NFL Camp Capsules: Bryant ready to focus on future with Cowboys

IRVING — Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver Dez Bryant says he’s done talking about being asked by Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland in a pre-draft interview if his mother was ever a prostitute.

After his first workout with the Cowboys during a rookie minicamp Friday, Bryant repeatedly said he didn’t want to talk about his interview with Ireland and the controversy that has followed.

"I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to talk about the Cowboys and what I’m doing. I put that in the past," Bryant said. "I’m just going to move on, I really don’t even want to speak on it anymore. I feel fine, things are great. I’m just looking ahead now."

Bryant’s on-field debut with the Cowboys came days after Ireland apologized publicly, the NFL players union raised concerns about discrimination and degradation, and Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he would look into the matter personally.

Meanwhile, Ross gave Ireland a vote of confidence Friday and said he considers "the matter closed."

In a four-paragraph statement, the Dolphins owner said he spoke with several people, both directly and indirectly involved with the situation, and concluded the team will need to make some changes to its interview practices.

He stopped short, however, of saying he considered any punishment for Ireland.

"Jeff Ireland is a man of great capability and integrity and he is well deserving of my continued confidence," Ross said.

Ross did not specify exactly how the interview processes going forward would change.

"We are going to take a hard look at our interview practices and we will make improvements that will allow us to get the important information we need about players in whom we are making a major investment, but without being insensitive," Ross said.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Ross "is taking the appropriate steps to address the matter and we look forward to hearing what Mr. Ross decides to do to improve the club’s interviewing practices."

Another twist came Friday when SI.com, citing unnamed sources, reported that Ireland asked Bryant if his mother was a prostitute as a follow-up to other answers provided by the 21-year-old receiver.

The SI.com report cited an alleged exchange in which Bryant was asked what his father did for a living when the receiver was growing up, and he responded that his dad was a pimp. When Bryant was then asked what his mother did and answered that she worked for his dad, Ireland asked if she was a prostitute.

Asked about that report in the locker room Friday after practice, Bryant responded, "That was a lie."

"I really don’t want to speak to it anymore," Bryant continued, his words trailing off as he finished that statement.

Ireland called Bryant to apologize and made that apology public only after Yahoo! Sports reported this week that the Dolphins GM had posed the question several weeks ago during a pre-draft interview.

"My job is to find out as much information as possible about a player that I’m considering drafting," Ireland said in a statement this week. "Sometimes that leads to asking in-depth questions. Having said that, I talked to Dez Bryant and told him I used poor judgment in one of the questions I asked him. I certainly meant no disrespect and apologized to him."

The Cowboys traded up three spots to get Bryant with the 24th overall pick in last week’s NFL draft. Bryant was among the Cowboys’ six draft picks who joined 26 other rookie free agents and first-year players for the start of a weekend minicamp.

Surrounded by reporters and cameras at his locker after the first workout, Bryant was asked if he was bothered by the controversy marring the start of his NFL career.

"It did bother me, but it doesn’t bother me anymore," Bryant said. "I’m fine, my family’s fine, we’re great. We faced a lot of criticism but you know things are great now and we moved ahead. I’m happy, my family’s happy. That’s what all matters."

During practice, the 6-foot-1 Bryant made several nice catches, including a one-handed grab when he reached back for the ball, and on a deep route when he adjusted without breaking stride to fend off a defender that was on his hip.

"He sure can catch the ball," owner Jerry Jones said with a smile while walking off the field.

Because Bryant missed most of his senior season at Oklahoma State because of a suspension after lying to the NCAA about his activities with former NFL cornerback Deion Sanders, he hadn’t been through a team practice since mid-September.

That was obvious at times Friday, with his hands on his helmet or his hips and bending down to a knee.

"I wouldn’t say struggling. I’m just getting back in the flow," Bryant said. "I’m back doing what I love to do. I was already expecting me to bend over a little, get tired. If you seen me, you seen I was smiling, because I haven’t been through that in a long time. It was just a great feeling to get through that little hard time."

QB Robinson reluctant to enter Bryant controversy

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Zac Robinson has little doubt that his most talented target in college will have an outstanding pro career.

After all, Dez Bryant was the second wide receiver taken in this month’s draft after a strong career at Oklahoma State.

"He makes plays," the Cowboys former quarterback said Friday. "He’s going to do great."

But Robinson, chosen in the seventh round by the New England Patriots, was less forthcoming about Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland asking Bryant during a predraft interview if his mother ever was a prostitute.

Robinson wouldn’t discuss his opinion of the question

"I don’t know," he said after his first workout at the Patriots’ three-day rookie camp. "I really can’t say."

Ireland has apologized, and Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said Friday that Ireland "is well deserving of my continued confidence" and that he considers "the matter closed."

Robinson didn’t have the high profile of Bryant, who was drafted by Dallas. Robinson played in the Big 12 against high-profile quarterbacks Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and Colt McCoy of Texas. And he doesn’t recall being asked any unusual questions by NFL personnel during the pre-draft process.

He does remember one strange question on an exam.

"I remember taking a test and I saw, ‘What would you rather be, a cat or a dog?’ " Robinson said with a grin. "And so I kind of laughed at that. I said ‘dogs,’ because I like dogs better. I really didn’t know what they were looking for."

Robinson might be a long shot to make the active roster on a team with Tom Brady. But the Patriots’ only backup quarterback last season was rookie Brian Hoyer, who wasn’t even drafted. Robinson also posted the best numbers of any quarterback in this year’s Senior Bowl, even outperforming Tim Tebow.

Robinson completed 12 of 21 passes for 176 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the South, but the North won 31-13. Earlier, Robinson struggled in a 21-7 loss to Mississippi in the Cotton Bowl, going 13 for 31 for 118 yards with four interceptions.

