MAR 2017 | ISSUE 6

IN THIS ISSUE:NYJ Legends Facebook Group Legend Spotlight Fred Baxter

2016 Season Recap Career Advancement Konrad Reuland ScholarshipNFL Concussion SettlementNFL Foundation Grant Programs NFL Player Engagement Business Symposium

Dear Teammates,

I just wanted to introduce myself to those who do not know my role within the New York Jets Legends Community. For the past 4 years, I’ve served as the Legends Community Director and Coordinator in the Northeast, and there are 20 other legends across the country in similar roles. We all played in different eras for multiple teams at various positions and are extremely passionate about helping former teammates. Our goal is to serve as a point of contact and resource for each of you to learn about the wide range of programs and benefits available to you. In the past year, we've brought back 60 legends to participate in our 2016 Legends Weekend, 70 legends to participate in our 2016 Homecoming Weekend and we also have had legends participate in the Legends Lunch Series at the NFL office in New York City. Throughout our football careers, we all experienced the value of being part of a team and a community, and that's just as important in our post-playing lives. I hope you'll join me this year in growing our Legends Community and making sure that every teammate, whether they played one day or one decade for the Jets, feels welcome here.

Sincerely,Tony RichardsonNew York Jets, Fullback 2008-2010

UPCOMING NFL Events

Healthy Body & Mind Screening Program April 21-22, 2017 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 8AM-2PM

1APRIL

NFL DraftApril 27-29, 2017 Philadelphia, PA

27APRIL

PAGE 1

Exciting news! Introducing our private Facebook group for all New York Jets legends. This group was created for you to stay connected with former teammates and to stay up to date with events within the New York Jets. Below are answers to your common Facebook group questions:

[NEW!] LEGENDS FACEBOOK GROUP:

Q. Who can join?A. Anyone can ask to join; all requests will be accepted and approved by Ashley Kirby

Q. Who can see what members post in the group?A. Only current members in the group.

Q. Who can find the group in search? A. Anyone – however, they will need to be accepted and added to the group by Ashley Kirby (group admin) to see any posts/pictures/videos/etc.

Q. Who can see stories about the group on Facebook (ex: News Feed and search)? A. Only current members in the group.

JOIN NOW

UPCOMING NFL EventsNYJ Draft PartyMetLife Stadium

27APRIL

PAGE 2JETS LEGENDS NEWSLETTER

PG. 3JETS CONTACT INFO

LEGEND SPOTLIGHT: FRED BAXTER – PLUSH VODKA

Even though his playing days are in the rearview, Fred Baxter is utilizing his NFL connections as a networking tool to help support his entrepreneurial endeavors.

Baxter has been a partner of PLUSH Vodka, which was the primary featured spirit at the Legends Lounge in Houston during Super Bowl LI week since October 2016.

“It was absolutely amazing,” Baxter said. “The bartenders, the a la carte catering that allowed us to be a part of their services in the Legends Lounge, the people and the players were amazing. From the standpoint of getting the brand out there and sharing it with my teammates, it was very special. I’m very thankful.”

The vodka, whose slogan is “The Taste of Sophistication,” is a new liquor on the market as it hit stores last spring.

“I thought it was a great opportunity,” Baxter said. “I was raised on a farm in Alabama. It’s a plum flavored vodka and we still grow plums back home. We’ve been doing it for years between my mother, father and uncles on both side of my family.

“The opportunity that caught my attention was the manufacturing and distributing the product. That’s how I became involved. At the same time being a mentor to a young man that has a vision.”

The young man Baxter referred to is 26-year-old Malcolm Hale, the majority owner of PLUSH Vodka. Baxter works alongside Hale, Kevin Bracey, Eric Wingate and former teammate Eric Green, who originally introduced him to the brand.

“We’re a team,” Baxter said. “Each team member has a role and I think it makes a team very powerful when you’re able to share information and resources. We have a product. Now the question is: How do we get the product out that we think is so marvelous? You share information. I bring all of my God-given abilities and resources to the table and they bring theirs. You mix all of that and you try to accomplish the goal.”

The “PLUSH Plan” for 2017 involves more exposure and initiative number one was having the vodka at the Super Bowl Legends Lounge.

“We’re now going to sit down and look at all the notes, information and contacts we gathered down there,” Baxter said. “Then start to implement the plan of how we’re going to use the PLUSH brand starting here in New Jersey. Then incorporate the former players and more importantly, the wives of the former players.”

Baxter hopes the vodka’s presence throughout the Legends community will help propel the brand’s expansion following his “mini launch” at the Legends Lounge Super Bowl.

“This time next year, my goal is to have it in New Jersey liquor stores, bars and restaurants,” he said. “We have the five boroughs covered, but we’re circling back because we have a lot of interest and customers. So we’re pushing to get more product because we want to keep up with the demand.”

The long-term goal is to have a distillery located in every city that hosts an NFL team. In order to reach that point, Baxter understands there is work to be done. In fact, he draws parallels between his role for the company and his role in the trenches — do the dirty work.

“I was always part of the ground game,” he said. “You have to have a good ground game if you want to win. Put your boots on the ground. We’re trying to manufacture and produce our own product just like we had to start at the ground game. We had to work together. You have to want it, there’s no selfishness. At the end of the day we all want to eat so we have to have one heartbeat. These are all the things I’ve learned from football and am transitioning them into life after football.”

by: By Jets Seasonal Team Reporter, Ethan Greenberg plushvodka.com @PlushVodka

PAGE 3JETS LEGENDS NEWSLETTER

THANK YOU JETS LEGENDS FOR SUPPORTING US THIS SEASON!

