Rookie minicamp news: Day 1

[madness]

Brohm to participate this weekend

Chris Brown
Posted May 6, 2010 – 7:00 am
Tags: Brian Brohm (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/brian-brohm/), Rookie minicamp (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/rookie-minicamp/)
Bills quarterback Brian Brohm will be participating in the team’s weekend rookie minicamp starting on Friday.
Head coach Chan Gailey is permitted to invite all first and second year players to attend the club’s rookie minicamp this weekend on a voluntary basis. Brohm, being a second-year player was eligible to attend and is excited about getting started.
“Its definitely a fresh start for everyone on the roster,” Brohm told Buffalobills.com. ”Some guys have struggled in the past, but are going to get more opportunities coming up this year to show what they have to the new coaching staff. Everyone is starting on an even foot and these coaches will develop new opinions of you and they won’t be tainted by what’s happened in the past. I think it’s a great opportunity.”
For more on Brohm’s thoughts about this weekend check out our exclusive one-on-one interview with Brohm (http://www.buffalobills.com/media-lounge/videos/Bills-Focus-Brian-Brohm-1-on-1/f481ffac-6542-4ca1-903e-9d46d31b9273) in the media lounge and get his take on getting a head start in the quarterback competition (http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-3/Brohm-to-get-first-crack/6e657a87-357e-4226-ba2a-f28c158e8e96) on the home page.

[madness]

Non-rookies participating this weekend

Chris Brown
Posted May 6, 2010 – 9:22 am
Tags: Rookie minicamp (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/rookie-minicamp/)
Here is the rundown of first and second-year players on the Bills roster that are expected to participate in the team’s rookie minicamp this weekend.
On offense
Brian Brohm
Christian Gaddis
Nick Hennessey
Felton Huggins
Steve Johnson
Andy Levitre
Walter Mendenhall
Jamon Meredith
Shawn Nelson
Andre Ramsey
Jonathan Stupar
Jason Watkins
Defense
Reggie Corner
Jon Corto
Rashaad Duncan
Chris Ellis
Marlon Favorite
Cary Harris
Lonnie Harvey
Ellis Lankster
Ryan Manalac
Aaron Maybin
Leodis Mckelvin
Lydell Sargeant
Keep in mind it is voluntary for first and second-year players to participate and some like Jairus Byrd, Eric Wood and Nic Harris are coming off of injury situations and are likely not fit to participate yet.
Veterans cannot participate by league rule.

[madness]

Two more adds for rookie minicamp

Chris Brown
Posted May 6, 2010 – 1:31 pm
Tags: Joe Klopfenstein (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/joe-klopfenstein/), Rodney Ferguson (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/rodney-ferguson/), Rookie minicamp (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/rookie-minicamp/)
A couple of more first and second-year players have been added to the list of participants for Bills rookie minicamp.
Tight end Joe Klopfenstein and fullback Rodney Ferguson will also be practicing this weekend. Here’s the initial list (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2010/05/06/non-rookies-participating-this-weekend/) of first and second-year players voluntarily participating this weekend.
Ferguson will wear jersey number 44. Klopfenstein still has number 87 from last season.

[madness]

Friday practice schedule

Chris Brown
Posted May 7, 2010 – 8:51 am
Tags: Rookie minicamp (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/rookie-minicamp/)
The Bills rookies and first and second-year players attending rookie minicamp this weekend have a pair of practices on the slate Friday.
The players will have their first practice at 10:55 am.
Their second practice is at 3:45 pm.
Both practices will run for about an hour and 20 minutes.

[madness]

Harris, Byrd watching

Chris Brown
Posted May 7, 2010 – 10:08 am
Tags: Jairus Byrd (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/jairus-byrd/), Nic Harris (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/nic-harris/), Rookie minicamp (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/rookie-minicamp/)
Bills 2nd year players Nic Harris and Jairus Byrd will not be participating this weekend.
Both are still rehabbing, but both are watching the morning workout.

