The best piece of advice I ever received when I first got into this business years ago was to get to know the athletic trainers.
Back when I started, we called them trainers, which to this day still drives Randy Meador nuts, but getting to know them meant you got a much better insight into the players with whom you were dealing.
That’s because the athletic trainers (and the strength and conditioning coaches, too) know these player better than anyone. If you are not sure about someone, a quick conversation with the people who piece them back together every day is oftentimes the best way to get the answer you need.