense in the League last year and we return the “Goalkeeper of the Year”- Hunter Gilstrap and the “Defender of the Year” – Shintaro Harada.

As I said earlier, we made brought in some key offensive acquisitions to help us score goals and be a dynamic offensive team as well this year. The League will be very competitive and all of the games will be exciting!

What is the fan experience and how does it differ from other sports?

The fan experience in the game of soccer is different than most other sports. There are rarely any stops in the game, so there is constant action for 2- 45 minute halves. It is more like hockey in terms of the continual action throughout the game.

The season has just gotten underway. How is the team looking – what are your expectations this Year?

We lost our first game on the road to Richmond (2-1). However, our team goals never change…we work to win the Championship every single year. That is the mentality of our team and our Organization.

How do you recruit players? Are most local?

Finding players keeps my coaching staff busy throughout the off-season. We host both Open and Invitational Player Combines here in Pittsburgh. We also attend other combines.

Also, we are very active in contacting college and Pro coaches about players to see who is available and what we need for our team each year. We do have a nice contingent of local players, who are important in helping to bring the Pittsburgh attitude to the team.

Who are the standout players to watch for on this team?

Besides Hunter Gilstrap and Shintaro Harada mentioned above, we return Chad Severs, our team Captain this year and leading goal scorer from last season. Jason Kutney, Louie Rolko, and Sterling Flunder return as defenders from last year’s stingy defense. We added Jason Yeisley, Boyzzz Khumalo, Kyle Veris, and Sammy Appiah who all have MLS experience on their resumes.

What non-game related activities do you offer – i.e. training, schools, etc.

The Youth aspect of our Organization is huge. The Riverhounds Academy has grown to 550 players this past Winter and we are a advanced technical training Academy for youth players aged 5-15 years old.

We also offer Riverhounds Summer Schools all over the Greater Pittsburgh area throughout the summer.

Youth players can also take part in our “Train with the Pros” program through our individual and small group training offerings year round.

How are you and the team helping to get Pittsburgh kids to play soccer?

All of the mentioned above. As well as our player appearances that occur throughout the summer.

What’s the next step up from the USL Pro League? Where do players go next and how does that process work?

The next step for the players would be Major League Soccer (MLS). The hope of the Organization is that we would be able to help every player play at the highest level that they can during their soccer career.

If players have a good season, MLS teams have scouts and they would be pulled in for a tryout. I believe that the USL PRO League has expressed interest in expanding throughout the country and I believe that they will be successful in their quest to do just that.

Any examples of players that have played for the Riverhounds and have risen to the MLS or other pro leagues?

Boyzzz Khumalo is a player that played for the Riverhounds in 2008. After a stellar season, he was picked up by DC United and played there for two seasons. He is now back to help the Hounds be successful this summer.

What would surprise fans about this team?

I think that fans are always surprised by the players accessibility.

Fans who have been to a Hounds game know that after every game, everyone is welcome onto the field to talk to the players, as well as being able to get their picture and an autograph from their favorite player(s).

Any other thoughts for readers?

We look forward to another exciting summer of soccer and we appreciate your support of our Organization!

Marty Fischman

Marty Fischman, NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor

First, can you walk readers through how and why you became an agent and offer advice for any who would wish to do the same?

I became an agent for several reasons. At a very early age, I decided that I wanted a job that allowed me to combine my passion for the game of football and my passion for helping people. Over the years, the more I began to learn and grow as a person, the more certain I became that representing athletes was my calling.

There really is no sure-fire way to become an agent. In 2009, I earned a J.D. and a certificate in Sports Law from Tulane University Law School, and formed the sports agency Fischman & Smith Sports. In 2010, I became a licensed contract-advisor with the NFLPA, and partnered Fischman & Smith Sports with Dynasty Athlete Representation.

For those who wish to become an agent, I would definitely recommend law school. While law school certainly does not prepare a future agent for the day-to-day activities of the trade, it provides a great educational background for anyone wishing to negotiate player contracts.

In addition to law school, I would recommend finding work experience. The summer after my first year of law school, I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to work for the now defunct sports agency, Executive Sports Management (ESM). ESM represented over 50 collegiate coaches and a handful of NFL and CFL coaches. Although I did not get experience in representing players, my role in reviewing contracts, marketing clients to potential job openings and observing contract negotiations, provided me with a great experience as to what the day-to-day business of a sports agent entails.

