By Ralph Cindrich
Sports Agent

An NFL veteran is going into the last year of his contract – a high draft choice only now coming of age. He could sign for a big bonus if he has an exceptional season and he remains healthy, but he turns 31 before becoming a Free Agent.

Does he roll the dice for the bigger unknown contract or take the sure thing that insures his future? It’s a matter of philosophy and experience — and an agent’s advice is critical to the decision.

The fan believes that agents play a major role in all decisions — like telling a player under contract not to report. Maybe the agent is behind it — but few fans accept that it is the player’s decision to hold out because “these problems never existed before agents.”

But athletes are different today than in years past — in all ways — and they require professional assistance during and after their playing days. A large part of the agent’s job is to maximize the earnings of the athlete — the “Show me the Money” contract that we have come to know, but that’s only a part of it.

Surveys that we commissioned demonstrate that most athletes are clueless about taxes, investments, and business-related issues. The chiseled, muscular body disguises their youth and inexperience. Who knew about such things at that age?

The limited earning years for athletes require starting the search for a second career after the rookie year, even for the highly successful athlete. Dan Marino doesn’t have to work, but he entered a second career that he enjoys.

An extremely talented athlete can get away with just about anything — if only for a short time — but not so for the vast majority. Business rules must be learned to survive and those rules serve the athlete well in his second career.

Athletes need guidance in every step of the process: Physical and mental preparation, nutrition, interview preparation, setting goals, studying, analyzing strengths and weaknesses, and otherwise learning how to be a pro on and off-the-field.

These rules are not found in their playbooks.

©PSR