Miami Hurricanes WR coach Ron Dugans, FSU alum, misses the Orange Bowl

Ron Dugans grew up in Tallahassee and dreamed of becoming a Seminole. He did. He had an outstanding FSU career, too, with a couple big performances against Miami.

He should dislike everything about the Hurricanes. But he coaches them. And Dugans, in his first year as UM’s wide receivers coach, said playing in the Orange Bowl was his favorite memory of the rivalry.

“You knew coming to the Orange Bowl what kind of game it would be,” said Dugans, who played for coach Bobby Bowden and offensive coordinator Mark Richt from 1995-99. “The locker room wasn’t very nice. People throwing eggs at you. I miss the OB.

“That was something every year you looked forward to. That was every kid’s dream back then, to play in the OB. That’s what sticks out to me, because I know what it means to both schools, and I know what it means to the fans. Everybody looked forward to that game. You knew you were going against the best. Everybody’s coming to play.”

Dugans’ teams went 5-0 against Miami, and were ranked between No. 1 and No. 8 every single year. He caught a 42-yard pass against the Hurricanes as a true freshman in 1995. He was FSU’s leading receiver in the 1999 game, a 31-21 win in Tallahassee.

He graduated by the time UM won in 2000, the first of a six-game streak against the Noles.

As a former player, he understands how badly the Hurricanes want to break their six-game losing skid. As a 38-year-old coach, he knows the focus the current group needs to have.

“You knew what week it was back then, because every coach was getting after everybody,” he said. “Coach Richt has always been laid-back, get after you when he needed to, if something’s not right, he would fix it. Coach let us know it was an important game, but just take one play at a time.”

This will be the first big game in Miami’s renovated home, Hard Rock Stadium. Dugans hopes it is as loud and unfriendly to the Seminoles as the Orange Bowl was.

“On game day at Hard Rock, when you come off the bus and see all those fans, it’s like, ‘Wow,'” he said. “They love it. That’s a really nice stadium. To see it packed with orange and green, and for recruits to come watch how Miami is getting better each week, it means a lot.

“We had some fun. I enjoy and I embrace this rivalry. A lot of guys paved the way for it to become a rivalry.”

More games: friv

Loaded UK secondary still needs primary help

LEXINGTON, Ky. – As a young defensive backs coach at the University of Miami, Mark Stoops shocked a reporter with his bravado about his 2002 secondary.

The Hurricanes were coming off a national championship season but had lost their entire starting secondary. The group included first-round picks Phillip Buchanon, Ed Reed and Mike Rumph and has been ranked among the best secondaries in college football history.

Still, Stoops was confident his 2002 squad would have little trouble.

“I said, ‘We’ll be better,’” Stoops told The Courier-Journal in a one-on-one interview before camp. “They thought this is a young, cocky a-hole. I said, ‘No, we will be.’”

For Stoops, despite losing so much talent the equation was simple.

“The whole D-line was back,” Stoops said. “That secondary was going to be better, because I knew how talented we were going to be up front on the defensive line. The best pass defense in the world is when that quarterback is running around or is on his back.”

Stoops’ players backed up that confidence, leading the country in passing defense (119.7 yards per game) in 2002. A front seven that included five 2003 NFL Draft picks, including two first-rounders, played its part in accentuating that strength.

Now with Stoops’ Kentucky team preparing for a 2016 season in which the secondary has been anointed the strength of the defense, how the Wildcats’ front seven plays may again say much about the ultimate success of a talented group of defensive backs.

“100 percent, we’ve got have success up front,” UK defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale said. “If we can’t stop the run even with the secondary fits and we can’t get to the quarterback, it doesn’t matter how good your DBs are and vice versa. If we can’t stop people from catching the ball, it doesn’t matter how much pressure we put on the quarterback.”

Kentucky ranked 28th nationally in passing defense last season (198.1 yards per game) but a defense that ranked 97th nationally in rushing defense (196.08 yards per game) and 109th in sacks (17) rarely forced opponents into difficult passing situations.

The Wildcats relied heavily on freshman defensive backs Chris Westry, Derrick Baity, Mike Edwards and Darius West in 2015. All those players return this fall, though West has been lost to a season-ending knee injury.

Expectations for the group remain high with touted freshman cornerbacks Jordan Griffin and Davonte Robinson joining a secondary that also includes senior nickel back/safety Blake McClain, senior cornerback J.D. Harmon and junior nickel back Kendall Randolph.

“I feel like we have some superstars in the making at that position,” Stoops said at SEC Media Days in July.

“They’re currently the strength of our defense,” defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot said later that month. “Fortunately they were able to get a year under their belts so now they have a little bit of experience to go with that talent. I’m very excited to watch them play this fall.”

After a summer of praise from coaches, UK’s defensive backs are taking pride in living up to that hype.