If you are unable to find work with a sports agency or a law firm representing athletes you are not out of luck. I think a huge benefit to anyone wishing to become an agent would be to work with a players’ union, league office or a professional team.

How do you decide on who to target to represent and do you ever turn players away? If so, for what reasons?

Thus far in my young career, I have been fortunate to have represented players that were referred to me through mutual friends. However, my partners and I have compiled lists of potential prospects in our respective states, cities, universities, etc., whom we feel would be good targets to approach about representation.

Occasionally, I am forced to turn players away. I turn players away if their request for representation comes at a time that would be deleterious to my fiduciary duties to my other clients (such as weeks before the draft). I also turn players away if their resume/body of work indicates they have no realistic chance of being signed to a professional sports team.

There are some athletes that believe if they have an agent, they will sign with a team. If that were the case, everyone in my flag football league would have an agent!

How are the CBA negotiations affecting you – what worries you most about what a new agreement could entail?

The suit against the NFL is affecting me in that I am now required to advise clients about the unknown. I am representing two clients in this year’s draft, and both are likely to go undrafted. I had a client ask me today if we could find other job opportunities for him if there is no season. While sending guys to the CFL seems like a viable option, CFL player contracts are minimum 2 yr deals, so signing a CFL contract could thwart a kid’s chances of having an opportunity to play in the NFL.

What are the biggest misperceptions most players have when entering the contract negotiation process – especially as rookies?

That they have finally “made it.” Guys haven’t made it just by signing an NFL contract. It is very rare to see a contract where every component is “fully guaranteed for skill, injury and cap.”

Other than the first round guys, the only component of a drafted player’s contract that is guaranteed is his signing bonus. For most rookies, they will have to earn every cent of their contract. Unlike in other pro other sports, an NFL player’s contract is not guaranteed (unless otherwise stated) and can be terminated at the team’s whim.

How do you prepare rookies for the pro game – and for life after college?

Sometimes, the combine training facility will have psychologists and former players to serve as mentors, but some facilities we have used do not have those amenities. Additionally, I try to serve as a mentor for my clients, by stressing the importance of staying out of harm’s way and focusing on the goal of making it into the NFL.

I remind clients all the time that they are entering one of the toughest job markets in the world. In order to earn a job playing football in the NFL, they must make the necessary sacrifices.

I urge all of my clients to get their degrees, even if it requires them to go back to school in the offseason. I also help them with non-football resumes in the event that their football careers do not last as long as anticipated.

With more and more of players’ personal lives – especially legal issues – becoming public, how do you prepare players to protect themselves from these situations and has that become a bigger part of your player preparation?

For the same reasons I’ve mentioned above, I prepare players by showing them real-life examples of how current and former players have screwed up their finances and in some cases, their careers, by making poor off-the –field decisions. I urge our clients not to post anything on twitter or facebook that is lewd or could be misinterpreted.

Can you give a quick run-through on how a standard contract negotiation/process would work in the NFL?

For rookies, most agents wait at least til the pick in front of them signs. Once that happens the negotiation for the agent generally goes much easier. A team gives an original offer, followed by an agent’s counter-offer, and it goes back in forth until the two sides reach agreement.

However, because each team is limited by its rookie pool number, the negotiation process for an agent does not always become easier even if the picks both directly in front of and in back of their client have signed.

Regarding veteran contracts, the market value is usually clearly established although there are some cases where an agent has inflated their client’s market value to such an extent that he ends up having to take less than what his client’s true market value probably was had he not inflated his market value in the first place.

Do you represent any Steelers players (or have you in the past)? If so, can you let us know which players?

I have not.

What tends to be the most frustrating part of the job?

1) When a player screws up off the field and decreases his market value to teams. 2) When teams pass on a client that you believe has the ability to play in the NFL.

Max Malone – Pittsburgh Penguins ‘ Hockey in Pittsburgh Program

Max Malone, Pittsburgh Penguins ‘ Hockey in Pittsburgh Program (June 29, 2011)

Hockey in Pittsburgh really seems to have improved tremendously with area players like Gibson, Saad, Miller, Trocheck and Houser all ranking high for the NHL draft. What do you attribute this to?

