Smith did not work out at either visit. "They just asked me all sorts of personal questions," he said, "but they know I come from an athletic background (his dad, Edwin, played for the , 197376), and my Stanford background counts for something, too. I don't care who drafts me, or where I go.The Mattoses and Boones of the football world are the players you rarely hear about but for whom you always pull. They the long shots, the guys with pocket protectors trying to win a date with the homecoming queen, the players whose names usually are limited to the tiny print on the back pages of every sports section. As in: (NFL) Released WR Grant Mattos.

At a recent trade show, I had a conversation with a company that had a terrific new product. They were new to the market, eager to make a name for themselves. Their product was unique, filled a niche and could draw excitement upon demonstration.Players have always had the ability to freelance, but previously there were