The first event to be wiped off the NFL calendar — a casualty of the lockout — is the rookie symposium, which was supposed to take place starting June 26 in Canton, Ohio, site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was canceled earlier this week.
One member of the Giants’ 2011 draft class isn’t all broken up about that.
The symposium is designed to help rookies make the transition into the NFL, providing guidance on how to conduct themselves off the field, how to handle their money and come to grips with their new lifestyle.
In the past, the event has been praised for dealing with important issues that confront first-year players. But James Brewer, an offensive tackle from Indiana taken by the Giants last month in the fourth round of the draft, said he isn’t worried about not getting a chance to spend time at the symposium.
“That’s probably one thing I’m not going to say I’ll miss, going to [Ohio] for three days or so of pretty much a freshman orientation,” Brewer said yesterday from Indianapolis. “Kind of letting you know what not to do. I feel I have pretty good common sense, so I think I’ll be OK. I don’t think I need someone to tell me not to hit women and stuff like that. I think I kind of know that already.”
The Giants hope Brewer can develop into a left or right tackle prospect, but they haven’t had any contact with him after cursory phone calls immediately after they selected him on the second day of the NFL Draft. The lockout prohibits any contact between the team and players, even rookies trying to figure out what life in the NFL is all about.
“Those three days [at the symposium] doesn’t make you better as a player,” Brewer said. “It’s more of ‘Here are the rules, don’t break ’em’ deal and I would much rather be in Jersey training.”
Brewer isn’t in New Jersey, but rather than hang out in Canton getting all sorts of advice, Brewer said he is glad he can continue to work out in Bloomington, Ind., keeping himself in top shape to hit the ground running whenever the lockout ends.