First and foremost, the hard work and dedication of those players paired with the outstanding coaching that is now available in Pittsburgh has led to many talented players coming out of our region.

When hockey first exploded in Pittsburgh in the early 90s due to the arrival of Mario Lemieux and the two Stanley Cups most of the coaches were parents being exposed to hockey for the first time. With this second generation of players coming through the system they are able to learn from more and more coaches who played the game at a high level.

Also, a lot can be said of the players in our area being able to witness different elite levels of hockey in Pittsburgh from a young age, such as the Men’s and Women’s Programs at Robert Morris University & Merchyhurst College and soon to be PSU Program, the Youngstown Phantoms [USHL] and the different AAA programs in the area.

How does your organization make hockey more accessible to more children in the Pittsburgh region?

We have quite a few programs that make hockey more accessible to children in Pittsburgh, beginning with the distribution of free tickets to children for one of our pre-season games each season, followed by Sidney Crosby’s Little Penguins Learn to Play Program which provides free equipment for 1,000 children each season, the YMCA Junior Penguins an after school hockey program for 3,300 children, hosting the 84 Lumber PIHL Penguins Cup Championship at the CONSOL Energy Center and our NHL Hockey is for
Everyone Programs – Pittsburgh ICE, the Steel City Icebergs and the Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins.

How does the Penguins organization get involved in these activities?

We are involved in a variety of ways from actually operating camps, clinics or other programs to promoting local events and providing financial support to various organizations.

Where/how do you think you can you improve?

We have been suggesting that it may make sense to restructure the AAA hockey scene in Pittsburgh, by establishing one truly elite program. Currently there are quite a few AAA programs in operation, many of which are competing for the same player or coach year in and year out. We feel that if we can establish one truly dominant AAA Program in Pittsburgh, the level of play will increase at that level which will also benefit our local travel and high-school leagues. Obviously, we do not control any of the teams in the area
but that is one idea we would recommend.

We have also recently established three advisory councils with the help of local youth hockey stakeholders, which will aim to improve all aspects of hockey – financially, systematically and operationally.

The first council is composed of area Ice Rink Owners and Managers and will focus on ensuring sustainability amongst Western Pennsylvania’s network of ice arenas. The second council is a collection of local youth hockey leaders and will focus around improving all aspects of youth hockey. And the third council will focus on increasing participation and visibility of dek and inline hockey.

Also, we are looking forward to working with the PIRHL [Pennsylvania Interscholastic Roller Hockey League] on continuing to expand inline hockey. Currently, the league operates at five arenas and has three Varsity Leagues, three Junior Varsity Leagues, five Middle School Leagues and three Elementary School leagues. The PIRHL is expanding rapidly and is one of the largest Inline Hockey Leagues in the country.

The Penguins have been highly touted for their involvement in community affairs and the growth of hockey in the region. It appears to a major initiative of the organization – not just “something else they do”. How is this fostered through the organization and why is this so important to the Penguins?

It goes back to the old saying that ‘while a city’s Professional Sports team is a business, it is also a community asset.’ As a thank you for all of the support the team receives, the Penguins Ownership Group and Executives feel that it is important to give the young people of our region opportunities to experience the lessons that can be learned through sports and afford them the opportunity to be exposed to excellence, whether it is through one of our youth programs or witnessing the hard work, dedication and teamwork of our players on television or in the CONSOL Energy Center.

Some of our most recent community initiatives include Hockey in July at the CONSOL Energy Center, the Winter Classic Community Ice Rink at Stage AE, the 84 Lumber PIHL Penguins Cup Championships, the Ultimate Home Game and the Little Penguins Learn to Play Program – all of which are designed to increase exposure and participation in hockey.

Who have been some of the more well-known players to come through the Pittsburgh Youth Hockey Network?

To date, there have been over 100 Men and Women from Pittsburgh to play hockey at the NCAA, Professional or Major Junior level, each is just as exceptional as the next.

Recently, we have been highlighting the success of a few local prospects that were drafted at this past weekend’s NHL Entry Draft, they are JT Miller, Brandon Saad, Vincent Trochek and John Gibson – all drafted in the top 64 picks. Ryan Malone, RJ Umberger, Dylan Reese, Christian Hanson Mike Weber and Stanley Cup Winner Matt Bartkowski all put on an NHL Jersey this past season.

