CHAPTER 58

I received another phone call early the next morning from Ron Peters from Pro Sports Agents Inc. in California. He had made several more phone calls and had confirmed that two teams were definitely very interested in selecting me if I were available. Both drafted late in round one meaning they were both good teams with winning records. With that said, I could possibly be a very late first round pick, or a very late second round pick. The difference between the two rounds meant a large amount of money. Mr. Peters told me he would fly out one of his associates to talk with me in person if I thought I might be interested. I told him absolutely, we set the meeting at my home for Saturday morning at ten o'clock. I knew Ashley would be available, I also wanted to ask Coach Mike if he would consider being present. We set the details and agreed to talk later in the week. Ashley had entered the kitchen during my conversation with Mr. Peters, so she had heard most of the details.

"So you're really thinking of leaving school and turning pro ?", she asked.

"Yes I am. If everything falls out right, I have nothing to lose. If I come back next year and blow up a knee or something worse, I may never get the opportunity.", I replied.

"What about your education, you still have four semesters till you graduate ?", she asked.

"Mr. Peters told me pro players always go back to school and get their degrees, it's not that odd.", I answered.

"Well, I think it's a mistake, but it's your decision to make.", she responded.

Later that day I called Coach Mike and asked him if he would mind sitting in the meeting with me. He answered that he would be more than happy to be there, in fact he would look forward to it.

The rest of the week dragged on, I virtually got no sleep Friday night, thinking of the upcoming meeting. Before I knew it, Saturday morning was here, I was waiting on the agent. A few minutes before ten o'clock a large black SUV pulled into our drive, a man and woman got out. I opened the door and welcomed both inside, ushering them to the family room. The man introduced himself as Dave Phillips, a player agent, the young woman was Cindy Taylor, a financial consultant for players who signed with Pro Sports Agents Inc., both were here to offer guidance.

I introduced both of them to Ashley and Coach Mike, both sat and we began the meeting. Over the next two hours, I was introduced to the intricate world of professional sports. I was bombarded with information on standard contracts, signing bonuses, guaranteed money, agent's commission, financial investments and everything in between. This particular agency not only represented you as a player but offered you investment opportunities for the future. I had to admit I was impressed with their presentation. At the end of the meeting, I was reminded by Dave Phillips that once I declared, there would be no turning back. I would immediately have to retain an agent so that the agency could try and secure me a spot at the annual combine workout. They both told me my window of opportunity was closing quickly. As they left I promised to talk it over with Ashley and Coach Mike, they would have my answer by Monday morning.

I talked with both Ashley and Coach Mike in depth over the weekend, in the end both thought it was probably best I return to school. I slept on it Sunday night, but on Monday morning their comments had not changed my mind. I was going to declare myself eligible for this year's draft. I called Mr. Peters at eight o'clock and announced my intentions to sign with his agency. He congratulated me and informed me he would forward all contracts and paperwork to me overnight. I could have an attorney review them and get them back to him. By the time Ashley woke up and entered the kitchen it was a done deal.

"So what did you decide ?", she asked shortly after she entered the kitchen.

"It's done, I agreed to sign with Mr. Peters this morning, the contracts are on the way.", I replied.

"So that's it ?", she answered, a slight annoyance in her tone.

"That's it.", I answered.

For the next two days, Ashley was very quiet, I could tell she was upset, I was just not sure why. In the meantime, I called Coach Ray and informed him I would not be returning to the team next year. He was very disappointed to say the least, but he pretended to understand. I then called administration as I was told to do, informing them that I was terminating the scholarship agreement I had entered into with them. I asked for them to forward my complete transcripts to my home, as well as the full requirements I still needed to graduate. Two days later, my contracts arrived in the mail. Since I did not really have an attorney of my own, I knew Mr. Timmons had business dealings and needed legal advice constantly. I called and asked him for his help, he quickly offered to take me to his attorney in town. He set up an appointment for the next morning at ten o'clock. That evening I received another call from Mr. Peters informing me he had secured a spot for me in next weekend's combine where the best college players would showcase their talents for Pro Scouts and Coaches.

The next morning I met with Mr. Timmons and his attorney downtown. The attorney read over the contract and basically reiterated to me everything that I had been promised by Pro Sports Agents Inc. at our previous meeting. I was to pay a standard flat rate to be represented by the agency, which I was told was common practice. The agency would also use their connections in an attempt to secure me possible endorsement opportunities with private companies, in addition to autograph signings and public appearances. My agent, who I found out was going to be Dave Phillips, would handle all of my contractual dealings with any team that drafted me, as well as negotiate all terms of my contract. Any financial investments I decided to make with Ms. Taylor's company were not part of this agreement and should be handled directly with her office.

The attorney assured me the contract was legitimate and above board, containing no unusual language. The contract stipulated that either party could terminate the contract giving the other sixty days notice. I felt confident with the contract, signed it and arranged to have it sent back via priority mail.

I had roughly seven days to get prepared for the combine, where I would either help or hurt my chances of playing pro football. The only thing that could really backfire, is if no one actually drafted me. I would then become a free agent, then have to negotiate with a team to try and get a try-out at their training camp. But there was no way I could return to school if I was not drafted.

I killed myself over the next week in the gym, lifting weights, running and doing cardio to be in the best shape I could possibly be in at the combine. The night before I left for the combine, I weighed in at two hundred sixty eight pounds. I felt ready, although I was extremely nervous.

The flight was long and tedious, I arrived in Indiana, met my agent's representative and made our way to the hotel. That night I was briefed on the various physical , mental and physiological evaluations I would be given over the next week. There would be approximately three hundred twenty five participants here from all over the country. Each would run basically the same evaluations, the only difference being the position drills each would endure at your perspective speciality.