FOR USE AS DESIRED
6/18/13
NFL ROOKIE SYMPOSIUM KICKS OFF SUNDAY,
SESSIONS TO STRESS HISTORY, TOTAL WELLNESS, EXPERIENCE, & PROFESSIONALISM
AFC rookies to attend June 23-26, NFC rookies June 26-29
The NFL kicks off its 16th Rookie Symposium on Sunday (June 23), emphasizing the sport’s legacy, tradition of character and leadership, as well as social and professional responsibility. The four-day orientation held at the Bertram Hotel in Aurora, Ohio will introduce the 2013 NFL Draft class to life in the NFL prior to the rookies reporting to training camps next month.
“We believe in our peer-to-peer model that the more information these young men have on how those before them handled success, the better prepared they will be to meet expectations on and off the field,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Player Engagement TROY VINCENT, who was a five-time Pro Bowl selection in his 15-year NFL career. “Through our speakers there is a story to be told, a lesson to be learned, a teachable moment, a message of success in conveying our number one objective which is to provide our rookies the tools to succeed during their NFL playing experience and beyond.”
The four core teaching principles of the Rookie Symposium are NFL History, Total Wellness, Experience, and Professionalism. The symposium includes presentations, videos, and workshops on player health and safety, decision making, mental health, substance abuse, non-discrimination and maintaining positive relationships.
Guest speakers at the Rookie Symposium (June 23-26 for AFC rookies, June 26-29 for NFC rookies) include current and former players who have experienced a wide-range of success and challenges in their football careers and personal lives.
Participants include LA VAR ARRINGTON (former player), VERNON DAVIS (San Francisco), BRIAN DAWKINS (former player), LUTHER ELLISS (former player), ANTONIO FREEMAN (former player), MIKE HAYNES (former player), DESMOND HOWARD (former player), TERRY “TANK” JOHNSON (former player), ADAM JONES (Cincinnati), DHANI JONES (former player), PATRICK KERNEY (former player), CHAD PENNINGTON (former player), DELANIE WALKER (Tennessee) and AENEAS WILLIAMS (former player).
Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN and RICHARD DENT will conduct a history session for the rookies at the nearby Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
Additional speakers include representatives from the NFL office and clubs, the NFL Players Association, professionals in specialized fields, and current and former NFL players.
Panel discussion topics include “Transitioning to NFL,” “Self Regulation,” “Are You Bigger than the Game,” “Staying in the Game,” Expectations of an NFL Player,” and “What Defines Success.”
Each player will also participate in a PLAY 60 youth football clinic with children from the Cleveland area at the Cleveland Browns Training and Administrative complex (AFC rookies Tuesday at 9:30 AM; NFC rookies Friday at 9:30 AM).
To learn more, visit www.nflplayerengagement.com