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Posted: Monday, March 25, 2013 12:53 pm | Updated: 10:18 pm, Tue Mar 26, 2013.

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BENJAMIN WOLK

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NFL free agent Rennie Curran is at a crossroads in his life and knows he is not alone.

The former Georgia linebacker opted to forego his final year of collegiate eligibility to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a professional athlete. He was drafted in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, but was cut after his rookie campaign when the Titans brought in a new coaching staff.

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Though showing promise, Curran's second season in the NFL saw more of the same.

“I got picked up by Tampa Bay [in 2011], and pretty much the same thing happened [as my rookie year],” Curran said. “They got a new coaching staff. I did fine at first, but then they brought in a second-round draft pick, and I really didn't get the opportunity to play there, so I've just been dealing with the hardships of the NFL.”

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So, when he was released by the Buccaneers at the end the 2011-2012 season, Curran found himself in place he never imagined he'd be — NFL free agency.

This experience, coupled with watching former teammates dealing with the same struggle, inspired Curran to author his new book “Free Agent,” which is schedule to be released at the University book store before the G-Day game on April 6.

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“It really started before I got released,” Curran said. “Going into the NFL, you have a picture of it — just like any dream you might have — that things look great until you get in it, and then you realize things aren't what they seem. I had the opportunity to go through my first camp and saw guys cut that I thought should've made the team.”

Once he entered the free agent market, and lacked suitors, Curran was hit with the harsh reality of the business. He was understandably disappointed with the position he was in, and something that helped ease his discomfort was writing.

So, he wrote.

“I heard about the life of a free agent and how tough that life was, but I never had to experience it, I never thought it would be me,” he said. “So when I eventually did get released, I didn't like it, so I started to vent. One of the ways I used to vent was just start writing, and it really became a way for me to keep myself encouraged.”

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As he wrote, it occurred to Curran that he was in a era of uncertainty that all people find themselves in at some juncture in their life — that, somewhere along the way, all people are “free agents,” of sorts.

“Whether you're coming out of college or you get fired from your job after 20 years, at some point in our lives, everybody becomes a free agent,” Curran said. “There's always a time of uncertainty, and a time when you don't know what's going to happen next.”

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It was then Curran realized he could reach out to a broader audience that goes well beyond the football field.

“That's when I got inspired to reach out to other people and use my experiences to inspire other people,” he said. “There wasn't a specific audience. I just realized a lot of different people go through what I'm going through even though I'm a professional athlete. You look at other industries and it's the exact same way.”

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The primary message of Curran's eight-chapter, 150-page book is to provide readers with the inspiration to continue pursuing their set dreams, no matter the obstacles.

“One of the main chapters is having that imagination and that dream,” Curran said. “Once you have that vision and you stick with it and you're self-motivated, at the end of the day, you can look back — and whether you achieved that dream or not — you have no regrets.”