Give The News & Observer some credit for doing a good job of following the Wolfpack’s “6 Pack” of draftees. The N&O ran this summary of 2006 Wolfpack football alums as NFL training camps are opening.
Mario Williams earned rave reviews in Houston during his first NFL practice. (Link)
The Houston Texans’ No. 1 draft pick got rave reviews after his first practice of training camp on Friday, but knows that the tempo and climate of practice will take some getting used to.
“It’s hot,” he said of the 90-degree temperature mixed with stifling humidity. “But it’s probably not as hot as it’s going to be. Just being out here and getting a taste of it and just trying to get your body back in football shape is pretty tough.”
The Houston Chronicle featured Mario in a big piece today titled, “Starting to Feel the Heat”.
Mario Williams has his mini-mansion near Memorial Park, a fleet of luxury vehicles in the driveway and, despite all of that, a bulging bank account.
Since signing with the Texans, he has gotten a nice jump on the sweet life that goes with being the No. 1 NFL draft choice.
But Friday, it was time for Williams to go to work, to start earning the $14.9 million the Texans will pay him for — knock on wood — his immediate-impact services this season after they finished the last one 2-14. And work diligently he did, side by side with the veterans and the long-shot free agents who also reported for the start of training camp on a typically stifling summer day in Houston.
How did Williams look? In a word, hot. Because it was.
“I just want to get used to the heat,” Williams said after the morning practice, which was conducted outside.
He would go on to mention the weather a half-dozen more times during the course of a five-minute interview as sweat flowed in multiple rivulets down his face and dripped off his chin. Yet a small piece of grass stubbornly remained stuck to his cheek under his left eye.
Welcome to the glamorous world of professional football, Mario.
Manny Lawson signed a contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday but details were not yet disclosed. (Link)
John McCargo officially signed his new contract with the Buffalo Bills. (Link)
“I’m just happy it’s out of the way,” said McCargo. “I’m ready to get into camp and ready to play some football.”
Over the past couple of days as training camp was fast approaching McCargo admitted he was getting a bit nervous about whether he would be able to report to camp on time.
“I was kind of anxious wanting it to get done on time,” said McCargo. “I really didn’t want to miss camp at all, so I was a bit anxious and excited.”
When all was said and done McCargo missed just one practice session Friday morning. And McCargo isn’t worried about what’s to come in his first NFL training camp.
“I’m just going to go out there work hard, stay in my playbook and pick up on everything as quick as possible and try to be a player,” said McCargo. “It’s just football. There’s always a learning curve and I expect that, but I want to catch on quick and just go with the flow.”