[madness]

VIDEO: Spiller hits the field at Bills minicamp (http://blogs.buffalonews.com/billboard/2010/05/spiller-hits-the-field-at-bills-minicamp.html)

ORCHARD PARK -- Here's a little of what rookie running back C.J. Spiller had to say after his first minicamp workout today at One Bills Drive:<object classid="clsid<img src=" images="" smilies="" grin.gif="" alt="" title="Grin" smilieid="535" class="inlineimg" border="0">


<embed allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="config={&quot;key&quot;:&quot;#@80bef946446a83fe371&quot;,&quot;clip&quot;:{&quot;autoPlay&quot;:false},&quot;playlist&quot;:[{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http://buffalonews-video.s3.amazonaws.com/spiller.flv&quot;}],&quot;canvas&quot;:{&quot;backgroundColor&quot;:&quot;#111111&quot;,&quot;backgroundGradient&quot;:[0],&quot;backgroundImage&quot;:&quot;http://video.buffalonews.com/player/player-splash.png&quot;}}" src="http://media.buffalonews.com/static/multimedia/player/flowplayer.commercial-3.0.2.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="294" width="480"></object>

[madness]

Brohm, McKelvin, Levitre at camp (http://blogs.buffalonews.com/billboard/2010/05/brohm-mckelvin-levitre-at-camp.html)

Cornerback Leodis McKelvin, guard Andy Levitre and quarterback Brian Brohm were among the high-profile young players participating in the Buffalo Bills' minicamp this morning at One Bills Drive. Players who have two years experience or less were invited to join the rookies at the three-day event.
Other veterans with regular-season experience on the field today included linebacker Aaron Maybin, cornerback Reggie Corner, safety Jon Corto, linebacker Chris Ellis, receiver Steve Johnson, tackle Jamon Meredith and tight ends Shawn Nelson, Jonathan Stupar and Joe Klopfenstein. There were 50 players on the field.
The Bills worked out for about an hour and 10 minutes on the grass field. They have another session of about 75 minutes scheduled this afternoon.
Brohm and rookie seventh-round draft pick Levi Brown were the two quarterbacks throwing passes. One of the best catches of the morning was by University at Buffalo product Naaman Roosevelt, who made a nice adjustment to the ball over his outside shoulder and hauled in a 55-yard throw from Brohm. Rookie cornerback Stephan Virgil was in coverage. Rookie fourth-round pick Marcus Easley had a nice diving catch on a throw from Brohm.
Asked where Brohm stacks up on the QB depth chart, coach Chan Gailey said: "There’s not a first or a third right now. That’s the situation. We’re going to go to camp with it being an open deal. If you say that, then it’s gotta be. You can’t just say it and then get to camp and you already got your mind made up or you stack it up a different way. To me anybody has a chance to win the job right now. That’s really the way it is. It’s not just lip service."
Brohm said he expects 70 percent of the base offense to be installed this weekend.
Gailey on that subject: "We put in more than some teams might put in because I would like to challenge these guys mentally. That’s part of the process too. How much can they retain from the classroom to the field? That’s one of the challenges I gave these guys. It’s incumbent on them to go back at night and not just flip on the TV or a movie but to spend time in the playbook."
---Mark Gaughan

[madness]

VIDEO: Bills QB Brohm at today's minicamp session (http://blogs.buffalonews.com/billboard/2010/05/video-bills-qb-brohm-at-todays-minicamp-session.html)

ORCHARD PARK -- Quarterback Brian Brohm was one of two QBs on the field for this morning's minicamp session. Check out part of what he had to say in a discussion with reporters:<object classid="clsid<img src=" images="" smilies="" grin.gif="" alt="" title="Grin" smilieid="535" class="inlineimg" border="0">

<embed allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="config={&quot;key&quot;:&quot;#@80bef946446a83fe371&quot;,&quot;clip&quot;:{&quot;autoPlay&quot;:false},&quot;playlist&quot;:[{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http://buffalonews-video.s3.amazonaws.com/brohm.flv&quot;}],&quot;canvas&quot;:{&quot;backgroundColor&quot;:&quot;#111111&quot;,&quot;backgroundGradient&quot;:[0],&quot;backgroundImage&quot;:&quot;http://video.buffalonews.com/player/player-splash.png&quot;}}" src="http://media.buffalonews.com/static/multimedia/player/flowplayer.commercial-3.0.2.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="294" width="480"></object>

[madness]

Rookie Minicamp - Day 1

Chris Brown, Lead Journalist
Posted 22 minutes ago


Buffalo’s rookies along with first and second-year players got things going on the practice field Friday morning on the team’s grass field. The players had to dodge some raindrops later on during the morning session, but were able to finish the hour-plus workout before the field got too slick.
“It’s always good to get on the field,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “You can only talk football so much. You need to be on the grass or on the field and be able to go see who can do what on the field.”


http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-3/Rookie-Minicamp---Day-1/a5c181f1-ce6d-4eaf-96d6-eb2ad843f11b

[madness]

Safety was where there was a noticeable change as <nobr>Jon Cortohttp://www.buffalobills.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif (http://www.buffalobills.com/team/roster/jon-corto/f42b161c-d301-4ac9-9f74-902774413cae/)</nobr> has returned to a position he played early in his college career at Sacred Heart. He’s changed his jersey number from 57 to 33 to accommodate the position change. We’ll have more on Corto’s new spot later this weekend.