We would love to have all our Jets legends attend a game in the 2017 season whether at MetLife Stadium or on the road! Please reach out to Ashley Kirby

at akirby@jets.nfl.com for more gameday information. We hope to see you on gameday in 2017!

Konrad Reuland Scholarship

READ MORE

On December 12, 2016, we lost a member of our community, Konrad Reuland. He was always committed to mentoring and helping young people fulfill their dreams. In his honor, his family and friends have established the Konrad A. Reuland “Little” Endowed Scholarship through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Each year, proceeds from this fund will be awarded to a Little Brother in a Big Brothers Big Sisters program who has an interest in playing football and attending college. Through this yearly scholarship, other young men will continue to be inspired by the life of this role model.

Interested in advancing your career? The NFL hosts events year-round, specifically designed for Legends. A few of our upcoming events are listed below and further details, including important dates, how to register and deadlines, can be found at https://www.nflplayerengagement.com/next

Also, job shadowing and internship opportunities are available at National Football League in various departments.

For more information on internships and upcoming events, including deadlines and how to register, visit the NFL’s Player Engagement website: www.nflplayerengagement.com/next

2016 PHOTO RECAP 2016 VIDEO RECAP

PAGE 4JETS LEGENDS NEWSLETTER

ASHLEY KIRBYAKIRBY@JETS.NFL.COM973-549-4598ASSISTANT, EVENTS & GAMEDAY OPERATIONS

DAVE SZOTTDSZOTT@JETS.NFL.COM973-549-4788DIRECTOR, PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

BRIAN MULLIGANBMULLIGAN@JETS.NFL.COMSENIOR DIRECTOR, EVENTS & GAMEDAY OPERATIONS

CHRIS PIERCECPIERCE@JETS.NFL.COMSENIOR DIRECTOR, FAN COMMERCE

CLAY HAMPTONCHAMPTON@JETS.NFL.COMSENIOR DIRECTOR, FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

CONTACTS

MONTELLE SANDERS MSANDERS@JETS.NFL.COMMANAGER, PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

CONNECT WITH NFL LEGENDS

SEARCH NFL LEGENDSFOLLOW ATNFLLEGENDS

TONY RICHARDSONTONY.RICHARDSON@NFL.COMNEW YORK JETS (2008- 2010) NFL LEGENDS NORTHEAST COORDINATOR

CONNECT WITH NFL LEGENDS

CHAD PENNINGTONCPENNINGTON.LEGENDS@NFL.COMNEW YORK JETS (2000 - 2007) NFL LEGENDS CENTRAL NORTH COORDINATOR

Medical Assistance

Total Wellness Career Development

Transition Assistance

Partner Discounts

Player Assistance Services

The best way to stay connected is through the NFL Legends Community website, a one-stop shop for details and information on all of the programs, benefits, and resources available to NFL Legends. These resources include benefits you may be entitled to:

nfllegendscommunity.com

Education

NFL Concussion SettlementThe NFL Concussion Settlement became final and effective on January 7, 2017, and all Settlement Class Members must register to be eligible for benefits. The deadline to register is August 7, 2017. If you do not register, you will not be eligible for any benefits. How to Register: Go to www.nflconcussionsettlement.com and click on the Register Now button to begin.

Call 1-855-887-3485 to request a paper Registration Form.

Email ClaimsAdministrator@NFLConcussionSettlement.com.Write to NFL Concussion Settlement, P.O. Box 25369, Richmond, VA 23260 for a Registration

NFL Foundation Grant ProgramsApplications now OPEN! The NFL Foundation initiatives and grant programs provide funding to support youth football, health and safety for athletes and community programs. Two grant programs that are currently available for application are:

NFL Player Foundation Grant: Through the Player Foundation Grant program, the NFL Foundation recognizes and supports the charitable work of current and former NFL players' nonprofit organizations that either fund and implement programs or function as grant-making foundations to other charitable organizations. The NFL Player Foundation Grant program is open to former NFL players with their own nonprofit organizations, or who work full-time as a salaried employee for a nonprofit organization.

NFL Youth Football Camp Grant: The National Football League Foundation supports current and former NFL players and coaches who organize and host free, non-contact youth football camps during the summer. This program recognizes NFL players and coaches who give back to communities in their hometowns or team cities while also providing positive examples for young football participants by emphasizing sportsmanship and involvement in community-wide charitable projects.

The deadline to apply for the Player Foundation Grant and Youth Football Camp grant is March 15. Please visit http://www.nflfoundation.org/#grants for further details.

NFL Player Engagement is supporting an opportunity for former players to participate in the following Business Symposium events:• Pre-Symposium Prep, which includes an Assessment, Resume and Event Strategy Development with an HR Professional• Session on Career Transition, NFL Benefits & Resources and Total Health & Wellness• Interview with top national employers• Learn about entrepreneurial resources• Network with industry experts and leading franchises

All former players and their spouses/significant others are invited to attend. The event takes place from April 3-5 in Mesa, Arizona. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 17, 2017 and you can reserve your spot here using the code “NFLAZ17”. Hotel rooms, lunches and dinners are provided by the NFL. Attendees are responsible for flights and/or ground transportation.

Help Grow Our Legends Community Register to join more than 5,000 former players!

REGISTER HERE