It's been 47 days since the 2014 Cleveland Browns draft class arrived in Berea. Because the draft was pushed back to May, these rookies have been in the building more than the usual NFL orientation period.
Saturday after visiting the Hall of Fame, Justin Gilbert, Duke Johnson Jr., Joel Bitonio, Chris Kirksey, Terrance West and Pierre Desir, will finally get a chance for some relaxation and to catch up with loved ones. They'll take a month break before reporting to training camp in late July.
The rookies have been busy getting advice and tips during the rookie symposium. Each player had a strong take away from their time learning at the symposium.
Justin Gilbert:
"That was my first time hearing Donte Stallworth’s story yesterday. It was kind of touching. For guys that are out drinking and driving, it'll change their perspective. Maybe they will want to call up an Uber to stay out of situations like that. It was a pretty touching story. You have to be thinking clearly 24/7."
Johnny Manziel: "The [NFL] has done a lot of financial stuff for us. Obviously that's a big thing… It's just knowing what you are getting into. We are rookies we haven't been through this before. So the past players come back and say what they would've wanted to go through, what they would've wanted to hear. So we are enjoying our time here."
Chris Kirksey: "This guy was doing a presentation and he ripped up a piece of newspaper of a world map. He gave the ripped up newspaper to his son, who put it back together in five minutes. He asked his son, 'How did you put it back so fast?' And the son said, 'It was easy.' So there was a man's face on the back of the world map. So he put the face together of the man, so that's how he put the world together. So the saying goes, fix yourself before you fix the world. I really got into that message. I think that will stick with me for a while."
Terrance West: "If you are looking for help and you need help, just open up to the oldest guys and the veterans in the locker room. And talk to the guys and ask them how they made it in the league for a long time. I talked to Warrick Dunn at the symposium. He told me the veterans have the answers. They've been."
Pierre Desir: "There was so much information that was great. But probably the one that stuck with me the most is learning how to be a better you. Doing everything you can. And just control what you can control. Because in football we try to control it and think about it too much. But just control what you can control and everything will take care of itself."
