DC

WAS RB IN COLLEGE PICKED UP AFTER TIP FROM JOHN GAGLIARDI (ST. JOHNS, MN)

The Golden Rule is: He who has the gold rules.

Organizations and cooperation within the organization sign free agents. I was very lucky because some organizations are very different in the way free agents are acquired. After I got the green light on the amount of signing bonus that could be offered a needed position player, I approached the agent and the player. Most of the time I had established a relationship with the player the previous year.

In the case of Hollis Thomas, I had been observing him since his sophomore year in a snow storm when Northern Illinois played the University of Iowa. I was actually there to see LeShon Johnson, NIU's running back, but I've always had a penchant for fire plug explosive nose tackles. I then visited Hollis after 2-a-day practices at NIU during his senior year while my family walked the campus. Again I was lucky because I opened and closed most free agent deals, but many great assistants who were outstanding college recruiters, head coaches, and pro personnel directors who had relationships with agents, contributed to the success of several signings. In Hollis' case, he had produced a video but it was actually thrown in a box with hundreds of other videos. I came across it while searching for other area players' tapes. By then the deal was done.

In a nut shell, "You need a little help from your friends." – Dan Shonka