NFL Rookie Reaction

The Associated Press reported late Monday that Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander may still have a break in his left foot, an injury that sidelined him for seven games last season. However, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer responds to the story by reporting that Alexander took part in the club's minicamp over the weekend and will practice with the veterans this week. The team also dismissed the report. Alexander was lighthearted during the interview when he said, "I don't even want to get another X-ray until after this camp. If the X-ray shows it's still cracked, it's like, 'OK, what does that mean?'"....

The Atlanta Falcons released tight end Eric Beverly, who played in 45 games for the team. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Beverly spent seven seasons with the Detroit Lions as an offensive lineman before signing with the Falcons in 2004. The Falcons then converted him to a blocking tight end. He had one reception for no gain for Atlanta last season. Beverly made seven starts in three seasons with Atlanta. The Falcons chose Martrez Milner, a tight end from Georgia, in the fourth round of the NFL draft last month as a possible backup for starter Alge Crumpler.....

Aside from first-round pick WR Robert Meachem, the Saints' 2007 draft class includes: Kent State CB Usama Young, Akron OG Andy Alleman, Ohio State RB Antonio Pittman, Towson OT Jermon Bushrod, Wingate CB David Jones and Tennessee LB Marvin Mitchell. Of their seven draft picks, two are offensive skill-position players, two are O-linemen and three are defenders. Moreover, four are from small schools (a trend that started with Marques Colston, perhaps?).....

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, new Browns QB Brady Quinn threw consecutive balls into a brisk wind that could be described charitably as wounded ducks. Each ball looked to hit a brick wall in midair and plummet, one far short of the intended and uncovered receiver. Quinn compensated on the next pass and overthrew a receiver....

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the Packers are trying to replace the departed Ahman Green with a handful of RB. Vernand Morency, who carried 96 times for 434 yards and two touchdowns last season after coming over from the Texans in the Samkon Gado trade, is the leading candidate to replace the franchise's second-leading, all-time rusher. But rookie Brandon Jackson took a small step toward competing with Morency with a solid rookie orientation camp. A second-round pick from Nebraska, the 5-foot-10, 212-pound Jackson rushed for 989 yards and eight TDs on 188 carries as a junior last season while also catching 33 passes for 313 yards and two more TDs. He made a good first impression on coach Mike McCarthy with his quickness.....

Aside from top picks RB Adrian Peterson and WR Sidney Rice, the Vikings' 2007 draft class includes: Fresno State CB Marcus McCauley, Texas DE Brian Robison, ECU WR Aundrae Allison, Oklahoma LB Rufus Alexander, Coastal Carolina QB Tyler Thigpen and FIU WR Chandler Williams. ...

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, neither Brett Favre nor Aaron Rodgers will be completely ready for the Green Bay Packers' mandatory mini-camp that starts May 18, so third-stringer Ingle Martin will get a good chance to showcase himself. Coach Mike McCarthy said Sunday that Favre would attend the mini-camp but would spend the time rehabilitating his left ankle, which was operated on Feb. 26 to remove bone chips. McCarthy said in March that he didn't expect Favre to take part in the mini-camp but was hopeful he would be able to take part in the organized team activities two weeks after that. Rodgers has been rehabilitating a broken left foot suffered Nov. 19 and is cleared to do some things in the off-season conditioning program. McCarthy said Rodgers was close to being cleared for the mini-camp, but he said he probably wouldn't expose him to a lot of action just to be on the safe side....

Aside from first-round pick WR Dwayne Bow, the Chiefs' 2007 draft class includes: Tennessee DT Turk McBride, N.C. State DT DeMarcus 'Tank' Tyler, Louisville RB Kolby Smith, UCLA PK Justin Medlock, TCU OT Herbert Taylor and Whitworth TE Michael Allan.