The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Burden finally lifting for former Georgia Tech center
Fan favorite gets invite from Cleveland to attend rookie camp.
Freddie Burden doesn’t know what would have happened had he not gotten a call to join an NFL team over the weekend. Maybe he would have reached out to Canadian Football League teams, the center said, “see if I could get back on the field and get some film.”
The Georgia Tech fan favorite does not have to worry about that what if because a call did come. After a year of hoping and trying to get a shot with an NFL team, Burden has one, courtesy of the Cleveland Browns. About 20 minutes after the draft ended Saturday, Burden’s agent Ryan Rubin called him and informed him that Cleveland wanted him to come to their rookie minicamp for a tryout.
“I just dropped to my knees and started thanking God,” Burden told the AJC. “It’s just such a blessing. It’s all I could ask for.”
A year ago, Burden was hoping for his chance, either in the draft or as an undrafted free agent. However, he was still recovering from a broken ankle suffered in Tech’s bowl game win and didn’t get a chance to work out for scouts.
He chose to continue to pursue the dream. He had two private workouts with the Indianapolis Colts and the Detroit Lions before training camp began, but he wasn’t signed. Detroit worked him out again in December, he said, with the possibility of adding him to the practice squad and then to its 90-man offseason roster, but it didn’t work out.
The same thing happened with the New York Giants a couple weeks after the second workout with the Lions.
Not being able to get on a roster, particularly in January when the rosters expand, caused him to wonder if it was ever going to happen. But he kept going, supported by his faith, family, friends and Rubin.
“I just knew that there was going to be something, hopefully,” Burden said. “I just took
my faith and ran with it.”
Burden took part in Tech’s pro day in April, at which point he could have been signed as a street free agent, but nothing materialized. But, going into draft weekend, Rubin told him that he would make calls and see if something might happen.
Burden was in Orlando, Fla., when the call came. He’ll go to Cleveland this week for the three-day rookie minicamp.
There, he may well be snapping to the first overall pick in the draft, Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield. Burden dared dream that the two might have a future together.
“It’ll be good if we can get in the same class and get some years in together,” he said. “I’m excitedabout that.”
The odds are long. Two years ago, the B r owns brought 14 tryout players to their rookie minicamp and signed one. Last year, it was two out of 17. Of the three, one lasted just two days. Neither of the other two made the regular-sea- son roster.
But, after a year of wait- ing, a chance is all Burden wants. “I’m just thankful for the opportunity,” he said.
Durham has tryout with Titans
Former Georgia Tech cornerback Step Durham will get a tryout with the Tennessee Titans at their rookie mini-camp in two weekends.
Durham is among eight former Yellow Jackets who either made an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent this weekend or will have a rookie minicamp tryout. Durham started 23 games in his Tech career and led the team this past season with six passes defended.