SAN DIEGO -- NFL executive Troy Vincent said the reason for moving the rookie transition program, an annual event held for years in Northeast Ohio, to team facilities was a simple one -- the league wanted to reach more players.
In the past, only rookie draft picks were allowed to make the trek to Akron, Ohio, once offseason workouts were over. But with San Diego holding the event this week at Chargers Park, both draft picks and undrafted rookies could attend -- a group of about 20 first-year players.
Only first-round selection Joey Bosa, who skipped mandatory minicamp last week due to a contract dispute, was not in attendance.
“Having it local gives us the ability to bring in local resources and local partners,” Vincent said. “And you see it. Sitting in the room and listening to the guys ask the questions, we can now see, ‘OK, we’re typically not getting that question, or even the appropriate response for him because he’s 2,000 miles away.’
“One hundred percent of first-year players are actually hearing and seeing the same thing. And they build a better bond. So it’s critical.”
Vincent noted that according to the NFL’s research, the rookie symposium platform reached about 45 percent of rookies who made team rosters, leaving out about 55 percent of first-year players.
During the three-day workshop at Chargers Park, Vincent said, the program still touches on how to deal with hot-button issues that the NFL has been in the news for nationally, such as domestic violence, sexual assault and alcohol abuse.
Former Chargers Shawne Merriman and Quentin Jammer talked to players about time management and protecting your family name by your actions off of the field.
Former NBA player Keyon Dooling discussed how his career was cut short due his struggles dealing with mental health issues stemming from a traumatic childhood experience.
“You’re not weak if you need help,” Dooling told the players about finally dealing with his demons. “You’re not soft. You’re not crazy.”
But along with that, speakers also focused on mundane topics such as where to find daycare and housing, along with how to handle the stress and benefits of being a professional athlete.
“At the end of the day, I have 25 young men that are dreaming,” Vincent said. “We can sow a seed about being the best father, the best husband. We had three or four people asking about what the process is about obtaining an internship at a real estate company. Those are things where we’re speaking to the entire crowd.
“This is not about what can go wrong. This is not about what we think you’re going to do. We have to give these young men life, not just our expectations of being a professional, but what you can be -- on and off the field.”