This week at the NFL Rookie symposium, the newest additions to the league have had some great advice. Adam Jones spoke on what not to do, Michael Vick did the same and Michael Irvin took the crew to the Pro Football Hall of Fame to show them where they could end up if they did everything the right way.
Now, another familiar face was added to the roster. Terrell Owens arrived in Ohio this morning to speak to the NFC rookies and talked about beng a star in the NFL and how to control that. He used “The bigger you are, the harder you fall” as his message, as well as “Are you bigger than the game”.
Owens appeared on Dr. Phil and opened up about his financial status as he tried to make a comeback to the NFL. He was said to be behind on Child Support payments that totaled around $50,000 at the time. Owens’ Ex-Wife’s said that he never had contact with his kids, and that it was so bad they never received Christmas gifts or anything of the sort. He became emotional on the show while discussing it all.
It’s unknown whether or not he used his personal story when talking at the Symposium, but several members of the media have alluded that the message was strong to the rookies. To see a guy that’s trying to make his way back into the league, and struggling to do so because of his past, they may have opened up their eyes to the bigger picture.
Many have said at the gathering that playing in the league is a priveledge and it can be taken away from you at any given time. So doing things the right way – the first time, can help them along the path that they need to be on to be successful.
Among the rookie draft class, attending was Lions second year DT Nick Fairley who was granted special permission to attend, as his draft class was not afforded the opportunity due to last years lockout.
Fairley has been arrested twice this offseason on Marijuana charges, and hopefully this is a step in the right direction for him.
Owens was unavailable for comment after he spoke due to a conflicting flight schedule.
Follow us on Twitter @OCNNReport
OCNN Sports Columnist – Justin Arbogast @NFLGuy_SK