Lindsay Holdcroft, a freshmen Goaltender for Dartmouth was named ECAC rookie of the week twice, goaltender of the week and was honorable mention All-Ivy, as a true freshmen. A teammate of Lindsay’s, Erica Dobos, also had a career year for the Big Green. Hockey players from Pittsburgh are making an impact at every level of elite hockey and will continue to do so for many years to come.

What are some of the more successful/exciting programs you offer – and what makes them so?

Our most exciting and successful program is Sidney Crosby’s Little Penguins Learn to Play Program. The program offers free hockey equipment for children ages 4 to 7. The program is so exciting to us because through the generosity of Sidney Crosby, Reebok and Dick’s Sporting Goods we have been able to put over 2,200 children on the ice and it is amazing to see the enthusiasm in which the players take their first step on the ice and knowing all of the memories and lessons they will experience through hockey along the way.

Another exciting part of the Little Penguins Program is the number of girls that are now involved, this year 300 signed up for the program. Most of the girls participated in the co-ed program, although we partnered with four local arenas to host ‘Girls Only’ sessions. Girls Hockey in Western Pennsylvania is growing faster than in any other area of the country; participation has increased by 47% since the 2005-06 season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation has recently launched, Heads-Up Pittsburgh, which offers free Baseline IMPACT Concussion testing for all children registered to play hockey in the PAHL, PIHL as well as other local programs registered with USA Hockey. This initiative is groundbreaking and will help any concussed players receive the proper diagnosis and return to the ice in the correct timeframe.

Who are the players that get involved most – how do they do so and any fun anecdotes from their involvement?

All of the members of the team get involved in some way, shape or form including Ray Shero, Dan Bylsma, Todd Reirden and Tony Granato. Of course, Sidney Crosby is a leader amongst the players’ in-terms of community involvement, through the Little Penguins program and the rest of the team follows suit.

The players seem to really enjoy our ‘Drop in on Practice,’ as part of this series we will coordinate with local coaches and team managers to plan the arrival & participation of a Penguins player during their practice – the youth players have no idea. Penguin’s participants included Evegni Malkin, Kris Letang, Max Talbot, Mike Rupp, Mark Letestu, Deryk Engelland, Eric Tangradi, Chris Conner, Eric Godard and Ryan Craig.

Mike Rupp is also very active in the community through the UPMC Outdoor Charity Series and some of his own initiatives.

Any new programs being considered/implemented soon?

Our most recent addition, a Girls Hockey Camp was held last week at the Ice Castle in Castle Shannon, the entire Coaching Staff was female and included US & Canadian National Team Members, local AAA Coaches and Penguins Alumni.

We hope to announce a few additional youth programs shortly, stay tuned! Also, our three Advisory Councils will open the lines of communication with the youth hockey community and provide direction for future initiatives.

You have a wide array of programs you offer – from Ice hockey to in-line and Dek, women’s hockey and more – how do people get selected/enrolled in these programs?

All of our programs are first come, first served and we utilize all of our marketing platforms to get the information in the hands of the community – pittsburghpenguins.com, TV, Newspaper, Social Media, Email Blasts and in-game advertising.

What have been the most rewarding – and frustrating – elements of the various programs?

The most rewarding piece of our programs is knowing that the Penguins had the opportunity, and hopefully we do, positively influence young lives through hockey.

How has the success for the Penguins made things easier – and harder – for you and your programs?

The success of the Penguins on the ice has definitely created a huge spike in the number of children playing youth hockey.

Participation in both boys and girls hockey has increased by 26% in Pittsburgh since the 2005-06 season.

The popularity of Hockey in the area is at an all time high and our programs tend to sell out quickly and most arenas are booked solid.

Any last thoughts for readers?

We are focused on introducing children to the game of hockey and hope to encourage and promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

Julius Page, Pitt Basketball

Julius Page – Pitt Panthers (June 16, 2011):

First, can you tell readers about your Just Play Fitness venture – what makes it unique and where your locations are?

Everything with Just Play Fitness is going as planned. Of course I would have liked for it to happen sooner but it is coming sooner than what some people think. You know when I first got started a lot of my friends laughed at my timeline and said when dealing with people nothing happens when you want it….so that’s where I’m at.

