Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post - NFL Agent Howard Shatsky Answered Your Questions Here

ProFootballMgmt · 04-13-2011, 07:56 PM

Joe Redskin asks:

How much preparation (and what type) goes into preparing a potential draftee for their team interview? Is there a concern that the interview comes off "canned"? Generallly, does such an interview hurt a potential draftee or is more important to avoid screwing things up at the risk of being seen as performing by rote?

Joe, you have to remember that a typical rookie is a 22 year old kid who has never been on a job interview. So, some things are general interview tips you would give anyone such as look someone in the eye when you answer their question. Also, I want my clients to know something about the people they are going to sit down with. Some agents hire consultants to prepare players. Players also practice the Wunderlich test. The prep is fairly extensive. In terms of coming off canned, you really dont know what questions a particular team/person will ask, so I dont worry much about that. The NFL knows players prepare and they ask questions designed to find out what a person is really about. As with any individual some will come off good in an interview and some wont. In my opinion the higher a player is being considered in the draft, the more important the interview process is.

Joe also asks:

Do you find teams have different priorities on pro days as opposed to the combine? If so, what are they?

What goes on at Pro Day is much different than at the Combine so the purpose of attending is not necessarily the same. The physicals and interviews done at the Combine are an essential part of that process and that stuff does not occur at Pro Day. I would say at th the priority at the Combine is getting to know the prospects a team is interested in while at Pro Day the emphasis is more on the physical workout.

Joe's last question:

As players subject to the draft have little control over who chooses them, is it more important to simply for the player to "do his best" during a pro day or is their some attempt target desired teams? i.e. - Do players occasionally/sometimes/never tailor their pro days to the needs of specific teams in hopes of enhancing their probability of being selected by that team?

In short, players just try to "do their best" in all workouts for an NFL team.

04-13-2011, 07:56 PM	#6
ProFootballMgmt Camp Scrub Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 8	re: NFL Agent Howard Shatsky Answered Your Questions Here Joe Redskin asks: How much preparation (and what type) goes into preparing a potential draftee for their team interview? Is there a concern that the interview comes off "canned"? Generallly, does such an interview hurt a potential draftee or is more important to avoid screwing things up at the risk of being seen as performing by rote? Joe, you have to remember that a typical rookie is a 22 year old kid who has never been on a job interview. So, some things are general interview tips you would give anyone such as look someone in the eye when you answer their question. Also, I want my clients to know something about the people they are going to sit down with. Some agents hire consultants to prepare players. Players also practice the Wunderlich test. The prep is fairly extensive. In terms of coming off canned, you really dont know what questions a particular team/person will ask, so I dont worry much about that. The NFL knows players prepare and they ask questions designed to find out what a person is really about. As with any individual some will come off good in an interview and some wont. In my opinion the higher a player is being considered in the draft, the more important the interview process is. Joe also asks: Do you find teams have different priorities on pro days as opposed to the combine? If so, what are they? What goes on at Pro Day is much different than at the Combine so the purpose of attending is not necessarily the same. The physicals and interviews done at the Combine are an essential part of that process and that stuff does not occur at Pro Day. I would say at th the priority at the Combine is getting to know the prospects a team is interested in while at Pro Day the emphasis is more on the physical workout. Joe's last question: As players subject to the draft have little control over who chooses them, is it more important to simply for the player to "do his best" during a pro day or is their some attempt target desired teams? i.e. - Do players occasionally/sometimes/never tailor their pro days to the needs of specific teams in hopes of enhancing their probability of being selected by that team? In short, players just try to "do their best" in all workouts for an NFL team.