NFL ends rookie symposium in favor of team-based programs
Tom Pelissero, USA TODAY Sports 1:55 p.m. EDT April 5, 2016
The NFL's rookie symposium is no more.
After nearly two decades, the league is replacing its annual orientation for drafted rookies with a new transition program, hosted and customized by each team, that will allow undrafted players to get the same education about life on and off the field.
"Every team has its own set of values and culture. That's one (reason for the change)," the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent, told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday.
"Most important is we have an opportunity to capture 100% of all new members, of all new players, of all new employees, where before the focus has always been on the drafted, and 55% of (rookies on) your roster is made up of undrafted rookies the last five years."
Vincent -- who now oversees player engagement after a restructuring of the league office last month -- unveiled the plan in a memo to teams Tuesday afternoon. NFC rookies will go through the new program June 20-22 and AFC rookies June 22-24.
The league will work with team player engagement directors and provide outlines, content, presenters and an expense budget to cover mandatory topics, including social responsibility, benefits, mental health and respect at work, Vincent's memo said. Teams also can choose from "flex" topics and the league will sign off on the schedule, which must be submitted by April 22.
Controversy last year stemming from hall of fame receiver Cris Carter's recommendation at the 2014 symposium that rookies get a "fall guy" wasn't an impetus for changes that had been discussed for years, Vincent said.
"It wasn't the failures," Vincent said. "The driving factors were, how do we touch more people?"
The rookie symposium had served as orientation for drafted players since 1997, most recently in Aurora, Ohio. Around 250 draft picks were required to attend, but hundreds of undrafted players weren't invited.
The league sought input from coaches and team player engagement directors, among others, over the past six weeks before finalizing the changes.
"They want a Steeler in front the new Steeler. And that exists in all 32 cities," Vincent said. "Now that you localized it, it gives the club the ability to bring in their legends, their hall of famers.
"Frankly, when the Ravens draft or they sign someone to the Ravens, they want to develop a Raven, like a like a Steeler, like a 49er, like a Seahawk, and now (the league is) giving those clubs the opportunity to do so."