Injuries limited him to two of the last three regular-season games and he totaled just 18 completions in 42 attempts for 134 yards, one touchdown and one interception in them.

"I ended the season kind of bummed up with injuries and didn’t play as well," Robinson said, "and so to be able to play well at the Senior Bowl and show that I was back was really good."

The beginning of his starting career in 2007 also was memorable. At his postgame news conference after Robinson’s second start, a 49-45 win over Texas Tech, coach Mike Gundy defended Bobby Reid, who had been replaced by Robinson. Gundy loudly criticized a newspaper column, even holding it up at the podium and pointing angrily at the writer.

"I wasn’t worried about it," Robinson said. "I was just so focused on helping my team win any way I could (that) I didn’t really have time to look back and see what was going on and all this attention that we were getting as a program and with coach Gundy and the whole quarterback situation."

Robinson finished that season with a school record for total offense.

Now he faces a major adjustment. He operated a lot out of the shotgun in college, but took most, if not all, of his snaps Friday from under center.

"He’s got a long way to go," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "His (college) system is a lot different than what we run, but I think he’s shown some good qualities in terms of leadership, production, being able to manage the team."

Wide receiver Taylor Price, the Patriots third-round pick from Ohio, met Robinson at the Senior Bowl. On Friday, he was catching Robinson’s passes.

"He had a great week at Senior Bowl," Price said. "He throws a nice ball, a very soft, pretty ball, a very easily catchable ball."

It was the kind of ball he threw to Bryant until the receiver was suspended after the third game last season for lying about meeting with former NFL cornerback Deion Sanders. That tainted Bryant’s reputation — and may have influenced some teams not to draft him before Dallas chose him with the 25th pick — but Robinson evaded questions about that.

"I’m really not going to talk about it at all," Robinson said. "I wish him well. I think he’s going to be a great player, but I’m just worried about trying to learn these plays now and the opportunity I have here."

-- Howard Ulman

McCoy calls Cleveland ‘perfect fit’

TAMPA, Fla. — Gerald McCoy doesn’t want to become the next Warren Sapp.

The third-pick in the NFL draft will happily settle for making a name for himself as he tries to fill a hole that’s existed on Tampa Bay’s defensive line since Sapp left the Buccaneers six seasons ago.

Sapp wants to help McCoy become a star.

And not just McCoy, Sapp also wants to reach out to Brian Price — the 303-pound tackle out of UCLA selected in the second round to play alongside the 295-pound McCoy.

"I can’t get out on the field with them. I can’t do it any more, I’m too old," the 37-year-old Sapp said by telephone from Los Angeles, where he works for NFL Network.

"But I think I have somebody who might want to sit down and watch a little tape with me. I can show you and talk to you about it. ... I’m not telling you how to do it. I’m just showing you something that worked."

Sapp, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection with the Bucs, met McCoy and Price and watched tape of both before the Bucs made the tandem their top two picks. He believes both have the ability to be impact players in the Tampa 2 defensive scheme that coach Raheem Morris revived late last season.

As a first-round pick out of Oklahoma, McCoy will be the focal point of a defensive overhaul, however Sapp noted that Price will be one of the keys to the former Sooners star fulfilling his potential as a pro.

"The thing is he’s not by himself. This kid Price can play, too," Sapp said. The former Bucs star said he flourished, in part, because of the relationship he developed with tackles he played beside — including Brad Culpepper, Anthony McFarland and Chartric Darby.

"It wasn’t just me. They wanted to make it out to be me," Sapp said. "I was a pretty good player, but I had some people in there who were willing to do grunt work, too. And now, (McCoy) has somebody in there who’s more than a grunt and can do some great work for him."

McCoy and Price began work for their first season Friday, when the Bucs began a three-day minicamp for rookies.

In addition to getting out on the field for the first time in Tampa Bay gear, a highlight of the day for McCoy was meeting Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon, who also played at Oklahoma and is the only Buccaneer elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"I’ve met everybody I wanted to meet," McCoy said after an afternoon workout. "I met John Randle at the draft. Warren Sapp. I already knew Tommie Harris, and I wanted to meet Lee Roy Selmon. It was a great experience.

"He told me to keep doing what I’m doing."

McCoy is the first defensive tackle the Bucs have selected in the first round since McFarland in 1999. He’s the highest drafted interior lineman the team has taken since Sapp was the 12th overall pick 15 years ago.

The expectations that come with being picked third don’t faze the 22-year-old.

"I can deal with it. It’s nothing new to me," McCoy said, adding that playing in a similar defensive system should help his transition to the NFL.

"I’ve come in here to help this team. I didn’t come in to be on the sideline and just be another rookie who got paid a lot of money. I want to be a great football player."

Sapp likes those chances, as long as McCoy understands that Price, who began learning the nose tackle position on Friday, can help him accomplish that goal.

"The biggest thing he’s going to have to do is lean on Price. And, Price is going to have to help him because both of them together are better than me. Not one on one, not one individual standing by himself," Sapp said.

"But them together, they can eclipse anything that I’ve done. But it’s going to take both of them."

WR Shipley says Twitter account wasn’t his

CINCINNATI — Chad Ochocinco was insulted when the Cincinnati Bengals’ newest receiver didn’t respond to his congratulatory tweet on draft day.

Turns out there was no reason to be upset. The Twitter account set up for Jordan Shipley wasn’t his.

The receiver from Texas was drafted by the Bengals in the third round last week, prompting Ochocinco to tweet congratulations to what appeared to be Shipley’s Twitter account. It used his name and featured longhorn cattle as the background.

The problem: Shipley doesn’t use Twitter.

