Saturday Notes: Rookie Minicamp Has Begun

by Sean Yuille on May 2, 2009 1:40 AM EDT in Notes Comment 9 comments

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, talks with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan during drills at the team's football practice facility in Allen Park, Mich., Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

More photos » by Carlos Osorio - AP

6 months ago: Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, talks with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan during drills at the team's football practice facility in Allen Park, Mich., Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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The Lions opened their three-day rookie minicamp yesterday, and it went pretty much as expected. Rookies played like rookies, and we basically didn't learn anything. I say that because this was the first time most of these guys practiced in months and because they are not in pads. There's only so much you can learn from any practice without pads, but add in the fact that the players are a bunch of rookies and it's not surprising that there were lots of mixed reviews of many players. (For more pictures of the rookies' first practice, click the photo of Stafford and Linehan.)
One of those players is Matthew Stafford. The general consensus is that he seemed a bit "anxious" and nervous at the start of the practice, and his play reflected that. Stafford was just too excited to get back on the playing field and let some passes get away from him. As time went by, though, he apparently settled down. Like I said, there's not much you can learn from a practice like this.
By all accounts, one player that stood out was safety Louis Delmas. He was anticipating passes, jumping on routes, and served as a vocal leader on defense. That is good to hear, and it backs up what was posted in his scouting report.
The perfect example of how hard it is to get a solid impression from a practice like this comes from some observations of how DeAndre Levy performed. Dave Birkett, while stating that he isn't going to read too much into Levy's performance, mentioned that he "struggled covering a running back out of the backfield twice today." On the other hand, Tom Kowalski said that Levy "did a decent job" covering a RB out of the backfield. So there you go.
Kowalski also mentioned that Levy and Zack Follett look a lot like Jordon Dizon based on "size and appearance."
One of Stafford's former teammates at Georgia, wide receiver Sean Bailey, participated in the rookie minicamp as a tryout. He took one of Stafford's passes right off his facemask since it came in so quickly.
William Clay Ford made a rare appearance at the practice to most likely get a look at Stafford.
Paris Lenon's locker has now been cleaned out.
Larry Foote didn't show up to the Steelers' mandatory minicamp on Friday. That is no surprise, though, as Foote and head coach Mike Tomlin agreed that he shouldn't attend the camp. I imagine this is partly because the Steelers don't want him to get injured in case a trade is close to happening and because he is simply going to be released if no trade happens. Why waste his time and why have him waste the Steelers' time?

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Well, I think this proves Stafford is a bust

just kidding

by ATL Lion on May 2, 2009 7:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Off topic but grammar is important.

I was on the Detroitlions.com and noticed a link which read.
Lions auctioning Stafford,Delmas,Pettigrew,signed draft items for charity. This sentence
placed on 3 rows underneath an image,if we put a period at the end of each row and made 3 seperate sentences it would make 3 more entertaining stories.Check it out.

1. Lions auctioning Stafford.

2. Delmas, Pettigrew, signed.

3. Draft items for charity.

I wonder how many teams would bid on Stafford?

by Runnin' Rebel on May 2, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

after

the $$ Lions agreed to… prob not many.

JJ Fe

by Rydaddy617 on May 4, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rookie Minicamp Contracts

Does anyone know how these minicamps work? I’m assuming they don’t have a contract signed for all of these players yet (at least not long term ones). Do they just get a small contract up front to assure that they attend these minicamps, then sign a long term deal before the official training camp opens?

by Mushy on May 2, 2009 6:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I had a friend who attended rookie camp in 1998

He got paid free room & meals $500 and was covered by their insurance for the weekend,
No he didn’t make it past the weekend but it’s a memory he’ll always treasure.

by Runnin' Rebel on May 2, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Was that with the Lions RR?

If so did he get to meet the immortal Terry Fair?

by NorthLeft12 on May 3, 2009 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So it's basically voluntary?

I’m sure that’s a huge deal for guys with very little chance of making the team, but I’m suprised that the rest would go at all. Then again, I’m sure it looks good when it comes time to actually sign a long term deal, and it probably goes a long ways with their teammates. Thanks, I’ve always wondered about that.

by Mushy on May 4, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs