Amani Toomer. 

Sixteen former NFL players, including ANTONIO FREEMAN, DREW HENSON and AMANI TOOMER, will take part in the fifth annual NFL Broadcast Boot Camp at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, it was announced today.

The program, which runs from June 20-23, is directed by the NFL Player Engagement and NFL Broadcasting departments and covers a wide range of topics with instructors from each of the NFL’s broadcast partners – CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, NFL Network, SiriusXM Radio, Westwood One Radio, plus local radio and TV.  It will include hands-on work in areas such as tape study, editing, show preparation, radio production, control room operation, studio preparation, production meetings, field reporting and game preparation.  Each player will tape segments as a studio and game analyst and take part in a networking session with television executives.  Each player also will serve as a live radio host on SiriusXM NFL Radio.

Of the 90 players who took part in the Broadcast Boot Camp from 2007-2010, 36 have already earned broadcasting jobs as a result of their participation in the program.

“We continue to look for ways to help players develop skills to enhance their post-NFL careers.  Many of last year’s participants used this program as a career springboard, with some participants returning as instructors in subsequent years,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Labor Policy and Player Engagement ADOLPHO BIRCH.

“Broadcast Boot Camp is an excellent opportunity for former NFL players who are ready to take an important step towards the next chapter of their lives and prepare for a successful career off the field,” said TROY VINCENT, NFL Vice President of Player Engagement. “The program provides participants with a comprehensive look at all aspects of the sports broadcasting industry and allows them to develop invaluable professional skills and relationships that can carry them through their post-NFL experience.”

The NFL Broadcast Boot Camp is one of several NFL Player Engagement programs to assist players in preparing for their post-playing careers.  NFL Player Engagement prepares and supports players for life on the field and during their transition to post-football careers. Through NFL Prep, NFL Life, and NFL Next programming, the NFL Player Engagement department assists players in adjusting to life within the NFL, while challenging them to prepare for their next careers after their football-playing days.

Enrollment criteria for the Broadcast Boot Camp include NFL playing experience, essays, and demonstrated interest in media.

Courtesy NFL Media Dept.

Q: Former Giants receiver Amani Toomer used a disparaging term (Gestapo) to describe you, then issued an apology. Did you get a personal apology?

RG: “I have not heard from Amani Toomer.”

Q: Considering the number of inflammatory remarks that have been out there, how much of a challenge is it for you to try to bridge the gap between the league and players — and ex-players — that has surfaced during this tense period?

RG: “This is a labor dispute. There are negotiations going on. I don’t get myself caught up in the rhetoric, or any kind of personal comments that are made. The best thing that can be done is we get back to negotiating, and we resolve this in a fair manner. That’s how we’ve been successful, is by working together to do that. I don’t think it’s beneficial for us as a league — and that includes everybody, players, business partners — to be dividing the league. We need to work together to address the issues, find solutions and continue to deliver great football. That’s what fans want.”

Click here to read the entire Q&A.

“I think the way Mr. Goodell has handled this … he’s kind of using his power, as kind of like a Gestapo-type situation, controlling the players, not letting the judicial system do its work. It’s just way too much power for one person to have, and a lot of players take real issue with the way he’s using this power.”

When Toomer realized he compared Goodell’s commissionership to Nazi Germany’s violent and unforgiving police force, he rushed to rectify his statement in an email to Newsday:

“I know most of you have seen or heard my comments from yesterday about Commissioner Goodell. Some of you have probably already, rightfully, taken me to task for my remarks. I want to offer this apology. Obviously I didn’t fully understand the meaning of what I said. I do now. It was a stupid, inappropriate and offensive thing to say. I apologize for my choice of words, and I apologize to Commissioner Goodell for the offensive characterization. Sincerely, Amani Toomer.”

Personally, the players are way off base with their assessment of Goodell. He has a job to do and – in my opinion – he is doing it well. Goodell is great ambassador of the game and balances the needs of fans, players and owners with a fair and furtive hand.

Players who criticize Goodell should take a step back and thank him for his perserverance and insight as well as his resolute stewardship of this burgeoning enterprise, which continues to grow exponentially in one of the worst economic climates in world history.

Secondly, if Goodell wielded the power these players believe he possesses, there would be no lockout. Get over it.

Amani, you graduated from Michigan – we’re glad you regrouped to see the forest through the trees, here…

thanks to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN New York for the quotations

Former New York Giant AMANI TOOMER will be live on stage at The Peoples Improv Theater.

12 Angry Mascots is New York City’s premier live sports-comedy variety-talk show. Created and performed by the city’s sportiest comedy writers and comedians with credits from Comedy Central, The Onion, College Humor, ESPN, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and the 1993 staging of Madame Butterfly by the Westchester Players, each show features sports-themed stand-up, sketch comedy, and interviews with celebrity athletes and sports media personalities. Past guests have included members of the Jets, Giants, Yankees, Knicks, and Rangers! It’s a brand-new show every time!

12 Angry Mascots

Thursday, April 7th

9:30pm

Tickets only $8

The Peoples Improv Theater (The PIT)

123 E. 24th Street (between Park and Lexington)

www.thepit-nyc.com

BUY TICKETS

“It was a lot tougher than I thought,” Toomer said as he posed for pictures and fought through the throngs of other runners. “It feels a lot like the end of a football game actually.”

Read full

“…As the Giants’ all-time leader in receiving yards, Amani Toomer became accustomed to short sprints. His muscles were developed for bursts of speed and running in and out of cuts.

On Sunday, Toomer will need to run differently than he did during any Sunday during his 13 seasons with the Giants. He will run the New York City Marathon — 26.2 miles compared to 40 yards…”

Read Full

WATCH

The Chiefs reportedly worked out D.J. Hackett and David Terrell as well, but chose Toomer  out of the three.

I’m glad to see Toomer will still be playing football. I still am not quite sure why the Giants did not want him back, seeing as they lack any real veterans. Toomer will go down as maybe the best Giant receiver of all time…good luck Amani.

Ward, who along with Brandon Jacobs surpassed the 1,000 yard mark plans on being back with the Giants, even though the chances seem remote.

“It will work itself out,” the running back said. “I plan on being back. I can’t imagine it not working out.”

Rock writes that Amani Toomer has had some discussions about returning to the Giants already, despite the fact many have figured he’s already going to be leaving.

“I believe that there have been some preliminary talks (between his agent and the Giants) but how far they’ve gone I don’t really know yet. I also don’t really know how much interest the Giants have or how they view my role so I’ll have to wait and see if their ideas and my own can mesh. If I am to come back, I want to have a chance to compete. I don’t want to just come back and have no role in the offense.”

Peter Wade relays a report from Mike Garafolo at the Star-Ledger that doesn’t make it seem likely Toomer will return. Garafolo speculates on the Giants plans for receivers.

Something tells me the Giants have an ace up their sleeve. Something drastic must be coming. Anquan Boldin? Tony Gonzalez? Braylon Edwards? Trade up in the draft for a top receiver? No idea, but they have to do something … right?

Hat tip to Nathaniel for the news.

“He’s his own man,” Toomer said. “He makes his own decisions and I have to respect that. He knows his decisions affect the team. It’s hard to go up to a grown man (and talk) about doing his business the way everybody else wants him to.”

When pressed about what might happen if Burress continues his errant ways, the Giants captain wondered.

“I’ll be interested to see because I think that it’s still a distraction,” Toomer said. “It affects our team.”

Most players have chosen not to take sides and just focus on what needs to be done on the field. Toomer appears to be the first to admit that Burress is becoming an issue.