"Somebody had a fake Twitter account," Shipley said Friday, after his first minicamp practice with the Bengals. "It’s not me. That is the dangerous thing nowadays because people can get on those deals and make up fake accounts and act like they’re you and get you in trouble."

In this case, it resulted in a terse exchange.

Ochocinco was in Cincinnati with "Dancing With the Stars" partner Sheryl Burke last week. He saw that Shipley had become a teammate and tweeted the "jordan-shipley" page, promising to take him to a favorite fast-food restaurant and a jewelry shop when they were both in town.

Ochocinco has more than 860,000 followers on Twitter. When he didn’t get a response from what he thought was Shipley’s account, he sent a terse tweet — that all his followers could see — telling Shipley he was really upset with him and "tweet me back now, draft is over, we are supposed to bond now." Eventually, someone from the page played along and tweeted back an apology, saying it was a busy night.

Shipley knew nothing about it.

"I got a phone call the other day from my agents asking if I had a Twitter account," he said. "I said no. And they said somebody had a fake one."

Shipley said his agents contacted Twitter to have the page removed. It had been taken down on Friday.

"It is a little scary that people can get on there and say what they want to, and people don’t know that it’s not you," Shipley said. "They can make it look just like it was mine."

A Twitter spokeswoman noted by e-mail that it has a policy prohibiting users from impersonating someone else. Anyone who does so can have their account permanently suspended. Violations can be reported to Twitter online.

Shipley hasn’t had the chance to sit down with Ochocinco, who is back in Los Angeles — his Argentine tango got high enough marks to keep him dancing for at least one more week. Shipley is friends with Bengals receiver Quan Cosby, another former Longhorn, and has heard a lot about Ochocinco.

"I’m looking forward to meeting Chad and learning from him," Shipley said.

The Bengals drafted three players who can catch the ball and potentially take some pressure off Ochocinco, who routinely saw double and triple coverage last season. They took tight end Jermaine Gresham from Oklahoma in the first round and wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe from Kansas in the sixth.

Briscoe has been an Ochocinco fan since 2003, when the brash receiver — known then as Chad Johnson — guaranteed a victory over 9-0 Kansas City. The Bengals won 24-19, and the receiver became a rising media star.

"That was the first time I noticed him," Briscoe said Friday, during a break at rookie minicamp. "I just saw it in the media and I liked the confidence he had going into the game, and they went out and proved it."

Briscoe watched one of the early "Dancing With the Stars" episodes to keep up on Ochocinco’s offseason exploits. He was a little surprised by the receiver’s performance.

"I thought he was a little stiffer than when he was on the field," Briscoe said. "I thought he was a little stiff in the hips on ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ I think it was nervousness."

Ochocinco has gotten better marks as the series has gone along.

-- Joe Kay

Bradford makes good first impression

ST. LOUIS — Sam Bradford was so nervous about his first NFL practice, he woke up before an alarm clock set for 6 a.m.

Add in a bubbly enthusiasm evident by his high five with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur during the opening practice of a three-day rookie minicamp Friday, and the St. Louis Rams have to feel pretty good about investing the first pick of the draft on the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Oklahoma.

Bradford’s summary: "It was a blast out there today."

After the first of two practices Friday, coach Steve Spagnuolo complimented Bradford’s poise and take-charge attitude. The Rams issued abbreviated playbooks to their draft picks last weekend, and Spagnuolo said Bradford appeared to have absorbed everything.

Bradford refused to campaign for the starting job and Spagnuolo was noncommittal about the Rams’ plans for easing him into the lineup, judging that question way too premature.

"You’re way ahead of me," Spagnuolo said. "We don’t have to play a game yet. Nothing preconceived."

That’s fine with Bradford.

"I think it’s way too early to start making those type of statements," Bradford said. "I’ve only gone through one practice and I’ve only seen a very small portion of the playbook. All I know is I’m going to show up and help this team win."

It was much easier to take charge with this group, too. The Rams invited 67 players to the minicamp, including 11 draft picks, but most players will be headed home after the tryout.

"I wanted to see his command of the huddle, his interaction with teammates," Spagnuolo said. "He’s not around a bunch of veterans, so that’s another test. He kind of stepped to the forefront, you could tell he was the guy that’s done this before."

Bradford made a one-of-the-guys impression on the other draft picks when he texted them all to say he was glad to be teammates. Then he impressed them on the field.

"All in all it’s like we’ve got a connection," said wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, a fourth-round pick from Cincinnati. "We’re developing a nice little relationship."

Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, the Rams’ second-round pick out of Indiana, is Bradford’s roommate for the weekend. Bradford even scores high on that account.

"Oh, he’s very clean," Saffold said. "The first day is usually the day where, you know, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have had this guy,’ but he’s real cool, real chill."

Shurmur and quarterbacks coach Dick Curl gave Bradford some telephone tutoring earlier this week, helping to ease the tension before his first professional workout. First workout since a season-ending shoulder injury last October, too.

"I was definitely a little nervous," Bradford said. "It’s been a long time and I really wasn’t sure how it was going to go as far as the schedule and the practice.

"Once I got out there, I felt really comfortable. I really enjoyed it, it was just fun being out there with the guys."

The Rams, 1-15 last year and 6-42 the last three seasons, are pinning their long-term hopes on Bradford, who’s wearing jersey No. 8.

Two of the other rookies are wearing jersey numbers that used to belong to a pair of seven-time Pro Bowlers. Saffold has No. 76 (Orlando Pace) and Gilyard has No. 81 (Torry Holt).

"Why set the bar low?" Gilyard said. "Have me reach out for something I need to get. It keeps you hungry, keeps you wanting to be better, and be better and be better and be better and be more better and be more better, and eventually be the best."

