The decision to play football for a living was not a hard one for most in the NFL. What to do after the playing days are over, now that's not always so easy.

Falcons lineman Todd Weiner has some ideas thanks to a program offered by the league.

"I've been interested for several years now in a small business franchising type of deal so I wanted to take advantage of [the program] and see the pros and cons of franchising before jumping into it," Weiner said. "I've been doing football for so long I haven't really focused any other area besides football. It's only a couple of days but it helps you realize what else is out there."

Weiner is one of six Falcons and 114 players from the NFL to take advantage of the NFL-NFLPA's Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program this winter.

Linebacker Michael Boley and wide receiver Adam Jennings took the course in real estate business building at the Wharton School of business at the University of Pennsylvania. Weiner, Chauncey Davis and Doug Datish took business courses at the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern. Fullback Ovie Mughelli went to Stanford's business school for a four-day course on sports-affiliated business.

Recently signed tight end Ben Hartsock has been to two of the programs in past years.

"My wife and I have always talked about getting involved in real estate. It's something you hear a lot of guys in the league talking about but mostly, it's about buying it," Boley said. "Now I'm more aware about possibly getting into the business. My wife is brainstorming too."

Players have to complete a three-page application. It also requires character references and an essay about what they hope to gain from the course. They are reimbursed for expenses, which could cost thousands.

The courses are held in classrooms and are intense, four-day sessions. Business leaders, professors, business owners, critics and advocates are brought in to teach players. Some teachings they could find in textbooks, but much is what can unexpectedly arise on a daily basis.

"From what we learned, guys would be out of a lot of money," Boley said, referring to players who dive into business ventures without studying the craft. "I'm talking about scams and people who are looking out for themselves and not for your best interest. They give you examples of how a lot of professional athletes have been conned into doing stuff that wasn't in their best interest. All these programs teach guys a lot of valuable lessons that they would need."

The Business and Entrepreneurial Program has been in existence since 2005. It is one of a handful of programs the league and players union have put in place to help players adapt to life in and out of the NFL.

Kevin Winston, the Falcons' senior director of player development, promotes these programs.

"You have the rookie symposium in place and other programs in place for players when they enter the league," Winston said. "This program and others the league is trying to develop are to keep building on that. Some are offered to other team personnel to help people think about moving into other areas in the business.

"What I'm trying to develop with Falcons players is to take some of the focus off of getting that second contract and get skills in different business sectors."