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    The Rookie Handbook: How to Survive the First Season in the NFL
    The Rookie Handbook: How to Survive the First Season in the NFL
    The Rookie Handbook: How to Survive the First Season in the NFL
    Ebook299 pages1 hour

    The Rookie Handbook: How to Survive the First Season in the NFL

    By Ryan Kalil, Jordan Gross, Geoff Hangartner and Matt Stevens

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook


    Congratulations, you just got drafted into the NFL. Now what?
    Here’s what’s ahead of you: rigorous training, complicated playbooks, financial conundrums, intense pressure to perform—and temptation. Welcome to the big leagues.


    Informative, smart, funny, and beautifully illustrated, The Rookie Handbook has everything NFL rookies need to know to survive their first season of pro football, straight from veterans Ryan Kalil, Jordan Gross, and Geoff Hangartner. The three authors have a combined thirty years of NFL experience, but they too were rookies themselves, once upon a time.
     
    Much like rookies, NFL fans only know what they see on TV or read—obsessively following Rich Eisen and scouring obscure blogs for fantasy football info. But when it comes to what goes on in the inner sanctum, behind the locker room doors, it’s a mystery. The Rookie Handbook is the insider’s guide to that exclusive club, pulling back the curtain to reveal how players act and think—and what they do when no one is watching.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRegan Arts.
    Release dateSep 6, 2016
    ISBN9781682450352
    The Rookie Handbook: How to Survive the First Season in the NFL

