Troy Vincent

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Troy Darnell Vincent (born June 8, 1971 in Trenton, New Jersey) is a former cornerback and safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 1992 NFL Draft out of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He has since played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, and the Washington Redskins.

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Miami Dolphins

He 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.

[edit] Philadelphia Eagles

He spent four seasons with the Dolphins. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996, and 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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 (the "Hand of God" game). On February 22, 2007, the Redskins released Troy Vincent.

[edit] 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^[1].

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 Feb. 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 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.

The AP review found:

The New York Post, citing unnamed sources, reported on Feb. 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."

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)

[edit] Campaign for Executive Director of NFLPA

In 2009, Vincent ran for the Executive Director position left vacant by the death of Gene Upshaw. Although he was considered a favorite for the job, he lost the election to Washington DC-based attorney DeMaurice Smith.^[2]

[edit] Other Ventures

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 currently serves on the Board of Directors for the University of Wisconsin Foundation (http://www.uwfoundation.wisc.edu/home/aboutus/boardofdirectors/boardofdirectors.aspx), 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 Football. Vincent is also very committed to civic endeavors. He and his family founded Love Thy Neighbor Community Development and Opportunity Corporation, a not-for-profit organization (www.ltncdc.org).

[edit] Honors and Awards

Troy Vincent won numerous awards and recognition during and after his career. The following are some of his achievements:

• Current spokesman for All Pro Dad in Philadelphia and New Jersey
• Current spokesman for the MAN Campaign in Philadelphia
• University of Wisconsin Hall of Fame – 2008
• Thomas Edison State College Distinguished Alumnus Award – 2008
• Warner Award (Pop Warner Lifetime Achievement) – 2008
• Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team – 2007
• Urban Education Leadership Award (Congressional Black Caucus) – 2007
• Pennsbury High School (Fairless Hills, PA) #21 Jersey Retirement (The only one in school history) – 2007
• Honorary Degree Doctor of Laws The College of New Jersey – 2005
• NFL Team Captain (Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills) - 1994-2006
• Ameriquest Mortgage Neighborhood MVP - 2004
• New Jersey Sports Writers Association ‘Superstar’ - 2004
• NFL Athletes in Action ‘Bart Starr’ Award Winner - 2004
• NFL Players Association Byron ‘Whizzer’ White Award Winner - 2003
• Sporting News #1 Good Guy (includes all professional sports) - 2003
• Recognized by the New Jersey General Assembly with Troy Vincent Day - 2003
• NFL Walter Payton ‘Man of the Year’ - 2003
• Pennsbury High School (Fairless Hills, PA) Hall of Fame - 2002
• Five-time NFL All-Pro - 1999-2003

[edit] References

AP finds Vincent's companies 'in good standing' http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?id=3975050&section=nfl March 12, 2009

[edit] External links

• Official web site
• Troy Vincent at ESPN.com

• Troy Vincent at Pro-Football-Reference.com
• I am Trenton Community Foundation