“We said that all summer we want our secondary to be the new “DB U,” the best secondary in the SEC,” McClain said. “That starts in practice every day.”

But those same defensive backs know without help from the defensive line and linebackers their talent and depth may not reach its full potential.

UK returns just one full-time starter in the front seven. Even as the coaching staff has grown more comfortable with its projected starters at the positions, they have acknowledged depth remains a concern.

“We need them,” McClain said. “If they don’t get pressure the quarterback is going to sit there and have all day, and we don’t want that with the quarterbacks we have in the SEC.”

McClain is confident the UK front seven has put in the work during preseason camp to carry its own weight on the defense this fall. He singled out junior defensive end Alvonte Bell, sophomore defensive tackle Adrian Middleton and sophomore outside linebackers Denzil Ware, Josh Allen and Kobie Walker as defenders who have helped boost UK’s pass rush in camp.

“Our guys will get better at rushing the passer and putting some pressure on them,” Stoops said. “We find ways to create some pressure, and our secondary needs to hold up for a good bit.”

UK’s defenders have fostered a friendly competition during camp to argue which position group is better.

Ware and his fellow linebackers like to shout “LB U” at the defensive backs, who reply with their cries of “DB U.” Still, the players say they realize it will take a group effort to succeed this fall.

“We won’t get pass breakups if they don’t get pressure up front,” Randolph said. “If we don’t defend in the back end then everybody is in trouble.

“We all play equal roles on the defense, so just as we hold ourselves accountable within our position groups we do the same with other position groups while respecting that we know they have their certain stuff that they do by themselves and we have our stuff that we do by ourselves. At the end of the day we’re all still one defense. We have to be in tune with each other.”

Aquinas' Grimes, PB Gardens' Cowan named Preseason All-Americans

St. Thomas Aquinas receiver Trevon Grimes and Palm Beach Gardens linebacker VanDarius Cowan earned national honors this week as both were named to MaxPreps' Preseason All-American Team.

Grimes was included in the large schools offensive category announced Tuesday and Cowan on large schools defense on Thursday. Each was one of 21 prospects nationally to make their respective teams.

"It's a true honor," Grimes said. "My hours of hard work and dedication are paying off and I'm looking forward to a great senior season."

Grimes (6-foot-4, 202 pounds), ranked the No. 3 senior nationally by Rivals, is set to announce his commitment on Aug. 24. In addition to his longtime leader, Ohio State, Grimes also lists Miami, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Alabama as in the running.

Cowan has been firmly committed to Bama since April.

Flowers charity event

Former Atlantic standout and current San Diego Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers will host a charity event at his alma mater next week to benefit local children in need.

The Delray Beach native's inaugural "Back to School Bash," set for Weds., July 20 at Atlantic Community High School, will feature live music, a school supply giveaway and an essay contest for 250 children. The event is sold out and not open to the public.

Flowers starred as a defensive back at Atlantic and then played at Virginia Tech. Following his collegiate career, he was selected in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft by Kansas City. Flowers spent six years with the Chiefs, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2013.

Flowers signed a one-year contract with San Diego in 2014 and re-signed with the team for a four-year, $36 million deal.

More guest coaches at UM camp

University of Miami coach Mark Richt announced a series of guest coaches that will be present for his inaugural "Paradise" camp on his Twitter account this week.

Many come from the Hurricanes' 2001 national championship team, including tight end Jeremy Shockey, DB Antrel Rolle, CB Phillip Buchanon and offensive lineman Brett Romberg. Bennie Blades, an All-American on UM's 1987 title team, also tweeted he would attend.

Last week, the Sun Sentinel reported NFL Hall-of-Famer Michael Irvin and Baltimore Ravens great Ray Lewis, both 'Canes alums, would be present for portions of the camp, which runs Friday and Saturday.

According to CanesInSight.com, area seniors expected on Saturday include Deerfield Beach WR Jerry Jeudy, St. Thomas Aquinas WR Mike Harley and safety Brian Edwards, Dillard DL Jonathan Ford, American Heritage CB Marco Wilson, Cardinal Gibbons CB Randall Haynie and Palm Beach Gardens DB Amari Carter.

More camps on tap at FAU

Charlie Partridge is holding Individual Camps for high school football players on Monday and Tuesday at the Tom Axley Athletic Center. The Florida Atlantic coach previously hosted a three-day team camp in mid-June.

Additionally, on Weds., July 27, Partridge and his Owls staff will host a specialists camp with Jamie Kohl, focusing on kicking, punting and snapping drills.

Jeudy excels at The Opening

All-County wideout Jerry Jeudy, a senior at Deerfield, was one of six national prospects named to The Opening Finals 7-on-7 first-team offense.

