With that mind, the Texans rookie class, along with other first year players from the AFC, spent a few days at the Bertram Hotel in Aurora, Ohio attending the 2015 NFL Rookie Symposium. The event, put on by the league, is an introduction to life as a professional football player. The three-day event features motivational speakers and group panels that discuss what players can face as they embark on their careers. Activities begin around seven in the morning, with some meetings lasting until nine at night. The journey ends with a group outing to the NFL's Hall of Fame in Canton.
Among the speakers was former basketball star Chris Herren, who was profiled in the ESPN documentary 'Unguarded'. Herren's substance abuse issues ruined a promising NBA career and he now serves as a warning, sharing his story with others across the country.
"In this room, fact, there are more future drug addicts than millionaires. That's a fact," said Herren as part of his speech to the AFC's rookies, which you can see in the video above. Herren, in an exclusive interview with NFL Network's Jeff Darlington, talked about the need for rookies to find the right role models on their new teams. "I believe they should already have in place the research to see who in their locker room is somebody they can buddy up with," Heren added.
Texans rookie wide receiver Jaelen Strong was moved by Herren's comments, tweeting out the message below on Tuesday.
Today I learned to really understand that my decisions don't just effect me, but my love ones too. Simple but REAL. Thank you @cherren — Strizzy (@JaelenStrong) June 23, 2015
"I hope my transparency, my honesty, my struggle, gives them a little inspiration to share a little bit of theirs," Herren commented. "If they can tap into that now, they can have a very successful career and a great start in life."
The 2015 Texans draft class visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a Play 60 event as part of the NFL Rookie Symposium in Ohio.
