For about the last 10 years, we’ve been working with first-year agents, trying to help them avoid the usual rookie mistakes that so often take down NFLPA-certified contract advisors before they’ve really begun their new ventures. We’re entering Year 3 of moving from daily emails to monthly Zoom sessions, and the response has been great from our clients.

Zoom sessions allow us to bring in special guests like former scouts, active agents, trainers and other experts. In fact, for the last two years, we’ve brought in the directors of all the major all-star games to introduce themselves to our clients and give them guidance on getting a player invited.

At any rate, it’s that time again for us to kick things off, and Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET, our guest will be David Gregory of Bullrush Sports. David got certified last summer, but didn’t spend his first year certified “learning” and sitting on the sidelines. He dove right in, and for his efforts, he was the only independent rookie agent to have a player drafted last year (Northern Michigan OT Jake Witt, who was selected in the seventh round by the Colts). It’s a monumental task just getting a player signed as an undrafted free agent in Year 1. To get a player drafted is off the charts.

Anyway, we’ll go about an hour, and these are the questions I’ll be asking him. 

  • Why did you choose to become an agent?
  • What is your background? Did it give you any advantages?
  • How did you decide on a budget for Year 1? What was your budget?
  • How many players did you sign? Why did you sign them?
  • How did you first identify Jake as a player to recruit? How did you then initiate contact?
  • Did you give any consideration to sending Jake to the XFL?
  • What was the lowest point for you and Jake after you signed?
  • When did you know there was real interest in Jake? Going into draft weekend, did you expect him to be drafted?
  • What was draft day like?
  • How has Jake’s selection by the Colts affected your Year 2 plans?

If you’re entering Year 1 as a contract advisor, I hope you’ll join us. There’s no cost, but you have to be an ITL client ($29.95/month, cancel at any time).  Your first year as an agent is incredibly tough, and getting to hear from the horse’s mouth how others enjoyed success is invaluable. 

We’ll send out the Zoom link to all our rookie subscribers Tuesday afternoon, a few hours before we get started. It’s going to be a good time, very informal, with plenty of time to get questions from the attendees in addition to the ones I ask. I really want this to be a win for everyone involved, and remember, we’re just getting started. We’ll have them monthly (sometimes twice monthly) for the rest of the year. Hope to see you Tuesday.