--R.B. Fallstrom

Tebow dons Broncos jersey for 1st time

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Tim Tebow is accustomed to living under the media microscope. Now, his every move on the football field is being scrutinized by the Denver Broncos. A team videographer was at his feet Friday when Tebow took snaps and threw passes as the three-day minicamp for rookies got under way.

"Oh, it's great because we can go back and watch it," said the ever-excitable Tebow following the 90-minute workout on a chilly morning. "We can look at every play, every throw, go back and see what I did good, what I did bad, what I have to work on and what I need to change."

The most intriguing pro prospect since Michael Vick, Tebow has plenty of work ahead of him. Some scouts think it could take two years for Tebow to make the transition from combination college quarterback to prototypical pocket passer — if he ever does. Others argue his success in college, his passion for football and his work ethic will make the transition smoother and shorter.

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, who made waves when he traded three draft picks to Baltimore to take Tebow with the 25th selection in last week's NFL draft, said it's unrealistic to put a timetable on Tebow's transition.

McDaniels has dismissed the notion of moving Tebow to H-back to start his pro career. And with Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn and maybe even Tom Brandstater ahead of him on the depth chart, many expect Tebow's contributions as a rookie will come in wildcat formations.

Although Tebow is a Heisman Trophy winner and a two-time national champion whom some call the greatest college player ever, he is an NFL enigma, a big question mark because of his not-ready-for-prime-time throwing mechanics and footwork, and the spread offense he ran out of the shotgun with the Gators.

So, Tebow donned an orange No. 15 jersey and hit the field at Dove Valley for the first time to begin his NFL education. With the offense in white on the south end of the field and the defense in blue at the north end, all eyes were on Tebow in the middle.

During the 25-minute period in which more than 50 reporters, photographers and cameramen were allowed to observe, Tebow ran agility drills and then threw several passes under the watchful eyes of McDaniels and his younger brother, Ben McDaniels, who is Denver's new quarterbacks coach. Both had plenty of advice for Tebow.

"It was just everything from the plays to footwork to getting my body in position to throw and just different things like that," Tebow said. "All football, all the time, and I love it, it's great."

Deploying his new and improved throwing motion that removes the looping windup he had at Florida, the southpaw's throws were tight and compact.

Tebow's mechanics and throwing motion were dissected ad nauseam in the weeks leading up to the draft, and he insisted he embraced the critiques and criticism. He began correcting his sidearm throwing motion weeks ago. Now, he has to adjust to taking snaps under center and dropping back while dodging the pass rush after operating almost exclusively out of the shotgun in college. Tebow wouldn't pinpoint a priority.

"Just improving, getting better on everything, I mean the footwork, the drops, the cadences, identifying the right (reads), going through the protections, everything like that has been what I've been working on," Tebow said. "I can't just narrow it down. I got too many things I'm working on right now."

That's why he didn't really take a moment to soak it all in when he hit the field for the first time with six other draft choices, 19 college free agents and two wide receivers trying out with the team.

"Not at that time. I thought, 'I got a lot to go do and I got to go improve,'" Tebow said. "So, it's not time to daydream right now."

Tebow said he wasn't overwhelmed by the daunting challenges ahead.

"Oh, I'm just excited. It's not really pressure," he said. "I just go out here and play football. I'm loving doing it. I'm learning a great offense from great coaches, just trying to soak it all in every chance I get and I'm having a great time with it."

Although he's in terrific shape, Tebow found out firsthand what it's like to train at altitude.

"I had been working really hard so I felt like I was in decent shape," Tebow said. "But I can definitely feel a difference. ... You just can't get as much air."

He also called the chilly weather "a great change of pace."

The Broncos drafted two wide receivers last week — Demaryius Thomas from Georgia Tech in the first round and Eric Decker out of Minnesota in the third — but both were on the sideline Friday because they're still recuperating from foot operations.

Two undrafted wide receivers, Dicky Lyons of Kentucky and Rockeed McCarter from James Madison, were in for tryouts and caught passes from Tebow.

--Arnie Stapleton

Humbled Clausen begins pro career with Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C.— Perhaps it’s fitting the No. 7 Jimmy Clausen wore in college was already taken in Carolina.

Now if the former Notre Dame quarterback ever forgets his stunning fall after being considered a sure high pick in the NFL draft, all he has to do is glance at the number on his Panthers jersey for a reminder of the round he was finally taken: 2.

Ready to prove his doubters wrong and possibly contend for a starting job as a rookie, Clausen suited up with the Panthers for the first time on Friday for the opening of the team’s mandatory three-day minicamp.

"It’s in the back of my head," Clausen said of his draft snub, "but at the end of the day I’m just trying to come in and learn as much as I can."

Clausen seemed humble after his first NFL workout. It was a trait often missing during a career that started as a high school phenom in California and continued when he went 16-18 as a three-year starter with the Fighting Irish.

That signature brashness was on display a week ago as he talked to reporters after Carolina finally ended his two-day draft wait.

"I just want to tell you that you guys made the best pick in the draft," he said.

That was followed with this bold declaration: "My goal is to try to be the starter from day one."

Maybe it was the week to consider his plight from falling from what some predicted would be a top 10 selection to 48th overall in part because of questions about his attitude. Maybe it was the shock of seeing the speed and increased talent in the NFL. Perhaps coach John Fox, famous for speaking but saying nothing, had a chat with him.

Either way, Clausen was saying — and doing — all the right things.

He arrived on Thursday from California with a 12-pack of Cactus Cooler, receiver Steve Smith’s favorite orange-pineapple soda. He was seen on the field Friday buddying up with Pro Bowl left tackle Jordan Gross on the field.

"I’m just trying to be one of the guys," he said. "Today was a good day, came out here and it was back to football. Had a good time, have a lot of learning to do and all the quarterbacks are helping me out. It’s going well."