[psubills62]

Rookie Minicamp - Day 1

Chris Brown, Lead Journalist
Posted 22 minutes ago


Buffalo’s rookies along with first and second-year players got things going on the practice field Friday morning on the team’s grass field. The players had to dodge some raindrops later on during the morning session, but were able to finish the hour-plus workout before the field got too slick.
“It’s always good to get on the field,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “You can only talk football so much. You need to be on the grass or on the field and be able to go see who can do what on the field.”


http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-3/Rookie-Minicamp---Day-1/a5c181f1-ce6d-4eaf-96d6-eb2ad843f11b

Here we go Chris Brown...


His arm looked lively in the first practice session.

Was his arm doing a jig or something?

[X-Era]

VIDEO: Bills QB Brohm at today's minicamp session (http://blogs.buffalonews.com/billboard/2010/05/video-bills-qb-brohm-at-todays-minicamp-session.html)

ORCHARD PARK -- Quarterback Brian Brohm was one of two QBs on the field for this morning's minicamp session. Check out part of what he had to say in a discussion with reporters:<object classid="clsid<img src=" images="" smilies="" grin.gif="" alt="" title="Grin" smilieid="535" class="inlineimg" border="0">

<embed allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="config={&quot;key&quot;:&quot;#@80bef946446a83fe371&quot;,&quot;clip&quot;:{&quot;autoPlay&quot;:false},&quot;playlist&quot;:[{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http://buffalonews-video.s3.amazonaws.com/brohm.flv&quot;}],&quot;canvas&quot;:{&quot;backgroundColor&quot;:&quot;#111111&quot;,&quot;backgroundGradient&quot;:[0],&quot;backgroundImage&quot;:&quot;http://video.buffalonews.com/player/player-splash.png&quot;}}" src="http://media.buffalonews.com/static/multimedia/player/flowplayer.commercial-3.0.2.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="294" width="480"></object>

Don't bother watching, Fitzpatrick said he's horrible... and he would know... first hand.

:rolleyes:

[justasportsfan]

Chris Brown

The players had to dodge some raindrops later on during the morning session

I heard Spiller didn't get a single raindrop on him.

[historypete]

Did I miss something or is James Hardy not participating? If he isn't that can't say much for him. He needs all the work he can get in my opinion.

[madness]

Brian Brohm transcript from Rookie Minicamp





BUFFALO BILLS ROOKIE MINI-CAMP


Quarterback Brian Brohm


Friday, May 7, 2010

On starting fresh with a new coaching staff:
It’s fun to be back out there on the field and just getting back into football, playing against a defense, seeing how the offense would unfold. We’ve been doing a lot of work in the classroom with coach Gailey and coach Cortez and to finally get out here and see it all in action was a lot of fun.

On getting more reps by volunteering to come in for this mini-camp:
Definitely is a no-brainer. It’s an opportunity for me to get better, to get in here and get familiar with the offense. Anytime you can get some extra reps, I think the more reps you have the better you’re going to play, the more comfortable and confident you’re going to play. So it was definitely good for me to be here.

On if feels he will get a fair opportunity to win the starting job:
I feel like I am. I think what coach says is what he’s going to do. So it’s a great opportunity for me. I just have to focus on myself, become the best player that I can be and not really worry about how the other guys are doing.

On coming to Buffalo and getting a clean slate and fresh start:
I think things have worked out so far making the decision. I had a decision to stay in Green Bay or come here and decided to come here. I felt like it would be a better opportunity for me. It’s worked out that way and I just have to take advantage of the opportunity that’s in front of me.

On if he watched any of this year’s Draft:
I’m not going to lie, I did watch the Draft. I’ve watched it for probably the last five years so it’s nothing new for me to watch. I’m a huge football fan first off and I have a personal interest in what was going to happen. So I definitely watched it.

http://www.wgr550.com/Brian-Brohm-transcript-from-Rookie-Minicamp/6996442

What!? We actually have a QB that is a football fan? Get out of town!

