The Panthers scouting staff had to respond to an unexpected player retiremnt before the day's practice. (AP Photo)

On Tuesday morning, August 10th, I made the short drive from the Atlanta Falcons training camp to Spartanburg , South Carolina and Wofford College – home of the Carolina Panthers training camp.

I arrived a little early and noticed there were no players on the field. I told the security guard I was a guest of the scouting department. He quickly pointed out a building where I could find them.

As I neared the building, I noticed a familiar face sitting in a golf cart. It turned out to be my position coach when I was with the Kansas City Chiefs! This man taught me more about being an NFL receiver then I ever thought possible. Until you’ve been there, you have no idea how much more there is to learn about the position and the game. I feel very fortunate to have learned from someone with his expertise. He was a truly great teacher of the game and continues to be a great teacher today.

Arriving at the building, I knew I was at the right place. There was the usual scouting department hustle and bustle, but this place was a little more intense then normal. I hesitated to interrupt anyone, but after a brief moment, I was warmly welcomed.

I was informed the reason for all the activity was because one of their veteran players had just decided to retire. Needless to say, they were working overtime to find a replacement. As a result, our greetings were brief. They needed to take advantage of every minute until the start of practice to search for a replacement. I completely understood the situation and said I would meet them on the field later.

This was another example of the constant pressure on player personnel departments and the “all hands on deck” response when a player suddenly retires or is injured. To be prepared for these situations, personnel departments must constantly monitor all player transactions…who have been cut, who have been signed and who are the possible prospects from the other leagues.

Teams actually keep what they call a “short list.” This is a specific list of available players the team will bring in and tryout should they loose a player to injury, sudden retirement or feel the need to upgrade a position. These lists are constantly revised and updated to configure with the team’s ever-changing needs. As the saying goes, and every player knows it, there’s always someone waiting to take your job. It’s a hard cold fact…and the players are very aware of it.

A member of the Carolina staff walked down to the practice field with me where I received my credentials and waited for practice to begin. Soon the players came down to the field and went immediately to their position groups for pre-practice drills followed by a team stretch and warm-up.

It was at this point the scouting staff began to trickle down to the field. They hadn’t resolved their personnel problem yet, but they remained optimistic. It was now time for them to switch gears and evaluate the players in training camp.

These scouts are a big part of the decision making process which determines which players will be released at the next cut-down date and which players will stay for further evaluation…until the next roster cut. They will be involved in every player transaction decision including the final 53 man roster.

Once the 53 man roster is set, they will select players for the practice squad and then the short list. The practice squad and short list are under constant evaluation. They are vital components to the team’s success throughout the year. The scouts are always in search of better players…especially at positions where players are not getting the job done. Player transactions occur on an almost daily basis year round. The job never ends.

As we stood on the sidelines of practice, we discussed the situation and the scouting profession. Our discussion included some of the things I previously mentioned, as well as the ELITE National Combine. And get this, it turns out one of the guys and I grew up in the same area. Our high schools actually competed against each other. The world gets smaller every day.

As practice was close to ending, I decided it would be best say my goodbyes promptly. The scouts still had a lot of work ahead of them. They appreciated my visit, and given the circumstances, I appreciated the time they gave to me.

As I walked off the field I realized my schedule of visits to NFL training camps had come to an end…6 teams in 8 days. At this point in training camp, most of the college scouts start hitting the road to evaluate next year’s college prospects. The process starts all over again.

I want to thank all the clubs I visited for their time and hospitality. I enjoyed every moment of each visit. It was great to see old friends again and it was a pleasure to make new ones.

And, I want to thank my readers for following my NFL training camp journal series. I hope the journals have been enjoyable and informative. Football is a great game! I was lucky to be part of it as a player and I am fortunate to be a part of it as the National Director at ELITE. I’ll always carry the passion and love for the game I had as a player…and direct that passion toward my work at ELITE. 

Whether you are a former ELITE participant, a future ELITE participant or a football fan, it was a pleasure to share my experiences with you. I wish you the best, on and off the field.