The 6-1, 177-pound four-star recruit is rated the fourth-best receiver in the nation, according to ESPN. Alabama is currently leads the pack — Jeudy has 32 colleges offers — in his recruitment.

Dorvil transfers to STA

Senior Eldine Dorvil announced his transfer from Boyd Anderson to St. Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday.

Dorvil (6-0, 155) enters the season as a two-star CB recruit, according to Scout. He lists offers from Idaho, UCF, Eastern Michigan, Akron and Bowling Green.

Correspondent Pat Lammer contributed to this report.

EX-OAKLAND RAIDER PHILLIP BUCHANON CREATES BOARD GAME TO ENCOURAGE FINANCIAL LITERACY

Ex-Oakland Raider Phillip Buchanon is on a mission to teach the youth of today an important lesson in financial literacy.

Having created a new board game called ‘New Money: Staying Rich,’ Buchanon’s interactive game is inspired by his book of the same title.

As one who fell victim to the “burning pocket” phenomenon that comes with obtaining large amounts of money and subsequently blowing it all, Buchanon thinks it’s pertinent that budding entrepreneurs and businessmen know how to save and wisely invest their dollars.

Dubbed the ‘Modern Monopoly,’ the game will take players through different scenarios in life that may have a direct or indirect impact on your finances. Everything from family emergencies to unexpected to pregnancies will be a scenario in the game, with the point being to always keep a financial safety net, as you never know what may come up in life.

This isn’t the first board game Buchanon has created—his past game being the fun spin on ‘Twister’ called ‘Twerkin-It,’ a twerk-focused board game allowing players to spice up their parties.

For more on Buchanon’s latest venture, check out his site here.

German wide receiver among Vikings' final-day picks

MINNEAPOLIS – Moritz Boehringer five years ago became a Vikings fan by watching Adrian Peterson videos in his native Germany. Now, the two are teammates.

Minnesota took the wide receiver in the sixth round Saturday with the No. 180 overall pick on the final day of three-day NFL draft. He became the first foreign player drafted after not having played at a North American college.

“It’s a dream come true,’’ said Boehringer, 22. “I’m happy that the Vikings picked me.’’

The pick was not a surprise. Boehringer and his agent, Kyle Strongin, had said before the draft the Vikings were showing great interest, and Boehringer had said he would sign with them as a free agent if not drafted.

The 6-foot-4, 229-pound Boehringer is raw. He played three years in Germany for a club team before last year catching 70 passes for 1,461 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Schwabish Hall Unicorns in the German Football League.

“A lot of talent and a big receiver,’’ Boehringer said of what he brings. “(The Vikings) need a big target, and I think I can be the big target that they need.”

It was a busy day for the Vikings. They started the day with eight picks and finished with eight selections although they made trades with Miami and Philadelphia to move around the draft board.

Minnesota also selected Western Michigan offensive lineman Willie Beavers in the fourth round, Missouri linebacker Kentrell Brothers in the fifth, Texas-San Antonio tight end David Morgan in the sixth, Vanderbilt defensive tackle Stephen Weatherly in the seventh and Clemson safety Jayron Kearse also in the seventh.

The Vikings project Beavers as a guard and Brothers as a middle linebacker; they have been positions of need. Minnesota also needed a safety and got one in Kearse, whose uncle is former NFL defensive end Javon Kearse and cousin is former NFL cornerback Phillip Buchanon.

The biggest buzz by far came when Boehringer was selected. The native of Aalen, Germany, was generally unknown until he showed great athleticism at the Florida Atlantic pro day on March 31.

Boehringer, who had been a left wing in soccer, knew nothing about football until he went on YouTube in 2011 and clicked on some videos that had been recommended. He immediately became a Vikings fan and took up the sport, and soon he’ll get to meet Peterson.

“I heard he has a very strong handshake,’’ Boehringer said with a laugh. “I will be prepared for that.’’

General manager Rick Spielman said a “source” tipped the Vikings off about Boehringer in February shortly after the scouting combine. They then started their research by watching videos of him on YouTube.

“We drafted him in the sixth round because of his ability and his upside,’’ Spielman said. “He has unique size, unique athletic skills.’’

Boehringer came to Minnesota this month to visit with the Vikings. He also was in the Twin Cities last September on vacation and watched the University of Minnesota play Texas Christian.

Later on that trip, Boehringer watched the New York Giants play at Dallas. He hardly realized then he would be in the NFL a year later.

“It was really a fun story,’’ Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said on the NFL Network. “That’s kind of what the draft is all about, making dreams come true. ... He’s a really smart kid. He understands English very well. He understands football. Obviously, he has a lot of work to do, but it’s still fun.’’

Boehringer’s all-time favorite wide receiver is Randy Moss, who played for the Vikings from 1998-2004. The 6-4 Moss was a big target, and Boehringer hopes to develop into Minnesota’s latest one.

Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Prospects: Who is SS Jayron Kearse?

Could strong safety Jayron Kearse be one of the best values of the 2016 NFL draft?

The Steelers secondary was one of the most inconsistent units on the field this past season. Their attempt to address the secondary through the 2015 draft backfired when second-round draft pick Senquez Golson, a cornerback, was sidelined with an injury before the season even began. The Steelers will need to add depth to the defensive backs through the draft and free agency.

Strong safety Jayron Kearse of Clemson could be an interesting prospect for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kearse is the tallest strong safety draft prospect, standing 6-feet 4-inches and weighing 220-pounds. In other words, he is a towering, sturdy athlete who can stand up to the biggest NFL wide receivers and tight ends. The cousin of NFL CB Phillip Buchanon and nephew of former Tennessee Titan pass rusher Jevon "The Freak" Kearse, Jayron has football in his blood.

Kearse proved he can compete against the most elite receivers in college football during his time with the Clemson Tigers. He has impressed scouts with his speed, ball-skills, aggression, and intuition. Kearse's biggest downside could actually work to his advantage: He is relatively raw. Though he has tremendous speed for a player of his size, he is sometimes awkward and has trouble adjusting on the fly.

Nonetheless, his highlights are impressive.

Kearse is projected to be a fourth round pick. Jeremy Cash of Duke, Vonn Bell of Ohio State, Karl Joseph of West Virginia, and Miles Killebrew of Southern Utah could all find NFL homes before Kearse. In other words, Kearse could be a great value.

Bengals' Marvin Lewis attends Clemson Tigers Pro Day

Among the notable guys working out was Mackensie Alexander, who's regarded as one of this draft class's top corners.

As the NFL draft inches closer, the Pro Day circuit continued Thursday with the Clemson Tigers putting their top pro talent on display.

Four NFL head coaches were in attendance for the workout, including the Bills' Rex Ryan, Colts' Chuck Pagano, Steelers' Mike Tomlin and Bengals' Marvin Lewis. It makes sense Lewis was in attendance as the Tigers have three guys who could be in contention for the 24th-overall pick. And, the Steelers have the 25th pick, giving reason to Tomlin being there, too.

The most likely player to be selected near the 24th pick is cornerback Mackensie Alexander, a projected first-round pick in most mock drafts, but someone expected to go toward the end of Round 1. He drew attention at the Combine when he proclaimed himself to be "the best corner in this draft class." He said that in light of not participating in on-field workouts at the Combine because of a hamstring injury suffered in the national championship loss to Alabama.

By the time his Pro Day came, Alexander was healthy enough to put up some good numbers.  He ran between 4.40 and 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash on Thursday, per NFL Media reporter Rand Getlin. That would have placed him in the top 10 at his position at the combine.

He also had an impressive vertical jump of 37.5 inches, which would have had him in a tie for seventh place among CBs at the combine. CBS adds that Alexander met Wednesday night with the Steelers and Jets and had dinner with the Saints. The Bengals met with Alexander back at the Scouting Combine.

If the Bengals decide to add a pass-rusher, they may be in a quandary picking between Clemson's dynamic duo at defensive end in Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson. Both of those guys are expected to go in Round 1, and it's possible they're both on the board for Cincinnati.

Dodd went from situational pass-rusher before 2015 to becoming one of the most dominant ends in football, registering 62 tackles, 12 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss (second in the nation) and 46 QB pressures. But Lawson has been a standout player ever since first arriving at Clemson. His 25.5 tackles for loss last season led the nation to go with 12.5 sacks and 86 tackles.

Either guy would be a nice get at defensive end/strongside backer for the Bengals if they choose to go this route. Depending on what mock draft you've read, either guy could go as high as the top 10 or fall to or past the Bengals at 24.

After those three, there's a big drop off until the next draft prospect Clemson has, at least if you go off CBS Sports' rankings. T.J. Green and Jayron Kearse are two quality safeties the Bengals could look at after Round 3. That is, unless Reggie Nelson ends up re-signing with the Bengals.

Kearse, a cousin of former NFL defensive back Phillip Buchanon and nephew of former Titans pass rusher Jevon Kearse, finished this past season with 62 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and six passes defended before turning pro as a junior.

Green finished second on the team with 95 tackles, 5.5 for loss, broke up three passes and forced two fumbles during his final season as a junior. Both guys are raw athletic freaks who need a lot of work to become impact players in the NFL.

One other Tiger the Bengals may be interested in is wide receiver Charone Peake. A big 6-2, 209-pound pass-catcher, Peake had 50 receptions for 716 yards and five touchdowns this past season. For his career, he had 99 catches for 1,172 yards and 10 scores.

