The NFL Draft always brings a buzz to New York City. There are an abundance of events. Pro Player Insiders was able to attend an NFL Gift party at Clyde Frazier’s restaurant. Some members of the New York Giants and New York Jets were in attendance. This was an opportunity for a few local clothing designers to get their products into the hands of professional athletes.
The players got to select different items from tables that were set up by the vendors at the NFL Draft gift event. New York Giants safety Will Hill quickly told us what his favorite item was. “My favorite gift is this hat. It says “Hustler Harder, Hustle Smarter. I like to wear new things myself. I have an artist down in Florida, a rapper so any new connections to make clothing for him to wear out there is awesome.”
Rueben Randle also took some time to talk to us. He said that he wanted to be sure to represent his LSU purple by selecting purple ties and socks from The Urban Professor, a company that educates young businessmen how to dress for success.
The players also had some very sound advice for the players that are set to get drafted this year. Some will play for a team from the cities in which they grew up. Will Hill is from New Jersey and he gets to play in front of his home team. “Playing in front of my hometown is good and bad. Have all the support in the world but you know if you mess up, everybody is right at your door. To have that support and do something that you love, to play in the stadium that you grew up looking at, it’s overwhelming at times but I love it.”
Others such as Randle play in a place that is a polar opposite to what they’re used to. He gave us some insight as to how players should always look at the bright side of things. “It was different coming to the big city being from Louisiana. I had an opportunity to come out here and meet a lot of people. Being here at the draft and waiting, it was stressful a little bit. It is a great opportunity to play here for a great organization. Here I am in year three with a chance to be a starter. You never know where you are going to go but once you get your foot in the door, you have to take care of your business.”
Then there are those who don’t get drafted and have to sign an rookie free agent deal. Some of the players that were at the event weren’t drafted. They had some good words for those who may sign rookie free deals this year. Will Hill talked about what it takes to. “Getting around vets, they teach you so much. Take Antrel Role, he taught me so much. Just like this hat says hustle smarter. Have to play smarter. Everyone is so quick to get out of school but once you get into the league, you’re right back in school. Your major is football. Younger guys should get with an older guy. Don’t come in thinking that they’re the man because of where before they got drafted. Come in and try to gel as well as they can. Get in the playbook. The more you can pick a person’s brain, the better chance you have to stay. Nobody’s job is secure. You have to go in with that mentality that no one is better than you. Me, I always get in there early. Get in the film room, I get a workout, get in the steam room. You have to stay hungry.”
Kendall Gaskins highlighted how even making it to the NFL is an accomplishment and not many are able to do it. “I came out last year. It’s crazy how fast the process is. It’s a great opportunity going through the training, the workouts. One percent of people make it to this level. I’m glad that I got the chance. The Giants have a great history of having bigger backs which I am. lt’s only an hour and a half from my house. I am from Jersey. It’s a great opportunity to get your name out there and make connections, get your name out there. You have to realize that no matter what you do, the eyes are always there. You have to represent your organization, yourself and your family. You never know who could be looking up to you. I don’t ever want to be on TV disrespecting myself, my family or the Giants organization.”
Jameel McClain was another undrafted free agent that was picked up by the Giants after having spent five years with the Baltimore Ravens. He shares his belief that all things work out and that he wasn’t worried about whether he was going to get picked up or not. He had faith that things would work out as shown by his statement; “God has a plan bigger than all of us.” Religion and faith is something that more and more young athletes are making a focus.
McClain also expressed his appreciation for the Giants trainers and coaches. He said that they have a more focused mentality and are creating individual training programs tailored to each player’s needs. He has been able to focus more on the legs during workouts. His reasoning was, “I have to keep those big boys off of me, using all of those squats helps.”
David Wilson on the other had been drafted in the first round a few years ago and he is still feeling some of the same pressures as he did as a rookie. The Giants have shuffled around a few coaches and bringing in new coaches which bring new schemes. Wilson sited the stresses of having to learn a new offensive scheme as one of the ways this season reminds him of his rookie year.
Wilson is excited about the chemistry building opportunities with his new teammates and coaches. He came to the event with two teammates in Kendall Gaskins and Rueben Randle. He knows the importance of team comrade. He and his teammates hit the basketball court, go out to eat.
One thing that all athletes hate is season ending injuries. Wilson was placed on injured reserve in after suffering a spinal injury in week five. He underwent neck surgery in January and says that he is now feeling great. The NFL Draft is almost here and he has a special interest in some of his teammates from Virginia Tech that are coming out.
Training and schemes can be different for each team. Leger Douzable has been a journeyman throughout his NFL career. He told us how things are different from team to team but at the end of the day, it’s all about working hard and coming together as a team to win. Douzable has been keeping an eye out for his fellow UCF ‘brother’ Blake Bortles. He feels Bortles should be the number on pick and if not, he should at least be the first quarterback taken because he is the total package.
The NFL Draft brought back memories from when Douzable was getting ready for the combine. He said that he had to cram six months of work into an eight week time frame. At times, he pushed himself to the limit by putting in 13 hour days of physically and mentally taxing work. Leger made sure to leave us with how he felt that all of the hard work was worth it because he is living out a dream.
Overall the event was a success thanks in large part to This Respek Wear, Urban Professor and Star Studded Cutz. Jumoke Mendez of 3P Media Partners picked Clyde Frazier’s restaurant which was the perfect venue for this event.