What inspired this idea and how is it faring so far?

A friend of mine, Norman Childs from Eyetique told me to do something that I would enjoy doing everyday.

After thinking about it, I love to help people. My goal is to help people achieve whatever goals they want when coming to fitness. Also helping the high school student get ready for the next level.

Any lessons/learnings from playing basketball at Pitt that you’ve been able to apply to the business?

Sports and life in general go hand and hand. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. The best thing you can do is stay level. What I mean is I do not try to get to excited when things are going well or to down when they are not.

In sports you have to be the same way because the majority of the game is mental.

Speaking of Pitt, Jamie Dixon took over as Pitt’s head coach in your senior season at Pitt correct? How did things change for you under Dixon, and what were your concerns, if any, about the change?

When Jamie took over I really didn’t have any concerns. He knows the game of basketball…You know what kills me is when I hear people say he should be replaced. This is a guy who hasn’t missed a beat and is a class act away from the game. I hope he stays forever.

What can you tell readers about Dixon that would surprise readers/fans?

Dixon really cares about his players. If it’s best for you to leave early then he will tell you. He wants his players to play their game and not feel so pressed to make plays. He was a scorer in his day from what I hear.

Who were some of the teammates that you most enjoyed playing with at Pitt – and why?

I enjoy playing with everyone to tell you the truth. Brandin knew where I wanted the ball and was a good distributor- Jaron may have been the most unselfish player I ever played with. Ontario was the team clown always making people laugh- Chevy is Chevy…enough said lol. Our whole team had talent that’s why alot of the guys are still playing basketball today.

What were some of the games and opponents you remember most? What made them so?

I remember the UCONN battles because they were so much fun. I remember we lost to the Cuse because I helped off my guy and took a chance. And I remember finally winning at Notre Dame my senior year. That was the only time we won on their court…oh yea, I remember dunking on the guy from Georgetown but that’s
not my favorite…sike.

Was winning the Big East Tournament MVP in 2003 your biggest accomplishment at Pitt? If not, what do you feel was?

Graduating from Pitt is by far the biggest.

I recently went to a friend of mine’s wedding and during the reception they asked all Pitt Alum to take a picture together and it felt like a million people went to Pitt. A lot of guys where I am from can play ball but more don’t finish school. I’m glad I did.

The NBA draft is coming up soon. What do you remember about the NBA draft – did you expect to be drafted? What advice would you offer the few Panthers that could get picked this year?

NBA basketball is a job. Don’t get caught up playing for the money or focusing on the wrong things, just play basketball.

As far as me being drafted, it’s a lot of All Stars in the NBA that I held my own against. It’s only so many spots and it’s not many for a under size shooting guard. Make sure you ride the wave when the tide is high.

After college, what did you do to try to stay involved in basketball, and when/how did you decide it was time to start a new path?

I played basketball overseas and enjoyed it. I would still be playing today if I didn’t have any kids.

If you remember I had my son when I was a senior in high school. He is 11 years old now and I felt it was time to support his dreams and put mine to the side.

Do you follow the program today? What are your thoughts on the level of talent coming into the program now and the team’s ability to break into the Final Four soon?

I’m not surprised at all that we are getting All American kids. I mean think about it, you will be playing in the Big East, for a great coach & coaching staff, a top 10 program in the Pete which is like a NBA arena.

Don’t let me forget you can become a Steelers fan as well. As far as the final four goes….it really don’t mean a thing if you don’t win it all. Let me rephrase that, ANYTHING short of winning the title is Disappointing.

Do you work with any of the current and former players/coaches/staff at Pitt to help promote Just Play Fitness?

Right now I am so wrapped up it getting my business ventures together that I don’t make it around enough but hopefully that will change. I have some other things in the making that everyone will enjoy as well. I have some tricks up my sleeve lol.

Any last thoughts for readers?

I’m glad to call Pittsburgh my new home. For the most part even years after I played at Pitt people still show me a lot of love. On twitter I get the love all the time. I love to debate so follow me @juliuspage

Trevor Moawad, IMG

Trevor Moawad, IMG Performance Institute (April 20, 2011):

First, can you tell readers how you got started at IMG training players for the combine and NFL?

