- Messages
- 79,281
- Reaction score
- 45,652
Posted by Aaron Wilson on July 18, 2009 5:30 PM ET
There's a small, star-studded NFL convention unfolding at the University of Minnesota, an elite wide receiver clinic organized by Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
According to Jim Trotter of SI.com, the Pro Bowl wideout recruited several of the league's top receivers as well as some defensive players to attend intense football workouts in Minneapolis. Fitzgerald also books hotel rooms for the players and opens up his home for meals.
The "professors" running the drills are retired star wide receivers Jerry Rice and Cris Carter.
Beyond the pedigree of Rice and Carter, Fitzgerald brought in a lot of talent to make the drills competitive.
Per the report, that group includes Brandon Marshall (Denver Broncos), Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers), Malcolm Jenkins (New Orleans Saints), Lee Evans (Buffalo Bills), Michael Clayton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), DeAngelo Hall (Washington Commanders), James Laurinaitis (St. Louis Rams) and Brian Robiskie (Cleveland Browns).
"The way Cris teaches us to run a route, I never heard it put that way," Evans said. "What he was teaching wasn't new. It's just the way he said it that you could relate to. Like they always say, there's more than one way to skin a cat.
"You've got to find what works for you. It may or may not help you, but it worked for him and you see what kind of career he had."
According to Trotter, Carter didn't hold back with the, er, constructive criticism when evaluating Cardinals tight end Domonique Byrd, who doesn't have a sterling history on or off the field.
Carter's take on Byrd, who was arrested for DUI when he played for the Rams and had trouble being on time for flights to games and got in trouble for falling asleep in team meetings: "You're a wide receiver in a fat man's body."
Perhaps some of Carter's teachings will inspire Byrd to improve his dedication. Or maybe he'll just go kick rocks.
Regardless, the camp sounds like an ultra-productive way to get ready for training camp.
There's a small, star-studded NFL convention unfolding at the University of Minnesota, an elite wide receiver clinic organized by Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
According to Jim Trotter of SI.com, the Pro Bowl wideout recruited several of the league's top receivers as well as some defensive players to attend intense football workouts in Minneapolis. Fitzgerald also books hotel rooms for the players and opens up his home for meals.
The "professors" running the drills are retired star wide receivers Jerry Rice and Cris Carter.
Beyond the pedigree of Rice and Carter, Fitzgerald brought in a lot of talent to make the drills competitive.
Per the report, that group includes Brandon Marshall (Denver Broncos), Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers), Malcolm Jenkins (New Orleans Saints), Lee Evans (Buffalo Bills), Michael Clayton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), DeAngelo Hall (Washington Commanders), James Laurinaitis (St. Louis Rams) and Brian Robiskie (Cleveland Browns).
"The way Cris teaches us to run a route, I never heard it put that way," Evans said. "What he was teaching wasn't new. It's just the way he said it that you could relate to. Like they always say, there's more than one way to skin a cat.
"You've got to find what works for you. It may or may not help you, but it worked for him and you see what kind of career he had."
According to Trotter, Carter didn't hold back with the, er, constructive criticism when evaluating Cardinals tight end Domonique Byrd, who doesn't have a sterling history on or off the field.
Carter's take on Byrd, who was arrested for DUI when he played for the Rams and had trouble being on time for flights to games and got in trouble for falling asleep in team meetings: "You're a wide receiver in a fat man's body."
Perhaps some of Carter's teachings will inspire Byrd to improve his dedication. Or maybe he'll just go kick rocks.
Regardless, the camp sounds like an ultra-productive way to get ready for training camp.
