As the Rookie Symposium is underway in Canton, Ohio we thought it was a good time to look at what on NFL great is trying to do to help new recruits make it in the pros. Melissa Mahler caught up with Art Monk at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl earlier this year. In Art Monk’s 15 years of playing in the NFL, the receiver would make three Pro Bowl appearances, become a three-time Super Bowl Champion, and named an All Pro twice. Now, the Hall-of-Famer is looking to instill some wisdom to the droves of young collegiate players who hope to join the NFL.
“It’s just a flashback for me. Kind of brings me back to when I was just a guy coming out of college. I didn’t have these types of opportunities. I did play in some post bowl games but it’s great to work with guys who have played in the game, like myself and the other pro ball players that are here,” Monk said.
Monk who was taken in the first-round of the 1980 Draft by the Washington Redskins. After leading the Syracuse Orangemen in receiving from 1977 to 1979, Monk would go on to set a Redskins rookie record with 58 receptions in his first season.
“For us its just a great opportunity to kind of impart some things into them, give them expectations of what would be required of them to go to the next level. And it’s just great to be able to do that,” Monk said.
At the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Monk, took the opportunity to help give a glimpse of the NFL to the potential players and helped preach that football is a door to greater things now and after their careers.
“Football sort of teaches a lot of things indirectly. How to be on time, how to get along with other people. It helps you with leadership qualities — how to lead people, lead your team,” Monk said.
“Ya know, how to dress. When we travel, at least when we had to travel, we had to dress appropriately. You represent not just yourself but also your family and an organization that you work for. So you have to carry yourself a certain way, so post career those same characteristics or qualities translate right over to the business world.”
Monk is no stranger to business world.
Since his playing days ended in 1995, Monk co-founded Alliant Merchant Services (an electronic payment services company), acted as a consultant, has helped build sporting venues all over the world, and was elected to his alma mater’s Board of Trustees.
Then there are his non-profit philanthropic efforts with his Good Samaritan Foundation that he founded with former teammates Charles Mann, Tim Johnson, and Earnest Byner.
An active member of his community, Monk stands behind the sense of community that football brings.
“A lot of the guys that I played with with the Redskins, are still in the area and some of the guys that I played against, whatever cities they’re from, I still stay in contact with them. We still kind of have bets with each other when our teams play each other and harass each other,” Monk admits.
“It’s still fun, it’s a big brother is really what this is. You’re opponents against each other while you’re competitive but at the same time you make a lot of lasting friendships not just from the guys you played with on your team but from other teams as well.”
Who will become the little brothers in the NFL community? That is still to be seen. First prospects will have to work through the Combine and then their Pro Days. Then we’ll see. Until that time comes, all the they can do is listen to the wise words of a Hall-of-Famer named Art Monk.
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