Troy Vincent

Troy Vincent

No. 23
Cornerback / Safety
Personal information
Date of birth: June 8, 1970 (1970-06-08)
Place of birth: Trenton, New Jersey
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	Weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College: Wisconsin
NFL Draft: 1992 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7
Debuted in 1992 for the Miami Dolphins
Last played in 2006 for the Washington Redskins
Career history
Miami Dolphins (1992–1995) Philadelphia Eagles (1996–2003) Buffalo Bills (2003–2006) Washington Redskins (2006)
Career highlights and awards
5× Pro Bowl selection (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003) 3× All-Pro selection (2000, 2001, 2002) Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (2002) "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year (2002) Bart Starr Man of the Year Award (2004)
Career NFL statistics as of 2006
Tackles	749
Sacks	5.5
Interceptions	47
Stats at NFL.com

Troy Darnell Vincent (born June 8, 1970) is a former Defensive Back for the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dolphins with the 7th overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin.

Vincent is the Vice President of the NFL Player Engagement Organization, formerly the NFL Player Development Organization, a position he was named to in February 2010. His mission is to engage and enable players to be better citizens, and lifelong learners while pursuing continuous improvement in family relations, social interactions, personal growth and career development. His efforts were cited in the Boston Globe. John Smallwood, Philadelphia Daily News sports columnist, wrote about Troy Vincent's efforts to support ex-players in their transition from the playing field to life after football. With over 160 days spent annually on the road, Vincent is viewed as a mobile professional. Vincent provided insights on balancing such a demanding schedule in a USA Today article.

On June 1, 2011 Vincent received the 2011 Leadership in Sport Award at the Sport for Social Change Awards ceremony, sponsored by the Street Soccer USA program. The Sport for Social Change Awards honors members of the community who have used sport to enrich all lives and most importantly the lives of those in need.

In a column by AOL's Thomas George, Vincent spoke to the challenges and the opportunity to serve the NFL active players on and off the field. Vincent's present role involves managing and developing programs and services for players and their families, holding true to his claim that at his core, he will always be a players rep. This is further supported in a New York Times article, Vincent was instrumental in leading and implementing the inaugural NFL-NCAA Football Academy The academy’s aim is to assist players in transitioning into post-playing careers. The four-day inaugural symposium was held in Orlando, Florida, bringing together 30 current and former NFL players and included seminars by NFL executives and former coaches.

Vincent was a major player in the Eagles’ dominant defense of the late 1990s, and is recognized as such in Sports Illustrated. Vincent is also considered one of the greatest leaders in the history of the NFL^{[citation needed]}. He was the president of the NFLPA, the Sporting News's #1 Good Guy in 2003, a Team Captain the last 13 seasons of his 15 year career, and countless other positions and honors as noted in the Bleacher Report. On September 28, 2011, Vincent was named as one of the Preliminar​y Nominees for the NFL Hall Of Fame Class of 2012.

One of the major challenges facing NFL players is money management. The statistics are staggering. According to a Sports Illustrated report published in 2009, 78% of NFL players will become bankrupt, divorced or unemployed within two years of retirement. Contributing to a USA Today article Vincent and others warned that money management strategies, transposed over a vague career timeline, should not be underestimated in the transition. Back in 2003, Mr. Vincent approached the Wharton School with an idea to ensure his fellow players will be prepared for life after football. This idea came to fruition with the creation of the #NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program, which over the past six years has educated scores of NFL players about starting a business, investing and managing money. In 2012, the NFL Player Engagement organization partnered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation to assist players to avoid investment fraud, and make smart financial decisions. According to Vincent, the partnership with the FINRA Foundation will bring much needed resources and tools to players and their families so they can protect themselves from fraudulent and deceptive practices.

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

Troy Vincent was drafted by the Miami Dolphins out of the University of Wisconsin–Madison with the seventh pick in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. Since ESPN began televised coverage of the NFL draft, Vincent is the only first round pick that was missed on live television. After returning from a commercial break, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue was informed that the network was still at break, returned to the podium and repeated the selection of Vincent to Miami. In the Miami Herald Vincent speaks about his experience at Miami and the current focus of the NFL Player Engagement Organization to create a lifetime fraternity of men who are successful in society and who all happen to play professional football.