Clausen’s arrival is part of Carolina’s new quarterback era that started when seven-year starter Jake Delhomme was abruptly cut in March after a miserable 18-interception season.

Matt Moore, who went 4-1 when Delhomme was sidelined with a broken finger at the end of last season, was immediately named the starter. Then Moore watched the Panthers draft not only Clausen, but also former Cincinnati QB Tony Pike in the sixth round.

"I don’t know if there’s any more room in the quarterback room," Moore joked, "but good guys, excited to have them here and ready to work with them."

Moore insisted he’s not worried about his hold on the No. 1 job. While he’s taking the snaps with the first team now, coach John Fox signaled the position is up for grabs. Moore has only eight career NFL starts — but the other three QBs on the roster have none.

"Right now he’s the No. 1 quarterback," Fox said of Moore. "Those guys will decide that, not me. I felt real comfortable with Matt at the end of last season. I thought he showed improvement in both seasons he’s had an opportunity to play. We’ll see where that takes us."

Fox said Clausen was "swimming" as he learned the offense on Friday, even though he had a head start by working in the same pro-style system at Notre Dame under Fox’s friend Charlie Weis. The four-time Pro Bowl pick Smith said it was too early to have an impression of Clausen.

Soon, though, No. 2 will get a chance to prove he’s better than No. 48.

"I think my accuracy is a big strength of mine," Clausen said. "Being a durable quarterback, playing when I’m hurt. Being a team leader and bringing teams back in the fourth quarter."

NOTES: Fox didn’t seem overly concerned that CB Richard Marshall was absent. Upset with his contract situation, the restricted free agent still hasn’t signed his one-year, $1.759 million tender. "I understand it and I know Richard is working hard," Fox said. "He’s talked to a lot of his teammates. We’ll see him when he gets here." ... LB Thomas Davis, another restricted free agent, practiced for the first time since his season-ending knee injury on Nov. 8. ... Former Appalachian State QB and third-round pick Armanti Edwards drew plenty of attention working as a WR and PR. "I’ve got a lot to learn and lot to improve on," he said. ... Several players recovering from injuries sat out, including RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, Ts Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah and DE Tyler Brayton.

--Mike Cranston

Graham practices for 1st time with Eagles

PHILADELPHIA — Brandon Graham walked onto the practice field, put on his new Eagles helmet and gazed into both the past and the future.

"I was kind of daydreaming, to be honest with you," Graham, the Philadelphia Eagles No. 1 draft pick out of Michigan, said between practices of the team’s minicamp Friday. "It’s something I’ve always wanted, to be here. I just kept looking at my helmet; it was like ‘Wow, I’m really here.’ "

Graham is here among a crowded field of defensive ends as the Eagles met for the first time in the post-Donovan McNabb era at their mandatory minicamp.

In his first practice, the No. 13 pick in the draft — he cost the Eagles two third-round picks to move up to get — ran with the second team.

"He’s running with the 2s at left defensive end," coach Andy Reid said. "The idea is to work the young guys into the system. That’s what this weekend is all about. You don’t want to give them too much to the point they can’t function."

It’s only May. By September, both the Eagles and Graham expect him to be the starter at left defensive end opposite Pro Bowl right defensive end, Trent Cole. You don’t trade up to No. 13, and sacrifice two premium picks for a backup.

"I’m willing to take it slow, learn what I need to learn," Graham said. "That’s what these camps are for, to learn. I plan to learn everything I can and be ready when the season starts. It won’t happen in a day."

In the mix with Graham is the incumbent starter, Juqua Parker, who is also the only non-kicker on the team to have celebrated his 30th birthday; newly acquired Darryl Tapp, who came in a trade from Seattle; fellow draft picks Daniel Te’o-Nesheim and Ricky Sapp; and veteran Victor Abiamiri.

Alex Hall, acquired from Cleveland in the Sheldon Brown trade, is listed as a linebacker, but took reps at defensive end Friday as well.

"He was a defensive end in college and a 3-4 linebacker in Cleveland," Reid said of Hall. "His strength is rushing the quarterback."

That’s Graham’s strength, too. And Sapp’s and Te’o-Nesheim and Parker’s.

"You can’t have enough of them; that’s the way I think," Reid said of his pass-rushing defensive ends.

Abiamiri, a second-round draft pick in 2007, is out again after knee surgery and appears to be in the most trouble of making the final roster.

Cole and Graham are givens. And Te’o-Nesheim would have to have a really bad camp to get cut, as a third-round pick. The same goes for Sapp.

And you wouldn’t think the Eagles would give up on Tapp so soon. Plus, he is probably the best run stopper of the bunch.

That leaves the 31-year-old Parker on the bubble, too.

"I’m fine," he said. "We’ll just have to see how it goes. Stay tuned."

NOTES: Other than Abiamiri, linebacker Omar Gaither (foot), center Jamaal Jackson (knee) and guard Max Jean-Gilles, who had a gastric band installed to lose weight, sat out practice and are not expected to participate all weekend. Defensive back Marlin Jackson (knee), tight end Cornelius Ingram (knee), cornerback Ellis Hobbs (back) and second-round draft pick Nate Allen (quad) practiced on a limited basis. With Jackson out after tearing his ACL late last season, third-year man Mike McGlynn got most of the work at center. ... Newly acquired linebacker Ernie Sims, who came in a trade with Detroit, ran with the first team at weakside linebacker, with Akeem Jordan in a backup role. Reid pointed out that Jordan "can play all three linebacker spots."

Ginn fitting right in with 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Ted Ginn Jr. sprinted downfield on several deep routes and looked back in his element again.