Actually, combine training got started here in Bradenton. IMG has been here since 1987. Tom Condon and Ken Kramer decided in the late 80’s that they wanted to send their NFL prospects to train before the combine to improve their draft status – it was like Kaplan for the SATs.

Before then athletes just trained at their respective colleges with their strength coaches. Tom figured that training before the combine would help players get drafted higher in the draft. It’s a pretty new thing.

We trained guys like Charlie Batch and Pennington and as success grew for all of these trained players other agents were forced to do the same thing and the facilities sprouted up in many other places.

A lot of the training focus in readers’ minds is on the physical side – can you tell readers how you prepare players for the psychological rigors of the combine and NFL?

The combine gets lots of press for the physical measurements, but the majority of the combine is about the Players’ mental states. We train them specifically and heavily on expanding their awareness. Anxiety comes from what you don’t know, so we make them aware of the process and give them techniques like positive visualization.

The combine is a marathon – not a sprint. Pressure comes when players feel the demands on them exceed the resources they have to survive those demands. We provide them with the strategies they need.

What are some of the strategies teams use to test players psychological makeup?

Well, here’s a good example. One NFL team I know will make the whole interview room dark except for one light behind the coach who stands in the middle of the room, in front of the player who is seated. The coach is silhouetted by the light and he and everyone surrounding the player will shoot questions at the player as he sits in the dark.

Typically, coaches will have every mistake a player has made over their college career in front of them during interviews and will ask the player to explain their mistakes and dissect their playbooks.

What are some of your best memories to date in the combine training process?

A good time was watching Heath Miller, Alex Smith and Chris Spencer singing Jimmy Buffet songs at karaoke with Miller playing guitar. It was a classic moment. Miller was a special guy. A real great character guy.

Guys develop fellowships here. And another great memory is of Boston College’s Mark Herzlich who is training here. Watching him after his battles with cancer was a privilege. He inspired and motivated everyone – here’s A guy that was minutes from losing a leg and not playing football.

I hope teams are smart enough to draft him early. He’d be a perfect fit in Pittsburgh with his attitude.

Other fun memories are the cross-disciplinary trainings – Brees playing tennis with Maria Sharapova. Eli Manning playing soccer with Freddy Adu.

And there was no better guy than Byron Leftwich. He’s a world class character – great with young athletes and helping out in training them. His appreciation for our help in getting him drafted #7 was sincere and generous.

How has the NFL changed over the years?

Players need to be more well-rounded – especially in Goodell’s NFL. They have to be intelligent and good citizens.

Miller and Batch have been here and were great citizens, Teams are not looking for perfect people- in fact, some teams like players that made mistakes early in their careers – as long as they proved they learned from them.

Matt Jones is a good example. No one touched him after a 70+ catch season. With Goodell more willing to suspend players, teams are more at risk.

Draft mistakes don’t just affect the players – front office staff and coaches lose jobs because of bad picks. Look at Beathard…. So drafting players that are suspension risks are greater risks for teams now.

How do you work with players on character issues?

We now have more ways to indicate and predict whether players are red flag characters. Our Combine 360 Tools test players in all aspects to flush out all weaknesses and improve players on all levels.

Some players may resist tests – but they are outliers. They know that check-in here at 6:30 am means being there at 6:30.

What are the biggest misperceptions players carry into the process?

Players don’t always realize that you can improve dramatically by improving technique. The science behind the whole process like vision training and improvisational games make a big difference. The amount of areas they can train in and how much they can improve surprises players.

We sent 18 guys to the combine – it’s like training them for the Navy Seals. We’re teaching them to be good
pros – not just improve their combine performances.

That’s an important distinction – how do you train them to be better NFL players – not just improve for the combine?

We get players ready for the NFL.

As an athlete, there are specific physical attributes the combine measures – speed, power, acceleration, etc.

But we show them – educate them – on how it all relates and applies. What are the common denominators of successful players? That’s more than just tests and getting players ready for the combine. We have lots of former players that help as well. We show them videos of what’s worked and hasn’t, teach them to have a plan, to be good characters. It’s not just about physical tests.

It’s also about perspective. Martin Grammatica once said to me that he wished every player would be forced to take one year off to appreciate the game and what it takes to succeed.

How do you teach attributes that to some seem like intrinsic values?

