NFL teaching rookies how to not be prey to economic predators

In the age of Twitter, in the era of the cell phone cameras when everyone is waiting to snap a photo of a drunken player groping an uber-chested hottie, and unfortunately in the age of Michael Vick, what the NFL is doing in a luxury Florida hotel is more important than ever before.

The NFL's Rookie Symposium, in its 13th year, has long been one of the more productive and vital programs run by any sports league. It's not flawless. After all, Vick heard the same warnings from former and current players at a similar symposium some years ago about what it takes to stay out of trouble and he obviously didn't listen.

Yet the rookie symposium, which began this week, has likely literally saved hundreds of careers. Many players listened and the symposium has kept a few future stars from entering jerk hell.

"It's not just Twitter or the potentially embarrassing photos we try to educate our rookies about," said Adolpho Birch, the NFL's vice president of labor policy and player development, who runs the symposium. "It's a comprehensive program. We're also focusing our players on the issues with the economy and the recession."

You read that right. The NFL is concerned its future multi-millionaires may be just as vulnerable to the recession woes as everyone else. Before you spit out your diet soda in a fit of incredulity, it's not what you think.

Over the past few months several NFL general managers have expressed to CBSSports.com that a significant number of players have been increasingly approached by family and friends for financial assistance as the economy has worsened.

According to these general managers, some players have received numerous requests for money from various relatives when the recession started and those requests continue to this day.

Relatives and friends seeing a wealthy NFL player as a walking ATM is nothing new. It's been happening for decades across all professional sports. Only now, some NFL sources say, the problem is far worse than it's ever been before because the economy is so horrid.

The symposium has long warned players to be careful about whom they give money to, but Birch explained the league is addressing how the current recession makes matters even tougher on players. There are going to be more requests for cash and loans meaning more stress on players.

"We're well aware then when the economy is tough players are going to hear even more requests for money and loans from friends and family," Birch said. "We're trying to be even more aggressive than normal in telling our players how to handle these situations."

One of the quickest ways a player goes broke is by loaning that third cousin thousands of dollars and buying a car for that aunt he hadn't heard from in years. Then, repeating acts of naïve kindness to other family and friends.

The NFL wants to prevent a surge of these kinds of situations due to the current state of the economy.

It's a smart, proactive move by the NFL.

The entire symposium is.

Birch was asked if during the symposium two words were constantly mentioned: Michael Vick.

"We didn't have to mention Vick repeatedly," Birch said. "Let's just say our job is to make players aware of the consequences of their actions. You make 'X' choice and there's 'Y' consequence. The league will always go on without you if you make the wrong decisions."

Birch then quoted Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who spoke to the 256 draft picks: "Don't be the guy who gets the domestic violence charge. Don't be the guy who gets the DUI."

And don't be the guy who gives away his cash to anyone who asks.