If I knew then what I know now, I would've understood that it's not about what you make, it's about what you keep. When an injury can end your football days in a heartbeat, you'll see the importance of the keeping part of the equation. Outside of signing bonuses, your earnings are by no means promised. You don't want to go to a team reunion 10 years from now and not be able to look your successful and wealthy teammates in the eye because you've pissed away your money.

The Game

If I knew then what I know now about the game, I would have understood that coaches only yell at guys in whom they see unrealized potential.

Rather than take things the wrong way and assume that my coaches were out to embarrass me or as part of the rookie hazing ritual, I would've understood that they were coming from a place of tough love, even if it was much more of the former than the latter.

I would have understood that a coach's attention is a gift, and that when coaches aren't coaching you, it's probably not long before you end up seeing The Turk.

Coachability is one of the conventionally-underrated but profitable traits one can have. You don't want a respected coach like Bill Belichick to pass on you in free agency because he heard you can't take a little constructive criticism.

A Word on Agents

Make absolutely sure of whom you're dealing with before you sign anything. It's amazing how many guys will get involved with somebody - entrust their career and their earning potential to somebody - they don't even know and haven't even checked out.

In this Information Age, it shouldn't be difficult at all to look the guy up and get a sense of his track record (note: agency websites are not reliable sources). Some of you, like the guys who went to USC or Miami, will know plenty of guys in the League, and will be able to get more of an inside scoop. But, chances are, regardless of where you went to school, you know somebody playing the League - even if it was somebody you played against in college. Call him up. There's nothing like insider information when the stakes are this high.