The sunny, breezy Bay Area morning wasn’t quite Miami, but he had no complaints on his first formal day of work with the San Francisco 49ers. It didn’t hurt having two former No. 1 picks throwing the ball his way, either: Alex Smith and David Carr.

"A new beginning just to go out and see the guys cheer me on and help me out and be brothers," Ginn said Friday, after sporting his new No. 19 Niners jersey. "There’s really no more Dolphin talk. I’m out here, I’m having fun. I’m enjoying myself and I’m running a new system in a new town. That’s all it’s about. ‘Hey, you let me go,’ that’s what it was. Just leave it alone."

Ginn is so eager to get going across the country after his trade from the Dolphins on April 16 that he even played catch with Smith last week after a drizzle turned into a downpour.

Ginn’s speed as a receiver and return man could be a big help for an offense hurt by inconsistency during an 8-8 season last year — not to mention all the problems on special teams.

The rookies, who were set to practice separately later in the day, watched the veterans’ morning workout. Left guard Mike Iupati, the 17th overall pick out of Idaho, observed the offensive linemen and was impressed.

"The tempo of the game, I was overwhelmed," said Iupati, who along with No. 11 pick and fellow offensive lineman Anthony Davis are expected to become starters at some point as rookies.

Coach Mike Singletary can relate. The Hall of Fame linebacker pulled a hamstring on his first day with the Chicago Bears, who picked him in the second round in 1981.

Heading into his second full season as head coach, Singletary had a message for everybody before the team hit the field for an offseason practice minus pads.

"I already told them this morning, ‘This is going to be the most competitive camp that we’ve had,"’ Singletary said. "It’s going to be all about competition. I told them when they look around the room, it’s going to be 53 guys that make this team and everybody that’s in this room has a chance to make the team, if they can understand the opportunity at hand.

"They just need to come out and compete every day and understand what we are trying to do here as a championship team in the making."

The confident Ginn is sure he will find a place as a key contributor for San Francisco.

The 49ers traded a fifth-round draft pick to get him, taking a chance on Ginn despite his disappointing stint in Florida.

"They told me just to go out and control what I can control," Ginn said. "The first thing I can control is learning my playbook, so that’s what I’m trying to do. As I learn my playbook I can come out and play faster than I did today, and just keep on pushing and I think we’ll be fine."

Dolphins fans began booing Ginn the day he was drafted and never stopped. Selected ninth overall in 2007, Ginn made only five touchdown catches in three seasons while averaging 13.0 yards per reception. He has shown more explosive play-making ability on special teams, and the 49ers are counting on that.

"I really like his attitude, really like him as a person," Smith said. "He seems to have picked up the offense really fast. He’s extremely talented, so I think it’s just a matter of him getting comfortable with the offense and us building a good relationship."

Niners personnel chief Trent Baalke, the new man in charge following the abrupt departure of general manager Scot McCloughan in March, watched practice on the sideline.

As many times as Baalke and Singletary have said Smith is their guy going forward, the 2005 No. 1 pick knows that only goes so far — especially with a reliable backup like Carr, the top pick in 2002, looking to unseat him.

"‘I’m the guy, I’m the guy, I’m the guy’ doesn’t mean anything," Smith said. "I’m going to have to go out there in Game 1 and prove that I’m the guy. And then I’m going to have to go out in Game 2 and prove it again. This league’s not about talk. I’m going to have to go out on the field and prove it with my level of play and consistency."

Smith took over as starter from the departed Shaun Hill after halftime Oct. 25 at Houston. Smith paid attention on draft day but insists he wasn’t worried about the team picking another quarterback.

"I think he’s responded very well," Singletary said. "Alex continues to grow into that position and really begin to exude the leadership skills that we hoped that he had."

Notes: Veterans absent included RB Frank Gore, CBs Shawntae Spencer and Nate Clements, LB Manny Lawson and DT Aubrayo Franklin. Most didn’t make the trip from out of state for the one-day voluntary workout. ... DE Kentwan Balmer, who finished last season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, ran hill sprints on the nearby bump Singletary calls "Mt. Pain" ... San Francisco signed rookie free agent LB Brandon Long to a two-year contract.

--Janie McCauley

Leinart says he’s ready to take over as starter

TEMPE, Ariz. — Matt Leinart’s first practice since the retirement of Kurt Warner didn’t go the way the Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback would have liked.

"My accuracy wasn’t where I wanted it to be, but it’s the first day," Leinart said after the first of two minicamp practices Friday.

Still, the 26-year-old says he’s confident he’s ready to take over the offense.

"This is an opportunity that I’ve been waiting for, for a long time," said Leinart, who was named the starter after Warner stepped away from the game in January.

Leinart was the starter going into the 2008 season but was eventually beaten out by Warner, who then led Arizona to consecutive NFC West titles and the Super Bowl. Leinart’s top competition this year is longtime friend Derek Anderson, who Leinart has known since he was 17, but he said his mental approach is the same.

"I’m just kind of going about like I’ve always been," said Leinart, Arizona’s top pick in 2006. "Obviously it’s different now that I’m starting. I’ve just got to have that mindset and be confident and lead this football team and be me."

After an up-and-down showing in his first four years in the league, there are still doubts about Leinart’s ability to lead an NFL team. He threw for an NFL rookie-record 405 yards in a game against Minnesota in 2006, and also that season had three games with a passer rating of at least 100. He finished with a completion percentage of 56.8, but it declined each of the next two years.

Leinart played well in his lone start last year at Tennessee, where he was asked to mostly manage the game — he completed 21 of 31 passes — but ended the year with a poor showing. Against Green Bay in the regular-season finale, Leinart threw two interceptions.

"Last year was last year and this is a new season," Leinart said.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said likes how Leinart is approaching this year and has indicated he wasn’t concerned about how last year ended.