But they aren’t intrinsic. You can educate and instill values. Showing up on time and being positive are choices players make. We teach them techniques to help them do so. These can be taught.

Lot’s of players come from tough backgrounds – single mothers and the rest of it. But that’s not an excuse not to do the right thing. A lot of what we teach is about cause and effect. Of physical training decisions and social decisions. It’s all about educating them on the big picture.

How do you help players after they get drafted?

We stay connected to many players by phone, text etc. We’ll provide meals for some, send mental coaches to them for 2-3 games a year, send strength coaches to them during the season as well.

With the lockout, more players will visit us in the offseason. I’m expecting that players get more flexibility in the new CBA to do what they want in the offseason and train where they want to. The OTAs are not really voluntary – the players won’t be stuck at the team facilities in the new agreement where they have just 3 or so strength coaches for 85 players.

The lockout is worrisome because most players won’t come out to facilities like ours during the lockout and won’t stay in good enough shape or stay out of trouble.

It’s no coincidence that 1982 and 1987 were the two years in the NFL that had the highest % of injuries – they were lockout seasons.

What would surprise readers most about the combine and training process?

Really, the level of analysis – how thorough it is. Background checks are very detailed – high school coaches and friends are interviewed.

Also, just the intensity of the psychological tests and the importance of vision testing and anxiety measurement.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Really. I remember spending time with Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace. Not everyone liked Wallace but I thought, what a great kid. I’m not surprised at his success.

Some guys are just late bloomers. Colleges don’t usually have time to develop talent like we can and the NFL staffs can. Good coaching and training can help being out that talent with focused attention these guys don’t get in college.

Jeff Weiner – ESBL

Jeff Weiner interview (March 22, 2011):

Can you tell us first what constitutes “sports management” as it pertains to NFL players – what services do you provide?

Sports Management has a very broad definition, since it can pertain to so many different aspects of sport.

To my company, ESBL Sports Management, it means providing the highest quality of services to my clients (including LaMarr Woodley and Steve Smith) as it relates to building their brand via Marketing, Public Relations, and Social Media. In this day and age, I strongly believe that Social Media is the most powerful and essential aspect in order to maximize the other two (Marketing and Public Relations).

How did you get involved in sports management?

Do you want the long version or the short version? In short, I attended the University of Maryland in hopes of becoming a Super Bowl winning head coach one day. I worked on the football team as a student volunteer and developed some great friendships with several coaches and players.

About a month before I was slated to graduate, I found out that I didn’t (even get an interview for) the Graduate Assistant coaching job I was hoping to get, and I was dejected. The coach who I was closest with consoled me and told me the old cliche that everything happens for a reason. I liked him too much and was too upset to tell him how corny that was, and soon after, I of course realized that he was 100%
right.

Just the next day, he showed me an article on ESPN.com about an agent and the relationship he had with his client, and he said it reminded him of me and that I should look into becoming an agent. I blew it off and said “No, I want to be a coach. Plus, I didn’t even know what that is other than from watching the movie Jerry MaGuire.

My good friend on the team, kicker Nick Novak, had just finished his career at Maryland and had hired an agent. Coincidentally, he approached me just a few days later and said “Hey Jeff, have you ever thought about becoming an agent? I just hired one and your personalities are very similar. I bet you would be good.” I decided to do some research on what being an agent entailed, and about a month or so later I landed my first job working for an agent. I experienced some ups and downs in my first few years in the business, having worked for two different companies who both taught me a ton.

At the end of the day, I decided that I did not want to be one of a thousand agents, but rather I wanted to carve a niche in the industry that I felt did not exist. That’s when I started my company, ESBL Sports Management, where I focus my energy on the aspects of an NFL player’s career other than their NFL contract. Yes, that was the short version.

What does sports marketing entail, exactly? Can you explain to readers what it is that you do to market and brand a player?

Sports marketing in its purest form is when athletes are paid to endorse a company. Before marketing a player, I first need to get to know the player and understand who he was in the past, who he is in the present, and
who he projects to be in the future.

Once that is accomplished, I target companies locally, regionally, and nationally that I believe would benefit from having my client endorse them. In deciding what companies to target, I take a meticulous and strategic approach, and make sure that both my client and I believe that a partnership with that particular company would be something they would be proud to endorse.

How do you prepare rookies for the NFL game and for life outside of college?

