Freshman orientation
Now time for rookies to work
FOXBORO — The Patriots have to prepare their rookie class for everything this weekend as the group becomes integrated to a new life in the NFL. That even includes local traffic jams.
Pats owner Robert Kraft introduced the team’s draft picks on the Gillette (and before that, Foxboro) Stadium field yesterday for the 24th time, honoring a tradition that he treats with a great deal of pride. The casual ceremony led into the group’s weekend rookie camp, which will involve a series of practices and a host of meetings, including classes to help them adjust to a professional lifestyle.
And considering the introduction was slightly delayed because fourthround pick Deatrich Wise was caught in traffic, the defensive end from Arkansas will probably perk up his ears when a Patriots coach tells the newbies which hours to avoid the Southeast Expressway.
In a slight twist, because the Patriots didn’t have a first- or second-round pick for the first time and their four-player draft class was the smallest in franchise history, Kraft brought the entire quartet outside for their intro. Typically, Kraft and his son, team president Jonathan Kraft, only present a Patriots jersey to their first draft selection.
And size matters. Kraft quipped that 6-foot-4 Derek Rivers, 6-5 Wise, 6-6 Antonio Garcia and 6-8 Conor McDermott could double as a basketball team.
“There’s definitely something in the milk they’re drinking because the height, we think we’re competitive with the Celts,” Kraft said. “This is the 24th year that we have the privilege of doing this. This is the smallest draft class officially, and it’s the first time we haven’t had a first-round pick or a second-round pick. But we think that (veteran trade acquisitions) Brandin Cooks and Kony Ealy and Mike Gillislee and Dwayne Allen are also part of this draft class, and we gave up picks for every one of them. So we’re really delighted to be here and keep this tradition.”
The rookies got a few minutes yesterday to hang out with the Krafts prior to the jersey presentation, which led directly into their late afternoon meeting to prepare them for the weekend. The on-field work for rookie camp is expected to begin today.
“Coming to this organization, it makes you want to work harder,” Rivers said. “That’s what I’m feeling. I’m just ready to get things going. The past couple weeks, we’ve been training for the combine. Now it’s back to football.”
Rivers spent a few minutes with the media while the other three ducked inside for the meeting. The third-round pick from Youngstown State was extra amped to get started because his mother’s side of the family are longtime Patriots fans. Rivers’ mother went to Northeastern, and he was born in Augusta, Maine, before moving to North Carolina in his early childhood.
“My mom lost her mind,” Rivers said of the Patriots’ draft call. “She was so excited. Everybody on that side of the family was excited.”
Now, the weeklong honeymoon is over. The draft picks, undrafted free agents and tryout invitees will receive playbooks and work on some groundlevel stuff this weekend at Gillette. Bill Belichick will then deem when they’re ready to share the field with the veterans, who are at the end of their third week of voluntary offseason workouts.
For now, Rivers thought the greatest adjustment would be the schedule. This is now a full-time job for the rookies, and Belichick will expect their undivided attention. And once the rookies really hit the field, Youngstown State coach Bo Pelini told Rivers the speed of the game will yield the great wakeup call.
Oh, and there’s an introduction these young guys are going to have to quickly move past, too. Eventually, they’re all going to meet the starting quarterback, who will almost certainly introduce himself as “Tom Brady” as if they didn’t already know him.
“I’m going to be starstruck,” Rivers said. “I’m not going to lie. I got to meet (Panthers linebacker) Luke Kuechly earlier in the year (while training for the combine) in Cincinnati, and I was starstruck then. So I can only imagine what it’s going to be like when I meet Brady. It’s going to be crazy.”
There’s no time for these guys to freeze up, though, not in traffic, introductions or on the field. They’re about to realize the business element at hand.
“The road to get here is over with,” Rivers said. “Now it’s time to focus on winning another Super Bowl.”