That may not seem like much, but his career was spent in the shadow of guys like Sammy Watkins, Martavis Bryant and current Tigers stars Mike Williams and Artavis Scott, both of whom project as quality NFL prospects. With the Bengals in need of multiple receivers in this year's draft, look for Peake to be considered on Day 3.

For more on Clemson's Pro Day, check out the highlights and a recap at Tiger.net.

A Brief Look At Vikings/Raiders History

Over the course of their history, the Minnesota Vikings have had a lot of success against a lot of different franchises.

The Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders are not one of them.

The Vikings have come out on the short end of the stick more than their fair share of times against the silver and black over the years. The Raiders handed the Vikings the fourth of their four Super Bowl defeats in Super Bowl IX XI by a score of 32-14. As you'll see in our post here, the regular season hasn't been any kinder to our favorite football team over the years.

So, let's take a look back, even though it's a little on the ugly side. As always, all of the facts and numbers in this post are brought to you by the good folks from Pro Football Reference.

Total Games Between the Vikings and the Raiders: 14 (13 regular season, 1 post-season)

All-Time Head-to-Head Record: Raiders, 9-4 (Raiders 1-0 in post-season play)

Total Vikings' Points Scored, Head-to-Head, Regular Season: 250 (19.2 points/game)

Total Raiders' Points Scored, Head-to-Head, Regular Season: 321 (24.7 points/game)

Longest Vikings' Winning Streak Against the Raiders, Regular Season: 1 (four different times)

Longest Raiders' Winning Streak Against the Vikings, Regular Season: 4 (11 December 1977 - 14 October 1984)

Most Recent Vikings' Victory in Oakland: 17 November 1996 (Final score 16-13)

Most Recent Raiders' Victory in Oakland: 16 November 2003 (Final score 28-18)

Biggest Vikings' Victory in Oakland: 3 points, 17 November 1996 (Final score 16-13)

Biggest Raiders' Victory in Oakland: 22 points, 11 December 1977 (Final score 35-13)

Current Streak: Raiders, 1 victory

And a couple of random things about the history between these two teams. . .

-The Vikings' regular season win percentage of .308 against the Raiders is their second-lowest against any opponent in franchise history. The only team that Minnesota has a lower winning percentage against is the New York Jets (2-8, giving them a winning percentage of .200).

-You probably figured this out from the facts listed above, but the Vikings have only defeated the Raiders on the road once in team history, back in 1996. That game saw the Vikings jump out to a quick 10-0 lead on an 82-yard touchdown pass from Brad Johnson to Jake Reed. After a pick-6 for the Raiders, the teams traded field goals for the rest of the afternoon, with Scott Sisson eventually getting the better of Cole Ford in a 16-13 Minnesota win.

-Overall, the Vikings have a record of 1-5 against the Raiders when they have to travel out to the West Coast. Granted, they're only 3-4 against them at home, but that's a heck of a lot better than 1-5.

-The last two games in this series took place at the Metrodome. In 2007, with Adrian Peterson out with a knee injury, Chester Taylor put the Vikings on his back and ran for 164 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-22 Minnesota win. In 2011, the Vikings got on the board first and took a 7-0 lead, but the Raiders controlled things from there, scoring the next 24 points and holding the Vikings off in the fourth quarter to win 27-21.

-That 2011 game was Peterson's only appearance against the Raiders in his career, and it was not his best day. He did find the end zone, but only carried the ball six times for 26 yards in the contest. He left that game in the second quarter with an ankle injury.

-The last time Minnesota traveled to Oakland was in 2003. The game featured Phillip Buchanon intercepting Daunte Culpepper for a pick-6 on the second play from scrimmage and the. . .bleh. . .Rick Mirer-led Raiders getting out to a 21-3 lead. Minnesota managed to close the gap to 21-18, but couldn't complete the comeback as the Raiders got one more touchdown to seal a 28-18 win.

And that's a quick look back at the history between the Minnesota Vikings and the Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders. Here's hoping that the Vikings can generate a significant reversal of their fortunes on Sunday afternoon.

Ex-Raider Phillip Buchanon shares lessons learned

The unwritten rules come with the new money. Every young pro knows them, and when the Raiders drafted Phillip Buchanon from Miami in 2002, he knew that the first is to buy your mother a house.

“My mom demanded a $1 million house,” Buchanon said. “And it’s not that I wouldn’t buy her one. It’s the expectation — the demand — of it that you don’t know about until you’re there. What could I do? She’s my mom. I bought a house.”

The second unwritten rule is to make it sprinkle, if not fully rain money on extended family, too. Those people expect it. Siblings. Cousins. Aunts …

“An uncle who was my father figure — he taught me how to hit in baseball; he was the first person I hit in pads (in football) — he said if I didn’t give him $10,000, he was going to rob that much from me,” Buchanon said.

