I was at my gym the other day when a mountain moved past me. My first thought when I looked at the 6’9”, 300 plus pound bearded man lifting weights was “this guy looks like an offensive tackle.” Turns out I was right. Adam Terry, a former Syracuse University lineman,who was a second round pick of the Baltimore Ravens 7 years ago is now making Rochester his home. Terry is also officially in NFL limbo. This ridiculous labor battle isn’t just between “millionaires and billionaires”. Guys like Adam Terry don’t fit in either category. If it’s possible for someone of his size to be just like everyone else, the NFL lockout has made it happen.
Terry has played in 50 NFL games for four different franchises. (Ravens, Colts, Chargers, Jaguars) He has started a total of 18 games in the league. In December of this past season he was released by Jacksonville. Being released can, at times,be a good thing for a player’s career, allowing him to move to a better situation. But that isn’t the case if the lockout world of 2011. Not only is Terry not on any team’s roster, neither he nor his agent is permitted to have any contact with any team in the NFL. This is not a wink, wink, nod, nod agreement either. The NFL is on record saying they will fine teams if they make contact with free agents (undrafted college players or guys like Adam Terry who have played but have been released or had their contract expire).
For now Adam Terry can do nothing but workout and wait. He knows that once there is a new agreement, he will have a pretty big edge on the younger, cheaper players coming out of school that are undrafted free agents. Because he is a veteran who has played in four different offensive systems, he would be able to join a team and get acclimated quickly. But right now he’s just another name on a list of guys that can fill in a role. This is a person who seems to have a realistic view of life in and out of the NFL. He told his hometown newspaper that he's not a big spender and saved a good portion of the money he's made in the league. (that is the money after taxes, union dues and his agent take their piece) He seems to know that the letters NFL do stand for "Not For Long" and whatever time he has on the field might be short. There is a whole, real world after pro sports and he'll be ready for it. Just not yet.
Terry works out with his former Syracuse teammate Joe Donnelly, who spent time on the roster of both the Atlanta Falcons and the Bills. They both think the labor situation could continue deep into the summer forcing teams to cancel their training camps. The picture they paint is one in which the settlement comes near Labor Day and teams will be given a week to sign and trade players and then two more weeks to prepare to start a season. That scenario would force teams to fill their rosters quickly and look for players who can be ready to go without a big learning curve.
Adam’s wife is from Webster and they are building a house here. So if he’s going to be in the area, why not look to sign with the Bills, who we know are in desperate need for offensive line help? Terry says he’d love to get an opportunity with Buffalo and his friends in the league have great things to say about playing for Chan Gailey and working for Buddy Nix. He’d love to talk to Chan and Buddy, he just can’t. Neither can his agent, at least not yet. When this does get settled, Tom Brady will be back to getting his millions and Jerry Jones will continue making his billions. Guys like Adam Terry hope to just have a job and I think we can all relate to that.