[madness]

Chan Gailey transcript after the first practice of Rookie Minicamp





BUFFALO BILLS ROOKIE MINI-CAMP



Head Coach Chan Gailey



Friday, May 7, 2010


On getting the first mini-camp session on the field:
It’s always good to get on the field. You can only talk football so much. You need to be on the grass or on the field and be able to go see who can do what on the field.

On QB Brian Brohm being in attendance:
We had several players out there and most of them are two years or under experience-wise. What we thought was, we get the extra mini-camp, it was an opportunity to put them in with the rookies, and give them some coaching reps that they might not get when the veteran players are here. So it’s an opportunity to give some of those younger players who don’t have a lot of experience an opportunity to participate.

On spending a lot of time with Brohm:
In general, I’m going to spend a little bit more time on the offensive end and in particular today with the receivers and the quarterbacks. But I try to keep my eye on the quarterbacks at all times. That’s one of the things that I think is important that we make sure that we evaluate correctly.

On where Brohm stacks up with the quarterback situation:
There’s not a first or a third right now. That’s the situation. We’re going to go to camp with it being an open deal and if you say that then it’s got to be. You can’t just say it and then get to camp and you’ve already got your mind made up or you stack it up a different way. To me, anybody’s got a chance to win the job right now. And that’s really the way it is. It’s not just lip service.


http://www.wgr550.com/Chan-Gailey-transcript-after-the-first-practice-of/6996522

[madness]

On what he knew of Coach Gailey prior to him being hired and how the offense will be:
I didn’t know about him personally. I did know he was the Cowboys, Georgia Tech and Kansas City. I did remember his name from those places. But it’s been great so far. He’s been in the classroom teaching us. Every single day he’s up on the board drawing up plays, with the quarterbacks one-on-one, with the quarterbacks and receivers and with the whole offense. He does a lot of teaching. He’s very involved with the offense which I like.


On if he is the same weight as last year:
Actually last year in Green Bay they had me at 220-to-222 lbs. I’ve put on a little bit more weight. I’m around 230 lbs. right now.



On if he was living with teammate OL Eric Wood in January and February and how he’s rehabbing:
Yes. Eric’s a hard worker. He’s been working hard and rehabbing every single day which I had no doubt in my mind that he would do that. I’ve been around him since my freshman year in college. He’s hard worker and he’ll be back out here as fast as he can get back out here. He’ll probably want to come out here faster than he should. But he’s going to work hard at it.

[madness]

Brown has a live arm

Chris Brown
Posted May 7, 2010 – 2:07 pm
Tags: Levi Brown (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/levi-brown/), Rookie minicamp (http://blogs.buffalobills.com/tag/rookie-minicamp/)
Bills seventh-round pick Levi Brown put his abilities on display in the morning practice Friday and it’s evident he has a live arm.
The ball had some zip on it when he threw passes and the flight path of his deep passes look good. For his first practice his decision making was pretty solid and he wasn’t afraid to push the ball down the field.
Coming from an offense that did a lot of throwing at Troy (only 3 QBs in college football had more attempts than his 504 in 2009) he’s not shy to put it out there, but takes pride in his accuracy and decision making. We’ll see how things progress for Brown through the course of the weekend.

[Michael82]

Buffalo’s rookies along with first and second-year players got things going on the practice field Friday morning on the team’s grass field. The players had to dodge some raindrops later on during the morning session, but were able to finish the hour-plus workout before the field got too slick.
Wow! The Bills actually practiced outside? :shocked:

And in the rain? That's great to hear! :bf1:

[Commissioner]

Don't bother watching, Fitzpatrick said he's horrible... and he would know... first hand.

:rolleyes:
You will see... don't be surprised if he ends up getting cut before the season.

Ur hero did get picked twice...

[DraftBoy]

Is it just me or are those some of the most craptastic notes ever written about nearly 3 hours of practice.

[BertSquirtgum]

You will see... don't be surprised if he ends up getting cut before the season.

Ur hero did get picked twice...

did fitzy give you a reach around at the hockey game or something? what's up with the man love for this bum?

[John Doe]

This article is a little redundant with the other posts, but it has a little more info.


Bills coach Gailey keeps close eye on QB Brohm

No matter where Brian Brohm(notes) was on the field Friday morning, Buffalo Bills first-year head coach Chan Gailey wasn’t far behind.

Let the quarterback competition begin.

In his first opportunity to watch his team practice since taking over in January, Gailey focused much of his attention on Brohm during the 70-minute session that kicked off a three-day weekend minicamp for rookies and players with less than three years’ NFL experience.