And childhood friends? They’re the third unwritten rule. You’re expected to bring one or two into the good life with you. And choose wisely. Because if you don’t, you might be invaded at 3 a.m. by four or five men wearing ski masks, made to strip naked and have a gun stuck in your mouth if you don’t hand over $20,000.

Like Buchanon said he was.

“It was like a movie scene,” Buchanon recalled. “I thought, ‘Am I going to be executed right here?’ These were people who knew me, I’m sure. I didn’t have $20,000 on me. I’m not that kind of person, running around with that kind of money.”

This is what the 10-year pro talked about recently at an NFL rookie symposium. It’s the cautionary lesson behind his book, “New Money: Staying Rich.” It’s why a half-dozen teams have discussed bringing in the retired cornerback to talk with players. He talks about ideas he wishes someone mentioned to him as a young pro.

“Who do you trust?” he said. “That’s a good place to start. My message is very clear: When you come into new money, you will have a lot of headaches.”

NFL players make an average $3.2 million, and one in six declares bankruptcy within 12 years after retiring, according to research by the National Bureau of Economic Study.

Buchanon, however, offers lessons from an insider. He grew up the housing projects of Fort Myers, Fla. He was raised by his mother in a single-parent home. And his life changed in the time it took for his name to scroll across the TV as Oakland’s first-round pick in 2002.

“I knew something was wrong from Day 1. But as an athlete, you’re taught to have people take care of you all through high school and college. They kind of cripple you by doing that. Now you’ve got to make all these decisions you’re not ready to make.”

Bank Buchanon, he called himself early in his pro career. He’d spend $6,000 with friends — “fun friends” he called them, as opposed to “life friends” — in a day shopping and partying.

Mom was on a weekly allowance, then wanted at least $10,000 more for Christmas shopping. Siblings said they deserved to live like he did. A friend said they had a childhood pact to give the other $1 million if one made it.

“Show me your friends, and I’ll show you where you’re headed,” Buchanon said. “That’s something I tell the young players. It took me a couple of years to figure things out.”

Phillip Buchanon warns rookies not to let their families exploit them

As a first-round pick in the 2002 NFL draft, Phillip Buchanon signed a multimillion-dollar contract. And his mom decided that his payday should be her payday, too.

Buchanon has written a book detailing the mistakes he made as a young man whose mom demanded $1 million, which she said was payback for raising him. Now Buchanon has also agreed to speak at the annual NFL rookie symposium, where he’s encouraging rookies not to let their families exploit them, the way he did.

“When I got to the NFL, I was all dollars and no sense,” Buchanon writes on his blog. “I am here at the NFL Rookie Symposium to make sure that these NFL rookies don’t make the same mistakes that I did. I wish I had better mentors and I wish I had the right people around me. That would have impacted my career early on, no doubt.”

Buchanon says he’s encouraging rookies to invest their NFL money wisely so that it lasts the rest of their lives.

“I want them to make sure it’s permanent money. I don’t want them to blow it all, and next thing you know, it’s gone. Determine the difference between wants and needs for yourself and wants and needs from your family,” Buchanon writes.

The sad truth is, some of the rookies Buchanon is addressing at the symposium will make millions of dollars in the NFL and blow it all, often with large gifts to family members. But perhaps some will listen to Buchanon’s warning and save the money they make in their 20s so it will last until they’re in their 80s.

Ex-NFL player explains how he ended up blowing a chunk of his $20 million

Former NFL player Phillip Buchanon has been using his experience to help teach young NFL players how to handle their money.

Buchanon released his book, "New Money: Staying Rich," earlier this year, and he has been active in promoting the book and helping future players avoid financial strains and bankruptcy.

Buchanon, who made over $20 million in his career, has stressed the importance of managing money when it comes to family members. He has often told the story of his mother, who he says demanded $1 million from him after he was drafted as a price for raising him.

On his personal blog, Buchanon explained that he felt "obligated" to just give his money away:

"When I talk about this, people sometimes ask what kind of bad financial decisions I made. I’d say blowing $1.5 million in one business deal was pretty bad. I would say giving a lot of money away — $50,000 here, $20,000 there — was not a smart move. When you are a young player with new money, you feel obligated to just give your money away because of the pressure that you feel, especially from your own family."

In the same blog, he wrote about the three tips he tells young players:

"First, when they come into getting a lot of money, I want them to make sure it’s permanent money. I don’t want them to blow it all, and next thing you know, it’s gone. Determine the difference between wants and needs for yourself and wants and needs from your family. The second is making sure that they have people that they trust and talk to on a daily basis who can actually help them to be successful financially. And third, find mentors. If you have the right mentor(s), you’ll have a lot more success and a lot less headaches … trust me!"