Well, I don’t have to do too much to prepare them quite frankly, because the guys I work with are very intelligent guys who already understand how blessed they are to be in the position they are in.

One of the things I work hardest on teaching them is how careful they need to be with Social Media in this day and age, since one poor choice of words on a post can negatively affect their reputation. I do my best to coach them up, so to speak, on the importance of time management and being professional with media and marketing opportunities, as well as showing them how to best communicate with their fans via Social Media.

Of course, there is much more to it than that, but that’s the basic premise.

In working with athletes and their brand, what are the biggest concerns athletes usually have when you take them on? Is it all about money for most or are there other issues that you find them caring about more?

What most people don’t understand is that it’s impossible to answer this question because every single client of mine, and every single athlete in general, is a different person with a different outlook on things.

Sure, my clients want me to make them money because they realize it’s a short window for them and that they bring value to the table for companies. I think the most common thing that my clients all want is to be presented with opportunities that can not only provide them with a couple of bucks, but that also have value for the overall development of their brand.

How do you determine how you brand players – what factors go into an individual strategy?

As I eluded to before, this is an impossible question to answer because every player is so different in so many ways. It really depends on if the player is an introvert or an extrovert, if he is willing to be active in Social Media, among other factors.

So much of a player’s personal life has become public now. How do you educate players to avoid circumstances that can get them into PR, if not legal trouble?

All of my clients are good guys who, knock on wood, have never been in any trouble with the law. I really don’t have to educate them much, but there are always situations that arise, such as an athlete getting arrested for a DUI, where I make a point to remind them how something like this can not only ruin a career, but also a life.

How do you handle players who don’t take advice or seem to have little concern for their public image?

With only 24 hours in a day, I don’t have a single minute to spend working for players who have that mindset. In order to perform my job efficiently, I need to work with players who want my advice in regards to my areas of expertise and who are willing to take these aspects of their career seriously.

How do you find players to represent and do you reject players? If so, why?

I am very strategic in my approach to finding new clients. I know it sounds cliche, but I only want high character individuals, who also are business savvy. Agents want high character guys, but they still can earn a living from negotiating a player’s contract even if he is not an upstanding citizen.

Since I’m not an agent, the thing about my aspect of the business is that if I have a client who gets in trouble with the law or represents himself poorly in the media, I am very limited in what I can do for them.

How do you prepare players for retirement and how hard is it to work with players who are making that transition from star/starter to winding down their career?

I focus on preparing my clients for retirement the day I begin working with them by asking them what their long term goals are after football. No matter what they say, I believe that the ability to build a database of fans and supporters via Social Media while an athlete is in his prime playing days will only help that athlete when he is ready to move on to the next phase in his life.

Most NFL players aren’t making the millions that you see star players making. How do you handle those players differently and is there often resentment on their part/lack of acceptance of their “place” in the NFL?

I don’t think there is resentment at all from these players. I believe that most players are realistic and understand that Peyton Manning’s are few and far between.

I think guys just want to be compensated fairly for their production and they want to make as much money as possible, as quickly as possible, because they know that the window is small.

What are your biggest concerns – and hopes – with any new CBA?

I don’t lose any sleep worrying about that which I cannot control. I believe this thing will get worked out in the very near future and right now everything you hear in the media is all just part of negotiations.

The NFL is the best league in all of professional sports and it’s not by accident. Not only is it a great game with great fans, but it has smart businessmen on both the NFL side and the NFLPA side who have worked very hard over the years to get it to the level of success that it has reached.

I have the utmost confidence they will not mess that up and that everything will be resolved before too long.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Thanks for reaching out to me Ron. I hope my answers were interesting and insightful to your readers.

Ralph Cindrich

First, can you walk readers through how and why you became an agent and offer advice for any who would wish to do the same?

Sports led me into wrestling and football-strong arms, strong back, weak mind. With that agent thing, I took a wrong turn early on and kept on going.

Are you still involved in any way with the school you played college football at – the University of Pittsburgh? What do you think of the state of their program and the new head coach?

I thought the handling of the firing of Dave Wannstedt-a former teammate and friend—was an embarrassment and disaster. I met the new coach briefly at the Dapper Dan Banquet and he seemed like a first class guy.

Continue reading “Ralph Cindrich”