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The NFL Draft is exciting for fans because we get to reflexively imagine the ways in which our favorite players, from our collegiate programs, will make our NFL teams more successful. However, hugging Roger Goodell or taking the phone call from the sofa is just the beginning. Most of the rookies and camp tryout players hit the practice field the past week. Below, we check in on some Alabama guys.
Christion Jones Impressing Early
Practice report: Highlights from Miami Dolphins rookie camp - Sun Sentinel
Dee Hart with a nice run to the left. He's a former Alabama tailback I'm told. Transferred to Colorado State. Tiny dude (5-9, 187)....You can tell Alabama WR Christion Jones has been coached well. He runs crisp routes...Nice catch by WR Christian Jones.
Praise for the diminutive Dee Hart, who I think we all want to succeed, and very high praise for Christion Jones as a polished prospect. His hands were never the issue, and it sounds like Jones could press for a roster spot if he keeps up his polished performances.
Landon Collins: The Giants are in love with him
Who impressed at Giants rookie mini-camp practice?
Second-round pick Landon Collins, whom the Giants traded up to get with the first selection of the second round, started at safety, where he was a consensus All-American and national champion at Alabama. He spent time playing alongside cornerback-turned-safety Bennett Jackson, a sixth-round pick by the Giants a year ago.
5 things we learned at Giants Rookie Mini-Camp
Players drafted ninth overall are expected to produce from Day 1. To a lesser extent -- but not by much -- so are players selected by a team who traded up to get them with the first pick of the second round.
Landon is expected to contribute immediately. Shoring up the safeties was a big concern for the G-Men this offseason. Tom Ouhlind has not looked back after moving Jackson to FS and anointing the Giants' SS.
Photos: Safety Landon Collins at Rookie Mini-camp
Photos of Safety Landon Collins at Giants Rookie Mini-camp
Nice video spread of Landon doing work.
Brian Vogler
Rookies finish a whirlwind weekend
The draft picks and undrafted free agents will remain in town and join their veteran teammates for the first time Monday when the Bears resume their offseason conditioning program. "The guys under contract will be injected into that mix tomorrow and we’ll go from there," Fox said.
The Bears start their minicamp today, where Brian Vogler will get reps with the veterans to try and earn a backup TE spot.
....White's talent should get him a look and give him a shot to make a team. He might have to return kicks to prove his worth early on.
It's noted that White has lost a step since his 2012 injury, still, his sped and athleticism are impressing. With a gutted WR corps, White will have a chance to earn his spot. Camp dates for Niners are 5/15-5/18.
Blake Sims
Packers not signing Blake Sims, per reports - Acme Packing Company
...it appears that Green Bay will not add the former Alabama signal caller to the 90-man roster, according to Bill Huber of Packer Report.... Sims, who also took reps at running back during his brief stint with the Packers, reportedly has another tryout with Washington later this week. That tryout will also see Sims work out as a running back.
Damn. Poor Blake. But, you had to know that he wasn't going to get a shot in Green Bay. That's a bad mix for him and a bad system as well. Sims has had one workout with the Redskins, though; and, he has another later this week, this time at the RB spot. His athleticism may keep him bouncing around from camp to camp well until August, as teams aren't just going to write the All-SEC team captain off.
Amari Cooper impressive in debut
Amari Cooper makes good first impression on Raiders - Yahoo Sports
''It went exactly how I thought it would go,'' Cooper said. ''It went pretty good. I made a couple of plays. We looked good out there as a team.''
Good stuff in this one. The Raiders expect Cooper to be their main target, but former Fresno State Bulldog WR, Jake Harper, is developing early rapport with his old college QB, Derek Carr. Here's hoping Amari gets enough balls his way to get a decent third year FA contract and escape the Oakland career suicide.
TJ Yeldon
Gus Bradley: T.J. Yeldon stood out at rookie mini-camp - Big Cat Country
Here are Gus Bradley's post-practice comments in full: Anyone stand out today? "Yeah, Yeldon did again. He did a nice job on some of the runs that he had. I thought to come out the second day like this the intensity slows up.
TJ has brought his lunch pail to JAX. Two days of minicamps and he has impressed the coaching staff and by all accounts is overperforming beyond what casual viewers expected. Yeldon may be your starter this season if he keeps it up.
Highlights From Rookie Minicamp
"Every single guy we have here could have a really good training camp in the National Football League, and make a run at a career in this league." /name-dropping CJ Mosley to the Rookies.
No word on the UDFA/Bama-to-Ravens rookie signees yet, but Coach John Harbaugh name-drops CJ Mosley and this link has an interesting video too: Harbaugh's "welcome to the NFL orientation lecture." It's a fun 3:00 out of your day.