Philadelphia Eagles

Troy Vincent spent four seasons with the Dolphins. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996, where he spent eight more seasons. Vincent made five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1999 to 2003. In 2002 Vincent was the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. In 2007 Vincent was named to the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team. In 2010 Troy Vincent was recognized as one of the "Top 50 Philadelphia Eagles of All Time". Vincent announced the Philadelphia Eagles 2nd Round Draft Pick at the 2011 NFL Draft. The Eagles selected Jaiquawn Jarrett, Safety from Temple University in the 2nd Round of the 2011 NFL Draft. A Bleacher Report article listed Vincent as "One of the 25 Most Underrated Players in Philadelphia Eagles History".

Buffalo Bills

Prior to the 2004 NFL season, Vincent signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills with the departure of cornerback Antoine Winfield. Vincent played one year as a cornerback, which he had played all his career, but most recently played free safety when he had a knee injury and was replaced by Terrence McGee. He had 51 interceptions in his career.

Washington Redskins

Vincent was slated to miss the 2006 season after suffering a hamstring injury and being placed on injured reserve September 13, but the Bills released Vincent on October 12, allowing him to seek offers from other teams and was signed on October 16 by the Washington Redskins. Vincent had perhaps the greatest game of his Washington career on November 5, 2006, against rival Dallas Cowboys, recording six tackles and a crucial blocked 35-yard field goal attempt by kicker Mike Vanderjagt as time expired. The block, along with a 15-yard facemask penalty, allowed the Redskins to return the ball into field goal range for kicker Nick Novak and win the game 22-19 with no time remaining resulting in the "Hand of God" game. On February 22, 2007, the Redskins released Troy Vincent.

President of the NFLPA

Vincent was president of the NFL Players Association. Vincent's term as President of the NFLPA expired on March 18, 2008 and he was replaced by Kevin Mawae. On February 26, 2009 the Players Association announced that they were investigating whether during his tenure as president Vincent disclosed confidential personal and financial information about a number of player agents. It is alleged that Vincent emailed this information to his longtime business partner Mark Magnum for the benefit of a financial services firm co-owned by the two men. However, the AP uncovered no evidence to support the contention that Vincent, by forwarding an NFLPA e-mail to his business partner, used agents' personal information to build his financial services company.

On March 12, 2009, the Associated Press published an article detailing the results of an exhaustive investigative report into the allegations. In various Internet and media reports, the former NFLPA president had been accused of being a shady businessman who has suffered numerous failed insurance and financial services businesses. Moreover, in what potentially is the most damaging allegation to his candidacy, a February 25 report on SI.com quoted an anonymous source who alleged that Vincent leaked confidential NFLPA information on player agents to his business partner to recruit customers to their financial services business. The New York Post, citing unnamed sources, reported on February 10 that some NFLPA members were concerned that Vincent could be exposed to lawsuits in the future "stemming from his failed insurance, financial advisory and hedge-fund businesses."

The Associated Press reviewed public records, financial statements and other documents to investigate the most serious allegations regarding Vincent's background and businesses. Vincent also agreed to hours of questioning by the AP in which no subject was off limits. A background check of Vincent's financial advisory firm, Eltekon, through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) found no actions or disclosures against the firm or its employees. The AP's findings were made through an online search of FINRA's database and confirmed by phone by a FINRA executive.

FINRA is a private sector group, established by Congress and operated under the oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission, that regulates the nation's 5,000 securities firms. Its database is updated daily by SEC and state regulators and monitors the nation's court systems. Even infractions such as a drunk driving arrest would be included, but there were none.

Six Eltekon companies in which Vincent is listed as a director are classified as "In Good Standing," according to Texas public records. Vincent's hedge-fund business was voluntarily dissolved and therefore has no tax responsibility in Texas, according to state records.

