Rookie program

[CGI_Ram]

I think the Rams rookie program (from what I know) is among the best in the league. We seem to focus a lot of effort to educate the rookies on how to be a pro. From financial planning through life planning... to signing the contracts after the program.

How did we establish this program?

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[kdemoff]

The credit for our rookie program should go to Jeff, Les and La'Roi Glover, our Director of Player Development. The three of them have worked tirelessly to devise ways to improve our rookie experience. When Jeff and Les were hired, they shared a philosophy that improving the transition from college to pro would give players a greater likelihood of long-term success with the Club. Working with La'Roi, who does a great job with all of our players, they formulated a program that begins immediately upon drafting the players and goes through the end of their rookie year, touching all of the areas that we think we can help.

The first unique part of the program that they developed was bringing in all of the parents of our draft picks the week after the draft, so that they can tour STL and meet all the members of our organization. That gives the parents a sense of their child's life in STL and a set of resources to reach out to. The players get help in adjusting to the professional game, from financial literacy to real estate agents to tax planning to life skills sessions. We then added the component this year where all of the players sign their contracts on the same day at the same time to help them establish a bond. Hopefully all of these things add up to an easier transition to the NFL which will make them better players over time.

KD

 

[LesBaker]

The credit for our rookie program should go to Jeff, Les and La'Roi Glover, our Director of Player Development. The three of them have worked tirelessly to devise ways to improve our rookie experience. When Jeff and Les were hired, they shared a philosophy that improving the transition from college to pro would give players a greater likelihood of long-term success with the Club. Working with La'Roi, who does a great job with all of our players, they formulated a program that begins immediately upon drafting the players and goes through the end of their rookie year, touching all of the areas that we think we can help.

The first unique part of the program that they developed was bringing in all of the parents of our draft picks the week after the draft, so that they can tour STL and meet all the members of our organization. That gives the parents a sense of their child's life in STL and a set of resources to reach out to. The players get help in adjusting to the professional game, from financial literacy to real estate agents to tax planning to life skills sessions. We then added the component this year where all of the players sign their contracts on the same day at the same time to help them establish a bond. Hopefully all of these things add up to an easier transition to the NFL which will make them better players over time.

KD

Bringing parents to STL is so damn smart you have to wonder why every team isn't doing it. Opening that pipeline from coaches and management to mom and dad is genius.