Buchanon recently spoke at the NFL Rookies Symposium to advise players on how to adjust to their newfound wealth.

In an excerpt of his book that he provided to Fox Sports, Buchanon says he didn't give his mother the $1 million, but he did buy her a new house, which began the financial strain:

I bought my mother a house. I also advised her to sell the old one I grew up in when I put a new roof over her head, but my mother had other plans. Instead of selling my childhood home, she decided to rent it to my aunt. So I had to finance my mother, the budding landlord. Only this wasn't an investment. It was an encumbrance, because I didn't share in my mother's profit-making scheme. For the next seven years, I continued to make mortgage and maintenance payments on both homes.

I learned from this expensive lesson that big-ticket purchases for family members, such as houses and cars, should be evaluated with the following questions in mind: If you were unable to make payments for these purchases, would that particular family member be able to make the payments? Twenty years from now, who will be paying the upkeep on the house? You or your family member?

Buchanon also said that he often found family members asking him for money so they could fix things. He wrote in his book, "So I'd write them a check; of course, the problem never got fixed. The check, however, always got cashed."

On an appearance on MSNBC, he said he hasn't spoken with his mother since his book came out.

Money Lessons From Former NFL Player Phillip Buchanon

Young football players make many of the same mistakes as other 20-somethings, but more money is on the line.

Former NFL cornerback Phillip Buchanon​ reading his recently published personal finance book, “New Money: Staying Rich.”

When it comes to money, NFL players have famously fumbled. Former wide receiver Terrell Owens, who made around $80 million over his pro career, filed for bankruptcy in 2012. Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino reportedly lost close to $14 million after a bad investment in 2012. And former quarterback Vince Young, who spent six seasons in the NFL, made headlines in 2013 for defaulting on a $1.9 million ​loan.

The problem is widespread: Research published in April from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that 16 percent of players drafted by NFL teams between 1996 to 2003 filed for bankruptcy within 12 years​​ of leaving the NFL. Baseball players, celebrities and anyone else who comes into fast cash is similarly at risk.

That’s why former NFL cornerback Phillip Buchanon​ wrote his recently published book, “New Money: Staying Rich.” Buchanon, who is 34 and lives in Miami after spending almost a decade in the NFL​, says he wanted to show athletes and others who suddenly find themselves with money how to handle it. “I thought it was important to share my story so I can shed light on the issue and show family members what it’s like, so they can stop putting so much pressure on [athletes],” he says.

Buchanon says he was never comfortable with money, and he learned many financial lessons the hard way, like when his mom told him that he had to give her $1 million for everything she had done for him. He did not give her the money, but he did buy her a house – a decision that ended up causing significant financial strain.

Buchanon says the experience taught him an important lesson about setting boundaries when family members make requests. Now when a family member approaches him about needing money for something like a home repair, he offers to pay the handyman or other service provider directly, instead of handing over cash.

In the book, he also shares some of his overspending and business mistakes. “I messed up a lot,” he says. In the introduction, he writes, “My hope is that nobody will have to go through what I went through. My mistakes were hurtful and expensive, and they don’t have to happen to you.”  

In recognition of those challenges, the NFL’s Player Engagement Department runs a series of boot camps, including a finance camp, for players. The NFL Players Association, the union that represents professional football players, also makes an effort to educate athletes about finances. “One of the things we recognize is that players receive a significant amount of wealth in a very short period of time, so unlike most professionals, they have a very limited opportunity to become acclimated to it,” says Dana Hammonds,​ director of player affairs and development for the NFL Players Association. According to Forbes, the average salary for the 2013 NFL season was $2 million. ​Hammonds points out that the average NFL player likely makes the same mistakes that a typical 20-something might make, but because they have more wealth, those mistakes are costlier.

To help players manage their wealth, the NFL Players Association partners with Financial Finesse, a financial education provider, to provide an online learning center with financial assessments, videos, games, tutorials and more. Through the website, players can track their​ ​money goals and devise an action plan. The NFL Players Association also provides a ​financial help line, seminars and a director of financial advisors with experience working with NFL players.

​But money management doesn't have to be as challenging as scoring a touchdown. Here are some money lessons Buchanon wants fellow players – and other recent entrants to the millionaire's club – to take away from his book:

1. Draw a line between wants and needs.  

“Understand that you can only do certain things,” Buchanon cautions, and that lesson applies to family members, too. Just because you are suddenly earning a big paycheck or attending parties with Jay-Z (as Buchanon was) doesn’t mean you can necessarily act as though you have unlimited income forever. To make it last, Buchanon says, you have to set limits.

2. Watch out for takers.

​“Once you get a lot of money, you automatically become a giver, and everyone else is a taker. You have to have a limit, because takers don’t have limits. They’ll keep asking you because they think you’ve got it,” Buchanon says. He urges others, especially anyone who comes into a lot of money, to set boundaries quickly, before anyone takes advantage of you. 

