IRVING, TX - There is no better way to tour the Cowboys training facility than with a former player.
In this case, the tour guide is former safety Darren Woodson. He's a five time pro bowl selection and the owner of three Super Bowl rings.
"My mother always stressed, wisdom, wisdom, wisdom," Woodson told 30 kids from Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas. "Gain as much wisdom as you possibly can."
Woodson partnered with Merrill Lynch to stress the importance of practicing financial responsibility.
"Being a young person and really not understanding money is when you start to blow your money," Woodson says.
His tour included stops at all the key spots, from the equipment room to the meeting rooms.
"As an NFL football player, most of your day is spent right here in this classroom," Woodson told the students.
Next stop was in the locker room. "This is the place where we joke around, cut up and have a good old time," Woodson says. "This is where we build that team atmosphere."
More time was spent at the practice field.
"The same thing that goes on in the financial world is thing we go through on the football field," Woodson told the students. "There are a lot of adjustments that need to be made."
"We're always trying to make sure that they have the right game plan so that they can win the game," says Jeff Markham of Merrill Lynch. "It's no different than what the Cowboys are trying to do out here."
"Merrill Lynch has come in and basically said it's more than just teaching them about math and algebra, it's also about some of these kids working at a young age," Woodson says. "It's getting them to understand to take care of your bank account, understand how to save your money and understand that it's never too late."
Woodson also weighed in on a possible lockout by the NFL owners next week. "As a former player, I understand what the owners are talking about as far as they need to take some money off the top, but I’d like to see the owners show their books," Woodson says."I think the only way you can do business if you can show your books.
"The 18 games is big deal for me," Woodson continues."If they're going to have 18 games, then you’re really going to have to take care of these guys when they get done playing football. If it's an 18 game season, there are going to be a ton of injuries. I think the medical insurance is going to have to play a huge role as far as the length of the medical insurance. It's going to have to increase."
Woodson and the kids even got to go inside the war room while reporters stayed outside. But maybe they got a glimpse of who the Cowboys have on their draft board, and maybe, just maybe they saw whose name is at the top of the list.
"That's kind of confidential," Alendra Galindo said with a laugh. She's a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School. "They don't want people drafting their players, so I can't really say anything about that."
She was joking of course but that does sound a lot like the real company line.
