Jordan’s Serial: Back To The Classroom

The rookie class of 2013 have settled into their roles with the teams that drafted them, OTA’s have been and gone, mini-camps have also run their course.

So now with a few weeks to spare before the real hard work of training camp starts the new recruits get some time off to count their cash and whoop it up a little. They’ve earned it after all right?

Well, life as an NFL rookie isn’t like it used to be and instead of resting on their collective laurels and lapping up the attention, they are instead going back to school.

To be exact, they are all enrolled into the NFL Rookie Symposium. The class of 2013 will be taught through the four principals of NFL History, Total Wellness, Experience and Professionalism. Basically it’s a walk-and-talk through how to be a model citizen in the high profile, under the microscope world of everything they have now entered when they got drafted into the NFL.

With the new found fame and wealth they have at their disposal it is very easy to walk the wrong side of the line. There are lots of demons that could raise their ugly heads when you are a star and the NFL have taken great leaps in trying to protect the players from the deadly traps that could be sprung on them. Rookies will have presentations, videos and workshops relating to issues from substance abuse through to domestic violence.

Last year, Adam “Pacman” Jones was a guest speaker.

After several bad decisions in his life it was decided he would be the perfect player to address the issues that his employees are trying to eradicate from the headlines. Players who get bad press make the wrong noises for the NFL brand, no matter how big the player or how small the misdemeanour, it is something that the league, the teams and of course the players can do without.

Jones made such an impression last year that he has been invited back to speak again at this year’s Symposium. Trouble is never far away from the Bengals defensive star, just last week he was arrested after allegedly striking a female with “an open palm” after she allegedly threw a beer bottle at him outside the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. He claims that he was just protecting himself and has pleaded not guilty. With this latest cloud hanging over him he will be speaking one again with direct experience.

• The Symposium runs from June 23-29 at Aurora, Ohio.

Next Level Drama, Or Serial Flop?

Staying with a Cincinnati theme, the Bengals have been chosen to be the focus of this years “Hard Knocks” television show made by the always excellent NFL Films and HBO. This fly-on-the-wall documentary series will expose the Bengals as never before. All the drama of their camp and beyond will be brought to life directly onto our screens. This is a team on the rise under the leadership of head coach Marvin Lewis, and his quarterback Andy Dalton they have to show the connection and understanding that could elevate them to the next level.

As always it will be compelling viewing – let’s just hope we see some roar and the Bengals won’t be tamed by the cameras.