Comments on: Innovation At The NFL Combine http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2008/03/04/innovation-at-the-nfl-combine/ Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ron Reuven http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2008/03/04/innovation-at-the-nfl-combine/#comment-154959 Ron Reuven Mon, 13 Sep 2010 04:16:02 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=1047#comment-154959 I know its been a while since this article was written, but thought its still deserved a comment. I'm not an agent but own a business and work with some athletes. Just ran across this article and think that what Jason Dillard did was truly impressive ad innovative. If all professionals did this much for thier clients, the business world would be a very different place. Many agents I've met spend alot of time on the same top guys. Getting the clients takes alot of time and money. but a true work of art is making something out of what almost everyone thought was nothing. Great job Jason, hard work and innovation always pays off in some way or another. all the best, Ron Reuven I know its been a while since this article was written, but thought its still deserved a comment. I’m not an agent but own a business and work with some athletes. Just ran across this article and think that what Jason Dillard did was truly impressive ad innovative. If all professionals did this much for thier clients, the business world would be a very different place. Many agents I’ve met spend alot of time on the same top guys. Getting the clients takes alot of time and money. but a true work of art is making something out of what almost everyone thought was nothing. Great job Jason, hard work and innovation always pays off in some way or another.

all the best,

Ron Reuven

]]> By: Insidetheleague.com http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2008/03/04/innovation-at-the-nfl-combine/#comment-67062 Insidetheleague.com Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:04:28 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=1047#comment-67062 Kudos to Jason for working hard to pump up his players, but at the end of the day, to me, it's just another gimmick. Not that I wouldn't do the same thing if I were in his shoes. If you want to talk to someone who works hard at doing similar things, talk to Ron Todd, a Cleveland-based agent who spends every year in Indianapolis doing essentially the same thing Jason did -- handing out copious press releases, shaking everyone's hand, and generally working VERY hard to get his guys' stuff out there. Ron has to keep a tight handle on his expenses, and he's an honest guy, so he's not spreading a lot of money around (either to pay to players to get them to sign, or to design frilly marketing plans designed to catch the eyes of reporters). He has to hustle, so he works 'the line' coming in and out of the RCA Dome each year. The guy's a fixture there. He'll never read this post, because he's not an Internet guy. In that way, he's different from Jason -- he's out trying to get his guys in front of teams the old-fashioned way, while Jason's trying to do it at the cutting edge. Like you, I think the combine is way over-hyped, but part of that hype comes from the agents who are there. They're working hard to get their kids' names in the paper, and so they do different things to market them, which just amplifies the proceedings. I applaud Jason and Ron for doing this, but at the end of the day, I don't believe it helps the guys, except maybe to convince the kids themselves that their agents are working hard for them. My guess is that, if Jason stays with the game and develops his craft and learns more, he'll do less of this as he begins to build the relationships that REALLY help elevate his players. Again, that takes nothing away from his effort and his hustle, which are the starting point for any successful career. I take my hat off to anyone who's willing to bust his butt to get ahead in his career and Jason and Ron are both doing that. Good show. Kudos to Jason for working hard to pump up his players, but at the end of the day, to me, it’s just another gimmick. Not that I wouldn’t do the same thing if I were in his shoes.

If you want to talk to someone who works hard at doing similar things, talk to Ron Todd, a Cleveland-based agent who spends every year in Indianapolis doing essentially the same thing Jason did — handing out copious press releases, shaking everyone’s hand, and generally working VERY hard to get his guys’ stuff out there. Ron has to keep a tight handle on his expenses, and he’s an honest guy, so he’s not spreading a lot of money around (either to pay to players to get them to sign, or to design frilly marketing plans designed to catch the eyes of reporters). He has to hustle, so he works ‘the line’ coming in and out of the RCA Dome each year. The guy’s a fixture there. He’ll never read this post, because he’s not an Internet guy. In that way, he’s different from Jason — he’s out trying to get his guys in front of teams the old-fashioned way, while Jason’s trying to do it at the cutting edge.

Like you, I think the combine is way over-hyped, but part of that hype comes from the agents who are there. They’re working hard to get their kids’ names in the paper, and so they do different things to market them, which just amplifies the proceedings. I applaud Jason and Ron for doing this, but at the end of the day, I don’t believe it helps the guys, except maybe to convince the kids themselves that their agents are working hard for them.

My guess is that, if Jason stays with the game and develops his craft and learns more, he’ll do less of this as he begins to build the relationships that REALLY help elevate his players. Again, that takes nothing away from his effort and his hustle, which are the starting point for any successful career.

I take my hat off to anyone who’s willing to bust his butt to get ahead in his career and Jason and Ron are both doing that. Good show.

]]> By: Darren Heitner http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2008/03/04/innovation-at-the-nfl-combine/#comment-66775 Darren Heitner Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:22:13 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=1047#comment-66775 Jason- Sorry about the prior name screw up. It has been fixed. Great job thinking outside of the box at the combine, and best of luck in the draft! Jason-

Sorry about the prior name screw up. It has been fixed. Great job thinking outside of the box at the combine, and best of luck in the draft!

]]> By: Jason http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2008/03/04/innovation-at-the-nfl-combine/#comment-66763 Jason Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:54:53 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=1047#comment-66763 Darren I am indeed a big fan of this website. I am headed out to Vegas for Mil'Von's Pro Day and will keep you posted. This is my 1st year in business and my website which I am very happy with was completed just last month. At any rate keep doing what your doing. It helps alot. Jason Dillard (My Actual Name hahaha) Darren I am indeed a big fan of this website. I am headed out to Vegas for Mil’Von’s Pro Day and will keep you posted. This is my 1st year in business and my website which I am very happy with was completed just last month. At any rate keep doing what your doing. It helps alot.

Jason Dillard (My Actual Name hahaha)

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