Earl Mitchell and four Dolphins teammates stood in the middle of the largest private real estate development in U.S. history, looked around, and marveled.
The quintet was in New York earlier this month for a three-day post-career internship, and the highlight was the tour of
Hudson Yards, the 17 million square-foot redevelopment project in Manhattan’s West Side.
And what made the experience totally unique: their tour guide was their boss, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.
Ross’ real estate development outfit, the
Related Companies, is the project’s builder.
“We got a chance to go in some of the buildings that weren't quite finished yet, see all the blueprints, hear [Ross] engaging with people, what he was looking for,” Mitchell said. “That was huge. Not that many people get to see something as monumental as that.”
Yet this was no sightseeing trip. Mitchell and his fellow Dolphins -- Reshad Jones, Cameron Wake, James-Michael Johnson and Sam Young -- were on a fact-finding mission.
They wanted to think seriously about how they’ll spend their lives once their playing days are over.
Just two weeks before the start of training camp, Ross invited those five players to Gotham for a three-day business seminar. There, they got a behind-the-scenes look at Ross’ many interests, as well as a tour of the NFL’s main office. It’s the first of what will be an annual -- and possibly biannual -- symposium, open to any Dolphins player with interest.
“We’re always looking to stretch the limits of the opportunities [for players] to maximize their potential, both on and off the field,” said Kaleb Thornhill, the Dolphins’ director of player engagement.
The players were serious about maximizing the experience; it was a commitment of both time and money. Airfare and lodging weren’t provided.
Still, it was money well spent.
At the NFL’s Park Avenue headquarters, the players met with executive Troy Vincent, and heard a presentation from a “legends panel” that included ex-Dolphin Chad Pennington.
Pennington gave tips on how to transition from player to retiree -- an end-game that looms for anyone who ever puts on pads.
