A lot of players find that celebrity status draws men and women with bad intentions. Even the rookies, some of whom have borrowed substantial money from their agents to acquire cars and clothes, have noticed a change in how friends and family treat them. Veteran players advise that some uncles, aunts and cousins can be as big a problem as friends in asking for money for business ventures and loans. I think that's going to be the scariest thing, trying to figure out who you can trust. And, that goes for family, too.
Players have to be equally leery of agents and financial advisers.
Former agent Tank Black is notorious in Florida for allegedly losing millions for his clients in an illegal Ponzi scheme. Still, investments are the best way for players to ensure their futures. Football is a short-lived dream. You need to be able to take advantage of the things they give you while you can. The league tries to help rookies by presenting a mandatory seminar which covers all kinds of pitfalls.