< Back to Front Page Text size – +

Rookies have the answers

Email|Link|Comments (8) Posted by Christopher L. Gasper, Globe Staff July 1, 2009 02:22 PM

It's well known how much of an emphasis the Patriots put on intelligence when it comes to selecting players, so it should come as no surprise that for the second year in a row the Patriots rookie class won the Ultimate Rookie Challenge at the NFL's Rookie Symposium.

The symposium, run by the NFL and NFL Players Association, is mandatory for all NFL draft picks and features information sessions and panels designed to help prepare rookies for the challenges of transitioning to the NFL -- on and off the field.

Throughout the three-and-a-half day symposium, which started Sunday evening and ended today, rookies were asked a series of questions based on symposium presentations and basic NFL trivia.

The combined individual scores of the Patriots rookies were the best of any NFL team at the symposium, which was held in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

The New England rookies -- safety Patrick Chung, nose tackle Ron Brace, cornerback Darius Butler, offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, wide receiver Brandon Tate, linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, guard/center Rich Ohrnberger, offensive lineman George Bussey, long-snapper Jake Ingram, defensive lineman Myron Pryor, wide receiver Julian Edelman and defensive lineman Darryl Richard -- each won a 32-inch flat screen television.

» Back to Front Page

8 comments so far...

Hey Chris, must be the average of their combined scores, right? Otherwise the fact that we've got 12 rookies would have tilted the playing field.

Posted by gmonk July 1, 09 02:42 PM

Smart players...what a concept.....& Bill Belichick's philosophy & approach to drafting the best for the team continues to impress.....congratulations rookies, keep up the great work & bring that attitude to the field & team everyday!!!!!

Posted by Donnie July 1, 09 04:05 PM

YES! Another dynasty in the making?

Chris, do you have any idea what questions they asked? It would be fun for us to see how we measure up to our rookies.

Posted by Bruce M. July 1, 09 04:49 PM

Do the undrafted rookies attend this event?

Posted by Josh July 1, 09 05:52 PM

Is that distorted by the fact that there are so many Pats rookies?

Posted by Brouha July 1, 09 07:20 PM

Chris,

After the two year reign of terror from the draftees it would be interesting to read Stacey James' comments on how NE addresses these same issues with their entire rookie pool of UDFA and drafted kids. I'd also be curious about any other new players with minimal NFL exposure who might be included in the development, for example; a player who may have briefly been with another club in Training Camp or on a Practice Squad, do they get "coached up" too, or is their experience more of an osmosis approach? Does Nick Caserio have any comments to add from the player acquisition perspective? Thanks for the update!

To NE's terrific twelve, and the gang "lounging" around Player Personnel, well done.

Posted by Box_O_Rocks July 2, 09 03:55 PM

Hey I think it's great.......but let's hope they can PLAY FOOTBALL

Posted by Butch July 2, 09 07:09 PM

Well, seeing as they won it last year with just 7 players (while some other teams had 10-12), I'm guessing it's either an average or a "top 3 scores from each team"-type approach.

Posted by STI July 3, 09 03:02 PM

You must be logged in to submit a comment.

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

see all globe blogs