"There’s a little bit different feel with Matt," Whisenhunt said. "He knows now he’s the guy. He’s the one everybody’s looking at. It’s different when you’ve got Kurt Warner here with everything he brings. I don’t see any difference as far as the time Matt’s putting in or how hard he’s working on the field."

Leinart made it clear he won’t be successful trying to be the next Warner.

"I’m not trying to be anybody else but me," he said. "I’ve just got to go out there and do what I know I can do and just be a leader on this football team, work hard and get better every day."

In what could be a make-or-break year for him with the Cardinals, Leinart knows the pressure is on to produce.

"As a starting quarterback, obviously all eyes are on you and you are the leader of the football team," he said. "I know that my guys around me — both sides of the ball — are going to be counting on me to step up, and that’s what I count on doing."

-- Matt Paulson

Lions’ Ndamukong Suh says he’s back at ground zero

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — It’s easy to see what the Detroit Lions saw in Ndamukong Suh to make him the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft.

The 6-foot-3 Suh weighs nearly 300 pounds and, unlike most athletes carrying that kind of weight, he doesn’t look one bit fat.

"That’s one of the reasons we drafted because he’s like that," Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said Friday as the Lions opened a three-day rookie orientation camp. "He’s in great shape."

The former Nebraska standout looked impressive physically — once chasing down a running back to force a fumble — during an afternoon workout in helmets, shorts and cleats.

"He’s definitely a freak," first-round running back Jahvid Best said. "I’m glad he’s on our side."

Suh sounded good, too.

"I was No. 2 coming out of college. Now, I’m back to ground zero," he said humbly. "So, I’ve got to build myself back up."

Schwartz said Suh already got one of his messages.

"Everything from this point on, is going to be earned by how hard they work and how they look on the field," Schwartz said. "Not by their draft status or how much money they make."

The Lions will likely give Suh a contract worth $60-plus million and he has vowed not to be a holdout.

Suh, though, will let his agents handle his off-the-field business while he focuses on getting ready to make an impact between the lines.

"It’s back to football, learning the basics," he said.

Caleb Campbell has been through basic training and everything else the Army required of him before he was allowed to pursue a career in sports. The Lions announced they signed Campbell along with seven undrafted free agents Friday, two years after drafting him in the seventh round.

On the eve of training camp in 2008, Campbell was told not to sign his contract and to report back to West Point.

"It was definitely a confusing time for me because the whole time, I was told I could play ball," he recalled.

The Army revised its interpretation of Defense Department policy regarding soldiers playing professional sports, requiring cadets to complete two years of active duty before applying for a release.

The Lions don’t seem to be giving him a shot as a charity case, believing he might be able to make the team playing special teams.

"He’s smart, he’s 6-foot-3, he’s 235 pounds and he runs fast," Schwartz said. "He didn’t forget how to play football in two years. He’s actually faster now than he was when he was playing at Army."

When Campbell graduates from Basic Officer Leadership Course in July, he will make the transition from active duty to the reserves, perhaps with the Michigan National Guard.

Campbell, who tried to make the U.S. bobsled team for the Vancouver Olympics, is thankful the Lions were still interested in giving him a chance to fulfill his dream.

"I woke up every morning and in the back of my head a little voice was telling me, ‘It’s not over. Don’t give up yet,"’ he recalled. "It was definitely a challenging time, but I allowed it to make me a better person.

"I’m a strong believer that great works are done in deep water."

-- Larry Lage

Russell shows up as Raiders open minicamp

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The questions about JaMarcus Russell’s immediate future in Oakland were answered Friday when he took the field for a minicamp with newly acquired Jason Campbell and the rest of his Raiders teammates.

Still unclear is the long-term future for the former No. 1 overall pick.

The team acquired Campbell in a trade with Washington last weekend. There were reports that Russell could be cut before training camp or held out of the workouts to avoid an injury.

But Russell was out there working with Campbell, Charlie Frye and Kyle Boller as the Raiders had their first formal on-field workout of the offseason.

"My thing is to keep coming out to work until they tell me not too," Russell said. "I’m going to keep coming out to compete for the job and work my tail off."

There were few visible signs from practice about who the leading contender for the starting quarterback job is this season. Bruce Gradkowski, who replaced Russell midway through last season, watched in a sling Friday after recent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle.

Coach Tom Cable reiterated that it’s a five-man competition at quarterback. When the team did its first 11-on-11 drills, it was Frye who took the first snaps, followed by Russell, Campbell and Boller.

"Means nothing," Cable said. "Don’t look anything into that. If you do, you’re wasting ink. There’s nothing to that right now."

Russell looked sharper than he did at this time a year ago, when most of his throws seemed to find the ground instead of a receiver. He made some crisp passes, including a pretty out route to Louis Murphy and made few visible mistakes.

Despite reports that he had reached 300 pounds, Russell looked in decent shape although the Raiders would not say what he weighed.

"He’s been here in the offseason, he’s worked," Cable said. "The kid’s working his tail off. Let’s leave it at that."

In Russell’s four-minute interview with the media, team employee Eddie Anderson cut off questions four separate times when Russell was asked whether Cable called him after the trade, whether he could be the starting quarterback when next season begins, whether he would restructure his contract and what his ideal weight was.

Russell did manage to answer that he hadn’t restructured the contract that has paid him more than $36 million already. Russell is guaranteed $3 million more and will have a salary of $9.45 million if he makes the team this season.

Campbell is owed $3.14 million this season and signed a $4.5 million extension for 2011 with the Raiders after the deal. That would make Russell a potentially very high-paid backup, leading to the speculation that he would not be on the team when the season starts.

"I know he’s there right now ... I expect him to be there tomorrow," said Cable, who wouldn’t commit to Russell for the long term.

