First-round pick Jenkins trying to fit with Cowboys
From Call wire services
May 4, 2008
Mike Jenkins is trying to keep things simple in his first practices with the Dallas Cowboys.
Jenkins, a cornerback from South Florida who was the second of Dallas' two first-round draft picks, said Saturday he just wants to fit in on a team that went 13-3 last season.
''I'm just trying to get in and help the team the best I can,'' Jenkins said on the second day of the Cowboys' rookie minicamp. ''I'm trying to learn the playbook. If it's meant for me to get on the field early, I can do that. But right now I'm just trying to get in there and learn behind the guys that they have here.''
Jenkins began that learning process this weekend. The 25th overall pick is among 19 rookies and eight first-year players taking part in the three-day minicamp.
Among those Jenkins can ask for help in becoming an elite cornerback was one of the best to ever to play the position -- Deion Sanders. The former Cowboys star was a teammate of Jenkins' uncle, Tracy Sanders, at Florida State.
''(Deion Sanders) is a Florida guy, I'm a Florida guy,'' Jenkins said. ''He likes helping out the Florida kids. He's been a great mentor through this whole process.''
Another Florida guy and former Cowboys great, Emmitt Smith, made a surprise visit to the minicamp Saturday. The NFL's career rushing leader gave a few coaching tips to Dallas' other first-round draft choice, Arkansas running back Felix Jones.
''It's good to have people like that to help you out,'' Jones said. ''With him being the leading rusher in the history of the NFL, it's a blessing to have that opportunity.''
Owner Jerry Jones said after the draft that Felix Jones and Jenkins are expected to contribute right away.
Jenkins has an opportunity to make an impact in the secondary after cornerbacks Jacques Reeves signed with Houston and Nate Jones left for Miami.
The Cowboys traded for suspended cornerback Adam ''Pacman'' Jones, but its unsure whether NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will reinstate Pacman this season.
''We're going to throw him right in there and start right away coaching him,'' said defensive backs coach Dave Campo, who is also the Cowboys' former head coach. ''Where he finishes, time will tell. I think he's capable of playing either corner. He just has got to fine tune a lot of stuff and we'll just see what happens.''
Steelers sign WR after Purdue's Bryant fails physical: Rookie free agent wide receiver Kevin Marion signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday after another receiver failed his physical.
The 5-foot-10 Marion caught 44 passes for 485 yards and one touchdown during his career at Wake Forest, making 18 catches for 192 yards as a senior in 2007.
Dorien Bryant, a wide receiver from Purdue who likely would have competed to be one of the Steelers' kick returners, was released. The Steelers did not say why he failed his physical.
Bryant caught at least 80 passes in each of the last three seasons, making 87 catches for 936 yards and eight touchdowns in 2007 and 87 for 1,068 yards and six touchdowns in 2006. He had 80 catches as a sophomore in 2005.
May 4, 2008
Mike Jenkins is trying to keep things simple in his first practices with the Dallas Cowboys.
Jenkins, a cornerback from South Florida who was the second of Dallas' two first-round draft picks, said Saturday he just wants to fit in on a team that went 13-3 last season.
''I'm just trying to get in and help the team the best I can,'' Jenkins said on the second day of the Cowboys' rookie minicamp. ''I'm trying to learn the playbook. If it's meant for me to get on the field early, I can do that. But right now I'm just trying to get in there and learn behind the guys that they have here.''
Jenkins began that learning process this weekend. The 25th overall pick is among 19 rookies and eight first-year players taking part in the three-day minicamp.
Among those Jenkins can ask for help in becoming an elite cornerback was one of the best to ever to play the position -- Deion Sanders. The former Cowboys star was a teammate of Jenkins' uncle, Tracy Sanders, at Florida State.
''(Deion Sanders) is a Florida guy, I'm a Florida guy,'' Jenkins said. ''He likes helping out the Florida kids. He's been a great mentor through this whole process.''
Another Florida guy and former Cowboys great, Emmitt Smith, made a surprise visit to the minicamp Saturday. The NFL's career rushing leader gave a few coaching tips to Dallas' other first-round draft choice, Arkansas running back Felix Jones.
''It's good to have people like that to help you out,'' Jones said. ''With him being the leading rusher in the history of the NFL, it's a blessing to have that opportunity.''
Owner Jerry Jones said after the draft that Felix Jones and Jenkins are expected to contribute right away.
Jenkins has an opportunity to make an impact in the secondary after cornerbacks Jacques Reeves signed with Houston and Nate Jones left for Miami.
The Cowboys traded for suspended cornerback Adam ''Pacman'' Jones, but its unsure whether NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will reinstate Pacman this season.
''We're going to throw him right in there and start right away coaching him,'' said defensive backs coach Dave Campo, who is also the Cowboys' former head coach. ''Where he finishes, time will tell. I think he's capable of playing either corner. He just has got to fine tune a lot of stuff and we'll just see what happens.''
Steelers sign WR after Purdue's Bryant fails physical: Rookie free agent wide receiver Kevin Marion signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday after another receiver failed his physical.
The 5-foot-10 Marion caught 44 passes for 485 yards and one touchdown during his career at Wake Forest, making 18 catches for 192 yards as a senior in 2007.
Dorien Bryant, a wide receiver from Purdue who likely would have competed to be one of the Steelers' kick returners, was released. The Steelers did not say why he failed his physical.
Bryant caught at least 80 passes in each of the last three seasons, making 87 catches for 936 yards and eight touchdowns in 2007 and 87 for 1,068 yards and six touchdowns in 2006. He had 80 catches as a sophomore in 2005.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:27 PM
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