Potential top-10 picks shouldn't be represented by guys who've never had a client get picked before the fourth round. And a guy who has a roster of superstar clients might not be the guy to look at if you're a third-rounder, because he won't give your negotiations the attention they deserve. Never forget that, while you only have one agent, your agent probably has dozens of clients. This affects you far more than it affects him.

Is your agent always on television, demanding trades that never actually happen? Do his players tend to have long training camp holdouts and get off on the wrong foot with the organization? A big rookie contract might not mean much if you end up riding the pine because you never caught up after your holdout. For better or for worse, teams are much more likely to pay a player for what he's already done than for future potential, so it's crucial to produce during that first contract.

Important as it is to know your agent, make sure he knows you, too. Make sure your agent knows your biggest priority is making it to training camp on time. And make sure you're ready to do whatever's necessary to make that happen. Remember: as talented as you are, you haven't actually helped the team win any games at this point.

In a League where the average career lasts a short 3 years, you can't afford a holdout. Management just has too much power. And if you're a real player, you won't be able to stomach watching other guys - guys you know and have played with or competed against in college - out there making plays while you're on your mother's couch eating Cheetos.

Clayton Holmes is a 3-time Super Bowl winner with the 1990s Dallas Cowboys. This article was the sixth and final installment of "Clayton Holmes' Advice to NFL Rookies.