Today starts a new journey in the lives of rookies.
Wide receiver Rueben Randle tweeted as much this morning as he and the rest of the rookie class report to the Timex Performance Center for their minicamp.
For Randle, it became a reality two weeks ago when he was drafted in the second round by the New York Giants. And if first impressions mean anything, the LSU product got off on the right foot with fans as he received glowing reviews across the board (including a loud ovation at Radio City Music Hall).
"That's always a good start to have the fans on your side," Randle said in a Q&A with his hometown newspaper the Bastrop Daily Enterprise. "You always want to feel welcome, so I really appreciate the way the crowd reacted."
Now Randle will try to make that same impression on his teammates this weekend and the upcoming months as he helps defend a title.
"I'll do whatever they ask me to do," Randle said. "I'm looking forward to going out there and competing and making plays, whether it be in the running game or the passing game.
"I know it's a winning program; Super Bowl champions two out of the last four years. It's a great opportunity to go win some games and help them win another Super Bowl."
**QUICK HITS
**>> NFL Network released 71-80 of the Top 100 Players of 2012. No Giants were in this installment, but the NFC East was represented by the Eagles' WR DeSean Jackson (No. 71) and CB Nnamdi Asomugha (No. 79). For the Giants, Hakeem Nicks (No. 90) is the only player off the board so far.
Giants No. 1 in USA TODAY’s post-draft NFL power rankings.
Giants ace 2012 NFL Draft. [Chad Reuter and Bucky Brooks, NFL.com]
*"Successful teams are supposed to have a difficult time improving through the draft because they pick late in each round. Apparently, no one has told this to the Giants. With the last pick in the first round, they secured a future starting running back in Virginia Tech's David Wilson, who could be a playmaker in the LeSean McCoy mold with more seasoning."
*>> Draft fallout: Do the Giants have best skill players in NFL? [NFL.com]
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