3. Surround yourself with real friends and mentors. 

Some friends are just “fun” friends, Buchanon says, and want to be around you for the entertainment (and cash) that you can provide. But real friends help you make better decisions about your life, he says, and mentors, who have gone through what you are experiencing, can help guide you when it comes to relationships, business, money and life. “People who’ve already been there can help you find your blind spot,” he says, adding that he has found several who have guided him to where he is today.

4. Ask questions when getting financial advice.

When Buchanon started working with a financial advisor, he suggested that Buchanon buy an insurance policy that would pay out in the case of a catastrophic injury. While the insurance itself might have made sense, Buchanon later found out that the financial advisor received a payout for making the sale. Buchanon felt betrayed to discover the conflict of interest and soon stopped working with him.That's why Buchanon recommends making sure you fully understand an advisor's recommendations – and motivations – before agreeing to follow any tips.

5. Build your post-NFL career.

When players retire from the NFL, it can be hard to figure out what to do next. Chances are, any subsequent careers won’t garner as big a paycheck as the years on the field did. But they can be fulfilling, both professionally and financially. In addition to writing his personal finance book, Buchanon is working on a companion board game and app, as well as writing novels and a movie script. “It’s a longtime dream of mine,” he says of the script.

Another dream is helping anyone coming into new money to avoid some of the mistakes he made. Instead of it quickly disappearing, “I want [their money] to become permanent money,” he says.

Hyde: Phillip Buchanon uses his experience to warn athletes about 'financial molesters'

The unwritten rules come with the new money. Every young pro knows them. The first is to buy mom a house.

"My mom demanded a $1 million house," Phillip Buchanon said. "And it's not that I wouldn't buy her one. It's the expectation — the demand — of it that you don't know about until you're there. What could I do? She's my mom. I bought a house."

The second unwritten rule is to make it sprinkle, if not fully rain money on extended family, too. They expect it. Siblings. Cousins. Aunts …

"An uncle who was my father figure — he taught me how to hit in baseball; he was the first person I hit in pads [in football] — he said if I didn't give him $10,000 he was going to rob that much from me,'' Buchanon said.

And childhood friends? They're the third unwritten rule. You're expected to bring one or two into the good life with you. And choose wisely. Because if you don't you might be invaded at 3 a.m. by four or five men wearing ski masks, made to strip naked and have a gun stuck in your mouth if you don't hand over $20,000. Like Buchanon said he was.

"It was like a movie scene,'' Buchanon recalled . "I thought, 'Am I going to be executed right here?' These were people who knew me, I'm sure. I didn't have $20,000 on me. I'm not that kind of person, running around with that kind of money.

Buchanon stops and says, "Everyone imagines having money that comes with being a pro athlete, but no one imagines what comes with that money."

This is what the former Hurricane and 10-year pro talked about recently at an NFL rookie symposium. It's the cautionary lesson behind his book, "New Money: Staying Rich."

It's why a half-dozen teams, including the Dolphins, have discussed bringing in the retired cornerback to talk with players. He discusses what everyone inside his pro locker rooms went through. He talks about ideas he wishes someone talked with about with him as a young pro.

"Who do you trust?" he said. "That's a good place to start. My message is very clear. When you come into new money, you will have a lot of headaches. I know I did."

The story of money and athletes has been trod over for a while. NFL players make an average $3.2 million, and one in six declare bankruptcy within 12 years after retiring, according to research by the National Bureau of Economic Study.

Buchanon, however, offers lessons from an insider. He grew up the housing projects of Fort Myers. He was raised by his mother in a single-parent home. And his life changed in the time it took for his name to scroll across the TV as Oakland's first-round pick in 2002.

"The financial molesters came around,'' he said. "All these financial advisors are with the NFLPA, because they pay some money. But what's that mean? We're young. I had no training for finances in middle school, high school or college and now these guys show up — the brokers who make you broker.

"I knew something was wrong from Day One. But as an athlete you're taught to have people take care of you all through high school and college. They kind of cripple you by doing that. Now you've got to make all these decisions you're not ready to make."

Bank Buchanon, he called himself early in his pro career. He'd spend $6,000 with friends — "fun friends" he called them, as opposed to "life friends" — in a day shopping and partying.

Mom was on a weekly allowance, then wanted at least $10,000 more for Christmas shopping. Siblings said they deserved to live like he did. A friend said they had a childhood pact to give the other $1 million if one made it.

"Show me your friends, and I'll show you where you're headed,'' Buchanon said. "That's something I tell the young players. It took me a couple of years to figure things out."

That gun in his mouth? He can still taste it. No one was arrested from that night. But that taste of new money is something he passes on to today's rookies.