The AP uncovered no evidence to support the contention that Vincent, by forwarding an NFLPA e-mail to his business partner, used agents' personal information to build his financial services company. (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?id=3975050&section=nfl)

Vice President NFL Player Engagement, formerly NFL Players Development

Troy Vincent was named VP of the NFL's Active Player Development in 2010, a position he assumed on February 22, 2010. In March 2011 the NFL Players Development organization was renamed the NFL Player Engagement Organization. Mr. Vincent oversees crucial support programs for players and their families, including the Rookie Symposium, Conduct Management Program and LifeSkills, and will work on new programs that will address the needs and concerns of incoming and current NFL players. Following the announcement Mr. Vincent was quoted as saying; "I appreciate this opportunity to continue to be involved in the NFL working with active players and tomorrow's NFL athletes," Vincent said in a statement from the NFL. "My goal is to assist the NFL in continuing to grow and remain the most respected, admired, and successful sports league in the world." The NFL Player Development prepares and supports players for life on the gridiron and during their transition to post-football careers. Utilizing programs such as NFL Prep, NFL Life, and NFL Next, the NFL Player Engagement department assists players in adjusting to life within the NFL, while challenging them to prepare for their post NFL career. In an interview published in Black Enterprise, Vincent talked about the league’s increasingly broad NFL Player Engagement programs, programs that now reach all the way into the high school ranks, and the myriad of challenges he faces as the NFL point person for education and life planning.

The NFL Prep, a division of NFL Player Engagement, produced in partnership with Why Not Sports, Inc., the inaugural NFL Draft Sports Career Expo on Wednesday, April 27, a day before the 2011 NFL Draft. The expo attracted more than 400 high school football players from New York City area schools to offer them an inside look into the sports industry from stand-out professionals in a range of sectors in the business of sports. Per Troy Vincent; "Many high school student-athletes just focus on career opportunities available on the field. Part of our mission with the Sports Career Expo is to introduce these students to other aspects of professional sports and allow them to see the broad spectrum of career options that are available to them."

The NFL Player Engagement program and Nike held the Nike Leadership Challenge at Chelsea Park in New York City. The goal of the event was to enable high school student-athletes to become better people, on and off the field. A select group of high school players throughout the city were invited to take part in the challenge which consisted of a classroom life skills session and on field development. Vincent, Derrick Brooks, Irving Fryar, LaMont Jordan, Eddie Mason and Khary Campbell served as coaches in the classroom sessions and on the field for the high school players in attendance. The classroom session consisted of a presentation by the players about the importance of academic success, a video from the NFL about decision making, a lesson about using social media outlets and finally a question and answer session. The on field focus was about individual position development, team concepts and communication, a 7 v 7 Tourney and a Nike “Iron Man" Skills Challenge.

NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program

While playing for the Buffalo Bills, Vincent approached the Wharton School with a novel idea to create a program to help fellow players understand that there was going to be a life after football, and that it was a life for which they needed to prepare. This vision materialized with the formation of the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program, which over the years has educated many NFL players about starting a business, investing and managing money. As the 2011 NFL Draft takes place, Jason Wingard of the New York Daily News, spoke to Vincent’s vision and the need for those entering the NFL to be prepared for what comes after their last game on the field has been played.

In February 2012, the NFL Player Engagement will launch the Business of Music Boot Camp at Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University. This is the NFL's latest effort to prepare players for new careers after football. The league will also be adding a Pro Hollywood Boot Camp in April 2012 to assist former and current players in exploring careers in the motion picture industry.

Community involvement and philanthropic efforts

Troy Vincent 2011 Leadership In Sport Award Recipient

Vincent is regarded as a successful professional athlete and business leader. Vincent’s business activities are centered on educating and empowering others. He has served on numerous boards over his career and serves on the Board of Directors for the University of Wisconsin Foundation, and the State of New Jersey After 3 Program. Vincent became the first active NFL player to serve on the National Board of Directors for Pop Warner Little Scholars Football. The All Pro Dad organization that's led by Coach Tony Dungy counts Vincent among its top spokesmen.