Occasionally jotting down notes in his clipboard, Gailey watched Brohm throw most every pass while studying the quarterback from nearly every angle. Gailey maintained his focus on Brohm during individual drills even when the rest of the players—including first-round draft pick, running back C.J. Spiller(notes)—went to the far end of the field to go through team drills, with rookie seventh-round draft pick Levi Brown running the offense.

That, according to Gailey, was to be expected because he intends to keep a close eye on all his quarterbacks to determine which of the three contenders— Brohm or Trent Edwards(notes) and Ryan Fitzpatrick(notes), who split the starting duties last year—will earn the No. 1 job.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=ArMAGodAs3vpHDWeafkBdgZDubYF?slug=ap-bills-brohm

[Michael82]

Is it just me or are those some of the most craptastic notes ever written about nearly 3 hours of practice.

It's not just you. At least they have a highlight video though. :up:

http://www.buffalobills.com/media-lounge/videos/Bills-Roundup-Rookie-Camp-Day-1-Highlights/0b11b1ed-091a-4ce1-a9a8-f6af006e827a

[Throne Logic]

Did I miss something or is James Hardy not participating? If he isn't that can't say much for him. He needs all the work he can get in my opinion.

Hardy is a third year player. Can't participate under league rules.

[psubills62]

Hardy is a third year player. Can't participate under league rules.

That seems logical, but then why are Steve Johnson and Chris Ellis participating? They were drafted in the same year as Hardy, after all.

I wonder if it has something to do with the number of games played. I think Ellis, Johnson, and Hardy are all technically third-year players, but may have played in few enough games to qualify as eligible for this camp. :idunno:

[jamze132]

Is Maybin there?

[psubills62]

Is Maybin there?

Yes.

http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2010/05/06/non-rookies-participating-this-weekend/

[madness]

Did I miss something or is James Hardy not participating? If he isn't that can't say much for him. He needs all the work he can get in my opinion.


Receiver James Hardy was not in attendance. He has been in town since offseason conditioning started in March. Gailey said Hardy had a personal commitment.

[historypete]

Hardy is a third year player. Can't participate under league rules.

Then why was Steve Johnson practicing? They were both drafted in the same class, as was McKelvin who was participating.

[historypete]

Thanks for the update. I still think he is doing himself a major disservice by not attending.

[mysticsoto]

Hardy is a third year player. Can't participate under league rules.

It looks like he can...


James Hardy was eligible to be there this weekend but wasn't. Gailey said Hardy had something to take care of.

http://www.wgr550.com/twobillsdrive/7004608

[madness]

Attendance requirements for mini camps are left up to the head coach. We get three (that can involve veteran players) because of the new HC but only one can be mandatory.



MINICAMPS
Section 1. Number: Each League Year each Club may hold a maximum of one mandatory minicamp for veteran players. If a Club hires a new head coach after the end of the regular season, that Club may hold two additional voluntary minicamps for veteran players. There is no limitation on the number of minicamps a Club may hold for rookie players.
Section 2. Length: No minicamp may exceed three days in length, plus one day for physical examinations. If possible, minicamps should be scheduled for weekends and not in conflict with previously scheduled meetings of the NFLPA Board of Reps or the annual NFLPA convention.
Section 3. Expenses: Any veteran player who attends a minicamp will receive meal allowances in accordance with Article XXXIX (Meal Allowance), Section 1 of this Agreement, plus all travel expenses to and from the camp, plus “per diem” payments at the rate provided in Article XXXVII (Salaries), Section 4 of this Agreement. In addition, the Club will provide housing at minicamps for players coming from out‑of‑town.
Section 4. Contact: There will be no contact work (e.g., “live” blocking, tackling, pass rushing, bump‑and‑run) or use of pads (helmets permitted) at minicamps.
Section 5. Injuries: Any player injured in a Club’s minicamp will be protected in the same manner as if injured during the Club’s pre‑season training camp.
http://www.clt.astate.edu/marburger/nfl.htm#art36

[madness]

Is it just me or are those some of the most craptastic notes ever written about nearly 3 hours of practice.

3 hrs. on field?


The mini-camp was filled with meetings, meetings and more meetings, with the players then trying to put what they learned into practice on the field. With an entirely new staff led by head coach Chan Gailey, the learning curve is steep for veterans and newcomers alike.

[DraftBoy]

3 hrs. on field?

They had two 70+ minute practice sessions on the field.