Broken Promises: Inside a Semi-Pro Nightmare, Part Eight
August 31, 2016 by Terrance Biggs
People affected by the RPFL can identify with the league’s broken promises, but not the man running the show. Everything you are about to read are facts. Opinion is sprinkled in, but the point of this installment is to give the reader a solid picture.
Money: If you peruse Hines’ social accounts, there is always a picture of something monetary. Whether it’s a bank deposit or photos with him holding various dollar amounts, cash is always present. These two intrigue me most. The first is of money used for a friend’s bachelor parties. Two dollar bills? You would think a player who signed a million dollar contract would possible throw around 50s or 100s. Urban experts label that practice as : ballin’ on a budget”
The second is a bit telling: Hines apparently throws money on the counter, prompting the employee to get a manager. So, making some hoard extra so you can flaunt your money needed to be noted? Seems like a theme.
Where are the indepth background stories of the teams, coaches and individual players? There are no draft guides, providing information, just pictures of Hines with….money. 
Where are the photos of RPFL players with money? Where are their houses, cars, etc? Some of Hines’ players will post about a check, but where are the pictures with actual money?
Possible Motives: Hines touts the RPFL as a way for players to receive a look from NFL scouts. If that were true, you would think he wouldn’t try to add famous players to spike ticket sales and garner attention, right? Enter a former number one draft pick.
That’s right, Hines offered former Denver Bronco/New York Jet/New England Patriot/Philadelphia Eagle Tim Tebow a one year, 250 thousand dollar base salary with fifty-eight thousand in incentives. So, the RPFL can offer regular contracts to celebrities, but not guys working hard for a chance at a dream? Interesting. Players have to share living space with up to a dozen players and one famous player gets the 250k guaranteed?
Patriot Tenure: Hines is the first person to boast about his time with the New England Patriots. Let’s take a deeper dive into this. To his credit, Hines did have an exceptional combine. That cannot be disputed.
On Sunday April 28, 2013, Quentin Hines signed a three-year, 1.4 million dollar free agent deal with the New England Patriots. This is a fact. Looking deeper, realize that his signing bonus was a thousand dollars. Less than two weeks later, Hines suffered a torn labrum during minicamp. The Patriots waived Hines on May 8. 2013. Since no one claimed him, he sat on Injured Reserve until March 2014.
Number of Games played: 0
Hines never saw game action (whether pre or regular season) with the New England Patriots.
There is a matter of a one game suspension for Hines, that goes relatively unexplained: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/13/nfl-suspends-four-players-not-under-contract/
The picture below is a create-a-jersey. Hines posted this on social media.
Handling Questions:
Hines became defensive and deflective under any scrutiny. As former Akron Blaze GM Rick Kaderly stated, Hines will ” turn the conversation back to himself or he will walk away”.
This first question went completely unanswered.
These were also straightforward questions.
Hines’ responses:
The answer to Question 6 stands out. Hines turns the focus back to his image.
Hines claims that D.J. Tucker was released from the RPFL for threatening to shoot someone. Where is the police report?
When asked to dispute Tanner Melson’s claims. This is Hines’ reply. Melson currently plays for the New Mexico Stars of the AIF. He was also one of Hines’ top draft picks.
When pressed for details, Hines offers screenshots.
Basically, any questioning of Hines goes in circles of self-promotion and defaming player he drafted. If they were good enough to shell out money, they are not talented now?
In the previous seven installments, we’ve laid out evidence and first-hand accounts from former RPFL players, coaches, executives and volunteers. There are those who will choose to ignore the mountain of evidence and run to the RPFL. That is the right. For those who are on the fence, take time, do your research and decide for yourself. This series will not end with Part Eight. The door will remain eternally open for those willing to talk.