What is that anyway? This: "The business combine is in its second year under Ross and it connects Dolphins veterans with business leaders, puts players in business meetings, takes them onsite to real estate and other business properties. And all of it is meant to develop the players as they start to think about their post-career endeavors. “This is really to give them an insight into what business is about,” Ross said Monday. “I mean, don’t forget, these guys have concentrated their college and their professional football careers into becoming better football players and have been kind of shielded a little bit from the business world... But how exactly does it help the Dolphins, as Ross said? “Well, I mean, and with what the team is doing, it kind of brings them together,” Ross said. “And, you know, I think they experience these type of things together, they become closer together and they realize what the organization does and they’re more committed to the Miami Dolphins. “And certainly, I think, when other players outside when they’re looking to see what teams they’d like to play for, it doesn’t hurt. Because the word spreads. When I was speaking yesterday (at a business conference for NFL players in Ann Arbor) and the amount of players that came up to me and we spoke. Because I was there speaking, I think they really appreciate it.”" It's an interesting initiative. I like it. This is the sort of thing that gives character to a team and helps build identity and value. It lets the players know they're valued as human beings and this sort of thing can be really useful and effective. Let's hope it is.
It's a great idea, the NFL has added it in somewhere, I can't remember where, but it's a great idea because so many athlete's end up in financial trouble. However, and this may be nit picking, but it's not really accurate wording, it's not a combine, it's a symposium, and mis-naming your business doesn't seem like a good example.
Read this article yesterday. It's a great idea by Ross. I'm not sure it'll have the impact on players currently playing elsewhere that he seems to think it will have, but I understand the idea behind it. It sure does send the message that hey, here, we do care about you more than just your production on the field. We're taking an interest in helping you after football as well. That definitely can't be a bad thing. The way it's grown from only a handful of players (6) participating last year in it's first year to a total of 16 this year is a pretty good sign. Interesting that guys that are pending free agents were also allowed to still participate (Bushrod, Branch). As for the name. Yes, it's nitpicking. I'd be willing to bet they chose to use the term combine just to keep some form of consistency with terminology the players are familiar with. Either way, it's pretty irrelevant. People can say what they want about Stephen Ross, and rightfully so, his first few years were pretty... odd. However, he's proven he's willing to do what it takes when it comes to spending (stadium, free agency etc) and now he's showing he's willing to do things outside of, and off the field to help his players as well. I think it's things like that maybe that can help him get on the better side of the commish, and other owners moving forward. That's always a good thing, especially if he's planning on being here long haul. Either way, I think it's a great thing for him to do.
the combine was a play on words based on the NFL combine. This combine gets you ready for the real world after football, it probably would have been better to use training camp, but the timing is around the combine.
