Houston Texans Rookies Prepped For Life In The NFL

Texans fans have been able to escape the headaches of seeing our star players splashed across the headlines for illegal or questionable activities. In part, this is due to the kinds of young men brought into the building on Kirby.

Owner Bob McNair's philosophy is for general manager Rick Smith to draft and sign high-character players. They don't want players with a pattern of bad behavior. -- John McClain

While selecting men of character to play for the Texans is essential, the work cannot stop once the contracts are signed. Instead, the the team held 39 seminars for rookies that are making the transition from college to the pros between May 6 and June 23.

In these seminars, the newest members of the Texans received training on social media, NFL policies, workplace conduct, drugs and alcohol, life skills, and diet, among other topics.

For the first time, Bill O'Brien had some of the assistant coaches conduct the seminars, with John Perry leading the seminar on situational awareness in the workplace, Anthony Weaver talking about how to be a professional, and Charles London discussing the importance of routines to success in the NFL. O'Brien believes that including the coaches in the seminar rotations allows the coaches and their players to deepen their bonds, which can only help during the drudgery of training camp and the regular season to come.

Training didn't just come from Texans staffers, though. The team brought in representatives from Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse and Battering Intervention and Prevention Program to discuss domestic and sexual abuse.

What do you think about the seminar program? Anything close to what you remember from orientation at your job?

A "thank you" must be offered to the woman who brought this to the Masthead's attention.  Thanks, Mrs. B.