Every week, leading up to the NFL Draft, former Dallas Cowboys defensive back Clayton Holmes will write a series of exclusive columns for BC Magazine, as told to Blogcritics sportswriter James Dickson.

Of the thousands of players to pass through the NFL, very few have won three Super Bowl rings.

And I'm probably the only guy in history who's pawned all three of his. By now my story — or my rise and fall, as some have termed it — has been well-documented, but it bears repeating. Jeff Pearlman's recent ESPN.com story on my life and my struggle pretty much summed it up:

"Held the South Carolina state long jump record. Attended [North Greenville Junior College before transferring to] Carson-Newman. Spent four seasons as a reserve defensive back with America's Team. Was signed and released by the Miami Dolphins within a span of six months. Five drug suspensions. Liked the strippers. Vanished."

Did I make mistakes? Absolutely. Am I a work in progress? I believe that we all are. Can I help incoming rookies avoid the bad choices that cost me my wealth and my NFL career? That's what I set out to do.

Despite the poor judgments I made regarding how I spent both my money and my time during my playing days, I was one of the lucky ones in terms of career success. Not only did I live the boyhood dream of playing for the Dallas Cowboys, but I won the "game of games" — and not just once, either, but three times. I played alongside some of the best players to ever grace the National Football League — not only the "triplets," but also guys like Deion Sanders and Charles Haley, the latter holding the distinction of winning more Super Bowl rings as a player (5) than anyone in NFL history. I've been a part of a modern-day dynasty, and I'll always have that in my heart.

And yet, what lingers most, even to this very day, are the what ifs.
What if I'd been able to stay in the National Football League for 10-12 years? What if I'd been around long enough to make a few Pro Bowls, become a household name, and land a broadcasting job after my playing days? What if I'd taken better care of my money?

What if?

And so, between now and the NFL Draft on April 26-27, I'll be writing a series of columns detailing some of the lessons I learned the hard way, the lessons that gave birth to those what ifs that invade my thoughts. Hopefully you can all learn to avoid my mistakes. Experience might be a great teacher, but tuition is damn high.

Friends And Family Asking For Money

Recently-retired Warren Sapp once said that with each year you spend in the League, you have a new mouth to feed. I can attest to that.

Something strange happens when you sign that rookie contract. Suddenly you have more cousins than you ever knew existed. Every friend you've ever had seems to make their way back into your life — and this will only get worse in the Information Age, with social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. When I came into the League in 1992, people at least had to look you up. Now all they need to do is type your name into a website, and there you are, for all the world to see.