Reid Kerr: And above all else, be kind. Even if your job is, for example, knocking people down, make it a part of your life to help people get back up like J.J. Watt did.@JJWatt/Twitter

I’d like to thank everyone here at Middle Western Tennessee State Tech Body and Fender College for inviting me to speak at their graduation ceremonies today. Good luck next year in your road game at Alabama. By the way, I appreciate this event being scheduled between the NFL Draft and the start of training camps, as this is the only time of the year I answer my phone.

As I look out over this graduating class, I see greatness. I also see mediocrity and failure. Mathematically, that’s how life works, kids. And every one of you is going to see all three of those in your lives. Just like the Dallas Cowboys, today’s run of talent and playoff expectations was preceeded by a lot of average seasons. Before that, there was a run of 5-11 teams that led to big changes, so remember, when they say that failure is not an option, they wrong. It’s always an option, the worst one. That’s why you work to avoid it, and learn from it when it happens.

I’ve learned a lot from covering the NFL for the last 30 years. Some of it has to do with point spreads, injury reports, and hiding from people I owe money. But a lot of it is actually useful in life.

Enjoy your memories, but don’t live there. If you’ve had a great time in high school, good for you. But don’t pretend that this is the best time of your life because you haven’t had those other times yet. The past is your past for a reason, so revel in your memories, learn from your mistakes, and don’t hand out a hundred million dollar contract to Jon Gruden just because he was coach the last time you were any good, and then let him hold a garage sale with your roster. Move forward, not backward, and never to Vegas.

Set goals, but be willing to adapt. Tony Romo was a very good quarterback, but a couple of direct hits on his spine turned him into a great broadcaster. I’m sure Tony would have liked to win a Super Bowl, but going into television not only put him at the top of another profession, but also got Phil Simms out of the broadcast booth forever. And for that, we all owe Romo more than we can ever repay.

Pay attention to people. Don’t try and make them what you wish they were, instead of what they really are. You might not be able to predict the future, but you shouldn’t be surprised by it. So when Odell Beckham Jr. goes nuts, or Antonio Brown stops showing up for work, or whoever this season’s talented-but-high-maintenance wide receiver is flips out, don’t be shocked.

Decide what’s important to you, and protect it. If you love playing music, for example, always keep that as a part of your life. If your family means the world to you, plan your career accordingly. And if you enjoy having a quarterback who stays conscious, spend high draft picks on offensive linemen like the Cowboys did. Don’t be the Texans, who treat their quarterback like a stuntman every season. 

I don’t have a big metaphorical lesson for this one, but learn from me. Never bet the Jets to cover the spread, unless you’re betting on the number of coaches and general managers they’re going to fire. And if you do that, always bet the over.

As smart as you think you are, you’re going to do stupid things. Try to minimize the stupidity as much as you can. And remember, everyone has a cell phone now and is recording every moment of life. And if you ever run into Ezekiel Elliott, please pass this information along to him.

Support the people around you. For example, if you are friends with Donovan McNabb and you hear him saying publicly he should be a Hall of Famer, you should get him the professional help he needs. Perhaps a counselor, a psychiatrist, or maybe one of those nifty jackets where the sleeves snap in the back.

Don’t let the fact that you dislike someone distract you from their skills. I hate Bill Belichick, and I’m fairly certain that if he were at all aware of my existence, he’d hate me too. I can’t deny he’s really good at what he does, though. He may be Beelzebub, but we’d all want him to take over our favorite teams in a heartbeat. Assuming he has a heart somewhere in there, I mean.

And above all else, be kind. Even if your job is, for example, knocking people down, make it a part of your life to help people get back up like J.J. Watt did.

Thank you, good luck, and can anyone give me a ride back to the hotel bar? I seem to have misplaced my rental car again.

Reid Kerr talks a lot, as his wife always reminds him. Reid’s second book, “I Hate It Here: A Love Story,” is out now on Amazon.com. You can always tweet questions, comments, and angry messages to him at @reidaboutit.