Raven's 2013 1st rounder now working at sports store ?

[Anyong Bluth]

I guess you could commend him on his work ethic and definitely a wise choice for keeping his nose clean, but couldn't one find a more productive outlet for your time?

He's got some investment capital in the bank. It just seems like he could be using that time in securing some business ventures to set himself up for having some income after his playing days are over?

I guess he views his job as an internship / experience, but there's plenty of ways to get training on running a retail store (since that's what he eventually plans on doing), and the management and finance side is a lot more valuable.

Also, kinda amusing a professional football player had to apply to 5 different places hiring to get a job at a sports store...

Matt Elam working sales at mall
Jamison Hensley
ESPN.com
February 27, 2014


Many NFL players will go to malls this offseason. Matt Elam is working in one.

Elam, a first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2013 draft, is spending his offseason as a part-time sales associate at a Finish Line store in Gainesville, Fla., before he returns to the team in April. He says he works about 20 hours per week, helping customers with shoes and occasionally stocking shelves.

His goal is to open his own sports merchandise store.

"I just need to get retail knowledge," Elam told the team's website. "That's basically what I'm doing. I'm getting that knowledge for when it's time."
Elam applied online to five stores before being hired at Finish Line a month ago, raising eyebrows considering he made $3.7 million last season (salary and signing bonus) as the 32nd pick in the draft.

"Everybody was surprised when I started," said Elam, who isn't sure how much he makes per hour. "They were like, 'Why? You got enough money.' But it's not about the money. It's just me building."

The mall is a few miles from the University of Florida, where Elam was a first-team All-American. Fans often recognize him at the store and ask to take pictures, which have circulated on social media.

"People will be buying stuff just for me to sign it," he said. "It's pretty exciting."

As a rookie, Elam was fourth on the Ravens with 76 tackles. He had one interception and two fumble recoveries.

[WhawhaWhat]

Good for him for planning for life after football.

[Marco Polo]

Eh, it's 20 hours a week that still allows him to complete his workout schedule. I commend him for gaining experience. That will be very useful in time when he gains advice from others.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Good for him for planning for life after football.

Ultimately, yes. Doing anything to plan ahead is smart and too few in the pros think about their future after they retire. I just find it an odd choice, and seems rather limited in gaining valuable knowledge of operating / owning one's own store. At least it's a start.

[Jimmya]

Awesome dude!

[milkman]

He could easily learn in other ways, but you can not get the feel of how management decisions affect the work force without actually having worked in that force.

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Ultimately, yes. Doing anything to plan ahead is smart and too few in the pros think about their future after they retire. I just find it an odd choice, and seems rather limited in gaining valuable knowledge of operating / owning one's own store. At least it's a start.

I think it is very smart of him to start his "training" at the bottom. These are the frontline employees who will make or break a retail establishment. Having some understanding of the issue they face every day will help him to be a better executive/owner down the road.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Ultimately, yes. Doing anything to plan ahead is smart and too few in the pros think about their future after they retire. I just find it an odd choice, and seems rather limited in gaining valuable knowledge of operating / owning one's own store. At least it's a start.

He's 22 and may have never had a job before other than being a football player.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

I think it is very smart of him to start his "training" at the bottom. These are the frontline employees who will make or break a retail establishment. Having some understanding of the issue they face every day will help him to be a better executive/owner down the road.

I agree, it's a smart move.

There's no substitute for real world experience.

[Hoover]

Lets bring him in for a look. Has to be better than Lewis.

[philfree]

Grass Roots experience with people who could eventually be your customers. I think that's a great idea.

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

I think it is very smart of him to start his "training" at the bottom. These are the frontline employees who will make or break a retail establishment. Having some understanding of the issue they face every day will help him to be a better executive/owner down the road.

This.

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

He's 22 and may have never had a job before other than being a football player.

And this.

It's better than getting loaded at the club and killing someone intentionally (Hernandez) or unintentionally (Stallworth).

[ActiveShooter]

"I wasn't too good for any job" - Ashton Kutcher

[BlackHelicopters]

Smart dude.

[kepp]

That's pretty impressive. And smart.