Former Pam Pack, Pirate player Copper trying to shine with Cowboys

[dmq]

Former Pam Pack, Pirate player Copper trying to shine with Cowboys

By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
With the Big Tuna watching his every move, and fighting for a job along with the likes of Keyshawn Johnson and other veterans, rookie free agent wide receiver Terrance Copper was only somewhat pleased with his first day of camp with the Dallas Cowboys.

"I think I did okay," said Copper from the team's practice facilities Saturday evening at Oxnard, Calif. "I didn't do as well as I could have."

Dallas head coach Bill Parcells directed the first of several two-a-days for the Cowboys, coming in front of hundreds of fans.

"There were a lot of fans out there," Copper said. "They were out there in the morning and I still think they're out there."

Copper, a former standout with the Washington Pam Pack and East Carolina Pirates, had just finished his second session of two-a-days with the Cowboys. To say the least, it was a busy day.

"We worked a lot on the running game in the first session and we threw a lot more in the second session," he said. "We had to be on the field by 8:50 (a.m.) for the first practice. We then had lunch, had the second practice and then had dinner. We'll then have meetings until about 9:30 (p.m.)."

Copper attended three separate meetings -- for the offense, special teams and wide receivers.

Copper, who set a handful of receiving records with the Pirates last season, knew it would be a tough first day.

"It was very intense," Copper said. "Everybody has to step it up to another level.

"My legs are tired right now. Physically, I'm okay. But we did a lot of running today and my legs and twinging a bit. I'm trying to drink some water right now (to keep hydrated)."

Though it was his first day of NFL camp, Copper said he was prepared.

"I wasn't really nervous," he said. "I knew I had to go out and make plays because you have the veterans right in front of you.

"The most challenging thing is getting into the huddle and knowing the plays. If you don't know the plays, you're going to get yelled at. You better study those plays the night before and know them."

Whether players knew the plays or not, the coaches were apt to scream at them.

"Coaches will dog us all through camp," Copper said. "They want to see how tough you are, to see if you can take it physically and mentally."

While learning a new system with the Cowboys, Copper is also trying to adjust to a new time zone.

"My body is still not used to this time," he said. "There's a three-hour time difference. My body clock is still off."

Copper, who said the Cowboys will run the same schedule for the next 10 days, is anxious to return to the field today.

"Camp is going well," he said. "There's a lot of guys competing for a job. I want to get out there and make some plays."

Along with Johnson, Copper is also competing with the likes of Terry Glenn, Antonio Bryant and Dedric Ward at wide receiver.

"I'm not nervous around them at all," Copper said. "You compare yourself to them, guys that have been in the league for a few years, and see where you're at.

"I'm picking their brains and trying to learn all I can. I just see this as a great experience."

[Eddie]

This is heart warming stuff ... how undrafted rookie FA's with slim to no chances defies the odds to make an NFL roster. It's like a real life 'Rudy'.

But please excuse me if my excitement meter is tempered when discussing undrafted rookie FA's.

[OldMan]

UDFA is this some sort of rash or leprosy. Some seem to think this means that you can't play ball. In fact many of the better players through the years were drafted late (when they used a zillion rounds) are were not drafted at all. This just goes to prove that "those who know it all--don't"