Russell was fined for being overweight when he showed up at training camp last season. He then put together one of the worst seasons in recent memory for an NFL quarterback. He completed 48.8 percent of his passes, with three touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 50.0 passer rating that was the lowest in 11 years. He was benched midway through the season.

Campbell started 52 games for Washington since being a first-round pick in 2005. He has thrown for 55 touchdowns, 38 interceptions and has a passer rating of 82.3 in his career.

He is coming off his best season, completing 64.5 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and a passer rating of 86.4. But the Redskins went 4-12 last season and acquired Donovan McNabb earlier this offseason.

Campbell told the NFL Network after the trade that he believed he was acquired to be the starter, but kept to the company line Friday.

"I’m just here to work. Just here to work, get better every day," Campbell said. "I’ll let coach Cable make that decision and Mr. Al Davis. My job is to come out here every day and compete, keep working on things and try to improve the offense."

Russell, who grew up in Alabama, first met Campbell when he was a junior in high school visiting Auburn. Russell said he looks forward to picking Campbell’s brain for some pointers from the veteran and that the two have a good relationship.

"We’re teammates," he said. "We’re not fighting against each other. We’re out here to compete and get better for the organization."

--Josh Dubow

Blount takes 1st step toward NFL job with Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — LeGarrette Blount didn’t hear his name called during the NFL draft. The Tennessee Titans are giving him his shot at the pros, believing the Oregon running back deserves a chance after punching an opponent last year.

And he has a good chance at earning a roster spot.

Chris Johnson is secure, but the Titans traded away LenDale White a week ago. The only other back is Javon Ringer. Enter the man best known for punching Boise State defensive end Byron Hout after their game Sept. 3.

The heat of the moment decision cost Blount eight college games in 2009. But he said Friday during the Titans’ rookie orientation he knew he had to grow up and take responsibility for an incident.

"I knew ... what I did was going to come with severe punishment everything that I did to erase that image and help myself as far as getting on an NFL team it helped me out a lot as far as getting where I am right now," Blount said.

Blount took the field with the Titans’ nine draft picks and 14 other undrafted rookies as part of the team’s orientation.

This is a rookie group filled with names like defensive end Derrick Morgan, the 16th pick overall, Rhodes scholar Myron Rolle and Southern California running back Stafon Johnson, who also went undrafted after his larynx was crushed last year in a weightlifting accident.

But Blount has had fans arguing about his future after that punch to Hout’s jaw, which has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on the Internet.

Coach Jeff Fisher said they did their research, and he spent hours on the phone last weekend talking to people about Blount. Fisher wouldn’t disclose who he got feedback from.

"He’s paid his dues," Fisher said. "We felt like he’s deserving of an opportunity and he understands the circumstances, the situation and he understands the fact he has an opportunity. He’s a good football player, and he’s been very pleasant to be around."

Blount originally was projected as a fifth or sixth-round draft pick and rated as the 13th-best running back by NFLDraftScout.com. No team took a chance on drafting him, but he said up to five teams called trying to land his services. He and his family studied rosters and the number of running backs before agreeing Tennessee offered his best opportunity.

Tennessee traded away White during the fourth round of the NFL draft to Seattle. That opened up an immediate slot for a big back like the 6-foot, 241-pound Blount.

"I know that they let go of LenDale White, and I’m another big running back to come in and fill that position with me and Chris Johnson in the backfield it’s kind of a change of pace running game. It’s like DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Both of us can produce yardage and make big plays," Blount said.

He ran for 1,002 yards and led the Pac-10 with 17 touchdowns during his first season at Oregon in 2008 after transferring from junior college where he ran for 2,292 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was timed at 4.59 seconds at his pro day, but he was suspended for eight games after that punch after the season opener.

Blount revived what was left of his career at Oregon by following coach Chip Kelly’s plan for him. He missed eight games but was reinstated in mid-November after meeting academic and behavior requirements. He also talked with a variety of people Kelly put him in touch with like former NFL coaches Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden about what he needed to do.

Tennessee has had mixed experiences offering second chances.

The Titans had to trade away cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones in April 2008 after he served a one-year suspension from the NFL, but defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth had two Pro Bowl seasons after he stomped on Dallas center Andre Gurode’s face during a game in October 2006 — earning a five-game suspension from the NFL.

Fisher said everyone understands the length of the leash in the NFL.

"I wouldn’t say it’s any shorter," Fisher said of Blount. "I don’t anticipate any problems from him I really don’t. We’ll treat him no different than anybody else. ... He stayed in shape. He’s got his weight down. He’s very willing. He really wants to make this football team, and he believes he can help us."

The running back knows he’s being watched wherever he goes to see what he might do next. Stewart, a friend and another former Oregon running back he talks frequently with, has been encouraging him since that incident. Stewart’s biggest advice?

"He continues to tell me, ‘Keep your head up and don’t forget this all can be taken away in a minute if you go out and do something stupid in the street or something you know is not called for or you don’t need to be doing,"’ Blount said.

-- Teresea M. Walker

Panthers CB Richard Marshall skipping minicamp

CHARLOTTE, N.C.— Upset with his contract situation, Carolina Panthers starting cornerback Richard Marshall is skipping this weekend’s minicamp.

Marshall has not signed his one-year, $1.759 million tender as a restricted free agent. He can’t be fined for missing the mandatory minicamp since he’s not under contract.

Marshall is one of many NFL players with four years experience who would’ve been unrestricted free agents if owners hadn’t decided to opt out of collective bargaining agreement early and play without a salary cap this season. That put into effect new rules that require six years of service.

Coach John Fox says he’s been assured that Marshall is staying in shape.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus didn’t immediately return a phone message seeking comment on Friday.