Gerard Spinks UndagroundMilli

First of all, the average rookie NFL player is going to be signed to a 3 year $1.5 Million deal with a $320,000 bonus stretched out over the 3 year deal. This means that each year they will receive a roster bonus of around $105,000 or so if they stay healthy on or around September 29 of the football season. Now, if you get your salary and you are healthy on September 29, all things are good. If not, things can get out of hand quickly. On average and if you’re a betting man, things will go sour quickly and chances of you being on the roster are slim. So, although it appears as though you would be getting around $450,000 for the playing season over 16 games, you MAY NOT if you aren’t on the roster on September 29.

Therefore, the $110,000 signing bonus for each year is only worth about $60,000 after taxes that you will get the first week of September. This $60,000, if you get hurt and are NOT on the team roster by the end of September has to last all the way until next season or until you make a team. Here’s what to do with your $60,000.

1). Do not assume that you will make the team and be on the roster. Practice hard like you will but think like you will not.
2). Take the $60,000 bonus and pay your mortgage or rent for the next 12 months. If you have a $2,000 per month mortgage, pay $24,000 on it or put it in a Fidelity or Charles Schwab account.
3). Resist going to buy a huge mansion.
4). Resist trying to be “the man” and taking care of your entire family including mama, daddy, brothers, and sisters. You will go broke.
5). Save your money and meet with an advisor immediately.

I don’t know the answer to this but this is a call to health checkups for African American men. Many of us NEVER go to the doctor until it’s too late. My internal medicine doctor, Dr. Toni Coombs, at Wellstar in Atlanta, GA tells me that many black men never see the doctor and some statistics show that African American men go to the doctor maybe once in ten years and only for an emergency. Strokes, like the one that NFL great Leroy Selmon had, can sometimes be triggered by extremely high and unchecked blood pressure.

High blood pressure runs rampant in our African American community especially with the type of foods (soul food) that we grow up eating that is high in sodium and salt content. You can fall into a stroke simply by having high blood pressure that never jumps out at you and tells you that you have it. What Leroy Selmon is trying to tell us here on the planet is to go get a checkup and find out about your health. Leaving the family at the young age of 56 is unthinkable. If you don’t do anything else, call a doctor and go for a doctor visit and please don’t say you don’t have money. There are even free clinics at Walgreen’s now that will check your blood pressure for you. Please go!

The Michael Vick Football Camp at Hampton University

The Michael Vick Football Camp will take place June 22-24, 2011 on the campus of Hampton University and will be NEW & IMPROVED from the initial registration process to the daily instruction and camp experience. Michael Vick has assembled an outstanding instructional staff, teamed up with Hampton University – Don Rose Promotion’s football coaches, staff and high school coaches. His staff will give campers that special individualized instruction of basic fundamentals, techniques, skills, and sportsmanship necessary for success in the sport of football.

Michael Vick Football Camp in partnership with Hampton University’s Don Rose Promotions – Football Coaching Staff will join the pros to supply exceptional teaching of fundamental techniques used in all positions.

Register online here.

Michael Vick has invited other NFL pro stars, many who got their start locally in the Tidewater (757) area:

Percy Harvin, All-Pro kick returner and 2009-10 NFL Rookie of the Year receiver of the Minnesota Vikings

DeAngelo Hall, three-time pro-bowl defensive back of the Washington Redskins

Jerod Mayo, All-Pro linebacker and 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year of the New England Patriots

Antoine Bethea, two-time pro-bowl defensive back of the Indianapolis Colts

DeSean Jackson, All-Pro receiver and return man of the Philadelphia Eagles

Chris Ellis, linebacker of the Pittsburgh Steelers

Speed & Agility Program

Michael Vick and his personal trainer Tom Anderson – Landstown High School’s Track Coach (a 3-time Virginia State Indoor/Outdoor Girls-Boys Track Champion) – will instruct their nationally recognized SPEED AND AGILITY PERFORMANCE WORKOUT Program during each afternoon practice session.

Life Skills Session

In this session, Michael will pass on his personal experiences from a youth at the local Boys & Girls Club through his days as a star athlete in high school college and to the pinnacle of professional football. He will also discuss the challenges he has faced throughout his life, personally and professionally, and how those challenges have molded his character. Campers attending this session will understand the importance of fostering a strength of mind and body as well as a respect for others. These qualities can also serve as building blocks in growing self-confidence and a positive attitude.