He and his family founded Love Thy Neighbor Community Development and Opportunity Corporation, a not-for-profit organization. Troy is well recognized for his Philanthropic efforts to build community and increase the overall well-being of humanity. Mr. Vincent recently parterned with Feed The Children to help families in need over the 2010 holiday season. His efforts resulted in Feed The Children supplying one semi tractor-trailer full of food and essentials to Trenton on Wednesday, December 22, 2010. Each identified family was provided with a 25-pound box of food, a 10-pound box of essentials and a box of Avon products designed to help a family for a week. The truck distribution is one of the stops on Feed The Children’s Americans Feeding Americans Caravan, which has helped nearly 200,000 American and military families across the country in cities that have been affected by the nation’s economic downturn in 2010.

Illustrating his commitment to the communities he and his family ones called home, Vincent returned to one of the communities he grew up in; the Pennsbury School District in Fallsington, Pennsylvania Pennsbury School District. His visit was in support of the Fuel Up To Play 60 program at Edgewood Elementary School. During this visit, Vincent spent time with the students, teachers, and parents. The NFL and the Players Association, along with the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, were co-sponsors of Fuel Up To Play 60, which is an accelerated recess program that seeks to get kids to exercise at least 60 minutes a day and teaches kids to consume the proper food and beverages before stepping on to the field of play.

Honors and awards

Vincent received numerous awards and recognitions during and after his NFL Career. Vincent is the only player in NFL history to have won collectively the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, NFL Players Association Byron Whizzer White Award, Sporting News #1 Good Guy, and NFL Athletes in Action Bart Starr Award. Some of his achievements are presented below:

Pennsylvania State Sports Hall of Fame Inductees

2011

• Preliminary Nomination to NFL Hall Of Fame Class of 2012

• Inducted to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame

Pennsylvania State Sports Hall of Fame Induction

• Leadership in Sport Award Recipient – 2011 Sport for Social Change Awards from Street Soccer USA Program

• Announced the Philadelphia Eagles 2nd Round Draft Pick at the 2011 NFL Draft

2010

• Named Best NFL Player by Jersey Number (23) – Sports Illustrated

2009

• Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (Bucks County Chapter)
• All Time Roster - University of Wisconsin Badgers
• New Jersey After 3 ‘Individual Champion’

2008

• Thomas Edison State College Distinguished Alumnus Award
• University of Wisconsin Hall of Fame
• Warner Award (Pop Warner Lifetime Achievement)

2007

• Pennsbury High School – Retired Football Jersey #21
• Urban Education Leadership Award (Congressional Black Caucus)
• Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team

2006

• NFL Team Captain

2005

• Honorary Degree in Doctor of Laws, The College of New Jersey - Ewing, NJ
• Outstanding Contributions to the African American Community - Omega Psi Phi fraternity - Delta Epsilon chapter
• NFL Team Captain

2004

• Pennsbury High School Athletic Hall of Fame
• Ameriquest Mortgage Neighborhood MVP
• New Jersey Sports Writers Association Superstar
• NFL Man of the Year - New Jersey Sports Writers Association
• Bart Starr Award - NFL Athletes in Action
• NFL Team Captain

2003

• Byron ‘Whizzer’ White Award Winner - NFL Players Association
• NFL Walter Payton ‘Man of the Year’
• Sporting News #1 Good Guy in All of Professional Sports
• Recognized by the New Jersey General Assembly with Troy Vincent Day MTAACC Black Executive Corporate Award
• Lifetime Works and Dedication to Community Service - Association of Black Women Lawyers
• Humanitarian of the Year Award - Philadelphia Sports Fans Choice
• NFL Team Captain

1999 - 2003

• Five-time NFL Pro Bowl player - 1999-2003
• NFL Team Captain
• New Jersey Sports Writers Association Pro Cornerback of the Year 2001

External links

• Official web site
• Troy Vincent at ESPN.com
• Troy Vincent at Pro-Football-Reference.com
• I am Trenton Community Foundation

Preceded by Jerome Bettis	Walter Payton Man of the Year Award 2002	Succeeded by Will Shields
Preceded by Trace Armstrong	NFLPA President April 1, 2004-March 19, 2008	Succeeded by Kevin Mawae