May 23, 2000

The following enhancements to the NFL policies and programs on player conduct were approved at the NFL Spring Meeting in Baltimore today:

• The leaguewide screening process of incoming players will be expanded. It will include new leaguewide testing, interviewing, and evaluation at the annual Scouting Combine to help better identify at-risk players. In addition, a broader list of college players (beyond the Combine invitees) will be submitted for NFL background investigations.

• A mandatory intervention process will be created to support and counsel at-risk incoming players identified by the leaguewide screening process. This will involve league staff working with the clubs.

• All clubs should hire a full-time NFL Players Programs coordinator. [Many clubs already have such a full-time staff member.]

• Every team should hire a full-time club security director to supplement the local NFL Security representative. [Many clubs already have a staff security director.]

• The presentations on personal conduct at the annual Rookie Symposium will be expanded with an additional panel, speaker, and breakout sessions.

• The Life Skills presentations to the clubs will be doubled to one per year for every club. [Previously it was half the teams one year, half the next.] These two-hour annual presentations must be held during the first half of the season.

• The training of coaches to identify at-risk players will be expanded through the use of professional counselors. This will supplement the current brochure for coaches called "Beyond Xs & Os."

• The "Violent Crime Policy" will be expanded to cover other criminal conduct and re-named the "Personal Conduct" policy.

• The pilot program of the NFL-College Life Skills Training, which sends NFL players to local college football teams to discuss conduct issues, will be evaluated and possibly expanded to leaguewide participation.

• The dialogue with players on the conduct issues will be continued.

• The importance of public and community service will continue to be emphasized.