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      Book preview

      The Rookie Handbook - Ryan Kalil

      CONTENTS

      FOREWORD BY RICH EISEN

      ROOKIE AT A GLANCE

      SECTION 01. PRE-DRAFT

      WHERE TO DO YOUR PRE-DRAFT TRAINING

      SELECTING A SPORTS AGENT

      CHOOSING YOUR WORKOUT ATTIRE

      POKE AND PROD DOCTOR EXAMS

      INTERVIEWS WITH COACHES

      SECTION 02. DRAFT

      TAKING STOCK OF DRAFT STOCK

      WHERE TO SPEND YOUR BIG DAY

      DRAFTED

      UNDRAFTED

      SECTION 03. FINANCES

      CONTRACT

      FINANCIAL ADVISORS & LOANS

      THE PRO DISCOUNT

      REAL MONEY

      DREAM CAR

      FUGAZI

      THE DEMAND FOR TICKETS

      EXPECTATIONS ABOUT ENDORSEMENTS

      SECTION 04. ROOKIE DUTIES & RITES OF PASSAGE

      TRADITIONS

      PREPARING FOR ROOKIE HAIRCUTS

      INITIATION BY SONG

      SECTION 05. PRESEASON

      PRESEASON GAME TAPE

      TRAINING CAMP ESSENTIALS

      SECRET HALFTIME FOOD

      SECTION 06. PRACTICE

      PRACTICE TEMPO

      FIGHT STRATEGY

      BEWARE OF THESE PRACTICE PLAYER TYPES

      BEWARE OF THESE PRACTICE COACH TYPES

      SECTION 07. MEETINGS

      HOW TO HANDLE FILM REVIEW

      HOW TO STAY AWAKE

      THE IMPORTANCE OF FILM STUDY

      DÉJÀ VU COACHING

      SECTION 08. GAME TIME

      PREGAME MEAL

      BATHROOM LOGJAM

      WILL CALL

      HOME GAME INTRODUCTIONS

      SIDELINE BATHROOM BREAK

      COACHING EXPERIENCED PLAYERS

      SUPPORT YOUR TEAMMATES

      AFTER GAME OPPONENT MINGLING

      TRASH TALKING

      HOW TO ARGUE WITH REFEREES

      ONE SNAP AND CLEAR

      RESPECT FOR THE GAME

      SECTION 09. OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

      FOOTBALL IS DANGEROUS

      INJURY SYSTEM CHECK TOUGH METER

      HIGH FIVES ELBOW PROTECTION

      TAKING PERSONAL TIME

      TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR REHAB

      GETTING CUT: STAYING IN SHAPE

      AVOIDING RISKY CELEBRATIONS

      SECTION 10. MAINTENANCE

      PHARMACY

      HOW TO APPLY WRIST TAPE

      TAKING SUPPLEMENTS

      WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

      COMMON TREATMENTS

      SECTION 11. MEDIA

      NUDE & INTERVIEWED

      GETTING THE PERFECT TEAM PICTURE

      GRIT YOUR TEETH ANSWERS

      THE REPHRASE INTERVIEW

      GIVING OUT YOUR PHONE NUMBER

      SECTION 12. TEAM PERSONNEL

      THE REALITY OF YOUR ROOKIE CLASS

      SECTION 13. LIFE IN THE BIG LEAGUES

      KNOW YOUR FANS

      HOW TO FIND YOUR SEAT

      TEAM DINING TABLE UPGRADE

      TIPS ON EQUIPMENT

      DEALING WITH YOUR HOTEL ROOMMATE

      THE SCALES OF TOLERANCE

      OFF-SEASON DRUG TESTING

      KNOW YOUR OPTIONS: BYE WEEK

      QUICKEST WAYS TO GET CUT

      SECTION 14. INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM

      TAKING A SHOWER PILL

      NEGOTIATING JERSEY NUMBER TRADES

      KNOW YOUR HANDSHAKES

      PREPARE FOR THE MUSIC WARS

      LOCKER-ROOM BETS: THE FINE PRINT

      WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT NICKNAMES

      BE PREPARED: THE STADIUM TOUR

      A SAMPLING OF PRANKS, JOKES, & SHENANIGANS

      SECTION 15. PUBLIC LIFE

      THE IMPORTANCE OF SECURITY

      QUICK TIPS ON DATING

      REPRESENTING YOUR TEAM

      LYING ABOUT YOUR JOB

      SECTION 16. STEREOTYPES

      SECTION 17. POSTSEASON

      PRO BOWL

      PLAYOFFS

      SUPER BOWL

      SECTION 18. TWO-MINUTE WARNING

      OFF-SEASON: PARTING WORDS

      THE ROOKIE HANDBOOK TEAM

      FOREWORD

      As you get set to take your journey into this important work—and journey is an accurate assessment of your impending experience (so is the word experience)—please do know this: Ryan Kalil and Jordan Gross do not hate rookies. Well, Geoff Hangartner might. I don’t know Geoff all that well, but if Kalil and Gross back his play as an F.O.R. (Friend of Rookies), well, then I’m on board. Plus, in Carolina, these three guys protected Cam Newton in what turned out to be one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL quarterbacking history. Now look at Cam. He’s an MVP dabbing all over the place. And on dem folks.

      So, if this distinguished trio of offensive linemen were so offended by rookies, why would they then write a smarm-filled primer called The Rookie Handbook?

      Let’s be real. Just because the pages that follow make it seem as if rookies are a target of their derision, disgust, and disrespect (the dreaded Three Ds), it’s truly not the case. This book is an actual guide—a road map, if you will—on how one can smartly identify and avoid rookie problems, which, historically and generally, has been a pretty large problem for rookies. And not just in the NFL. Neophytes everywhere would be well-advised to read this tome and take note of what lies in between the lines of the surprisingly cogent and superbly sarcastic prose penned by Kalil and Gross. Oh, yes, and by Hangartner, who Kalil and Gross tell me knows how to write. And read. Although, he’s probably the reason there are so many illustrations in the book.

      At any rate, take my word for it. We’ve all been rookies at one point or another, in whatever our endeavors. So The Rookie Handbook will help you. This handbook will help NFL rookies. And, ultimately, by helping you and those crucial newcomers to the NFL, your authors Ryan Kalil, Jordan Gross, and Geoff Hangartner are helping America. Or fantasy football drafters silly enough to risk a high pick on some clueless rookie.

      Feel good that you’ve picked up this book. And enjoy. I personally guarantee its freshness.

      —RICH EISEN

      TO THE ROOKIES IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE & EVERYONE GIVING IT THEIR BEST SHOT

      Welcome to The Rookie Handbook, the most comprehensive look inside the life of an NFL rookie ever produced. Its purpose is to help you avoid the common pitfalls most first-time professionals find themselves in. Reading this book will not guarantee that you get drafted, become a starter, or even make the team. This book consists of the bare essentials of what should be a guide to better prepare you and make you feel comfortable in this new environment. And, while we’ve provided a great deal of valuable information, much was left out for you to discover for yourself.

      In constructing The Rookie Handbook we realized early on that many of you were not the most scholarly of students and reading may not be your forte. So we took it upon ourselves to present the simplest version we could possibly conceive. The result is an easy-to-read, heavily illustrated reference book that should help you not only increase your chances of surviving your first season, but also of achieving a long and successful NFL career.

      Enjoy . . . rookie.

      Sincerely,

      The Rookie Handbook Team

      THE ROOKIE

      AT A GLANCE

      A. Although you may think you know everything, you don’t. Pay attention, listen, and get in your damn playbook.

      B. There's a chance you or some of your fellow rookies will be bankrupt or nearly there about two years after your careers end. Be smart with your money and don’t become another statistic.

      C. You’re in the NFL. Congrats! But now everybody wants a piece of you. You need to learn to give your time to those who really care about you and avoid those interested in your fame or fortune.

      D. Nerves are normal. If you’re not nervous, something’s wrong. If you’re too nervous, something’s wrong. Relax, it’s not quantum physics . . . it’s still just football.

      E. Few sports demand the same strength, speed, and agility needed to succeed in the pros. Take your body seriously, put away the cheese puffs, get off the video games, and start training for professional football. After all, it’s only the greatest opportunity you’ll probably ever have. 

      SECTION 01

      PRE-DRAFT

      WHERE TO DO YOUR PRE-DRAFT

      TRAINING

      Once your final college game is over, your preparation for the draft begins immediately. One of your biggest decisions in preparing for the combine and pro day will be where you should train.

      If you’ve already selected an agent, they’ll likely suggest some fancy training facility that specializes in preparing athletes for the NFL draft process. These programs can be beneficial, providing great perks such as massage therapists or customized nutrition plans, but they typically do little to no football training. Their goal is to prepare you for the running and jumping tests at the combine and pro day. Work with your agent to find someone to teach you the football techniques necessary for success at the

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