NFLPA Rookie Premiere

For the 23rd year the NFL Players Association brought together 40 freshly drafted football players in Los Angeles for their Rookie Premiere, presented by the trading card company Panini America. It was held last Thursday-Saturday and is designed to educate the young professional football players on the business side of the game, to create and promote their unique brand content, and perhaps secure endorsement deals. The event culminates with a photo shoot of the players in the uniforms of their new teams with the NFLPA's exclusive trading card licensee, Panini America. It's a potential win for the players and a definite win for Panini. Plus, it looks like a fun event for the players to better get to know their rookie peers. 40 rookies were invited to the event.

C.J. Beathard, QB, San Francisco 49ers
James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Amara Darboh, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Corey Davis, WR, Tennessee Titans
Joshua Dobbs, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Evan Engram. TE, New York Giants
D'Onta Foreman, RB, Houston Texans
Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Wayne Gallman, RB, New York Giants
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions
Carlos Henderson, WR, Denver Broncos
Mack Hollins, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
O.J. Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Zay Jones, WR, Buffalo Bills
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
DeShone Kizer, QB, Cleveland Browns
Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Pat Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
Jeremy McNichols, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Samaje Perine, RB, Washington Redskins
Nathan Peterman, QB, Buffalo Bills
Josh Reynolds, WR, Los Angeles Rams
John Ross, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Curtis Samuel, WR, Carolina Panthers
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
ArDarius Sterwart, WR, New York Jets
Taywan Taylor, WR, Tennessee Titans
Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Chicago Bears
DeShaun Watson. QB, Houston Texans
Davis Webb, QB, New York Giants
DeDe Westbrook, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jamaal Williams, RB, Green Bay Packers
Joe Williams, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Crossing off the players in the group photo taken during shoot revealed that Bills receiver Zay Jones and Panthers' playmakers Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel didn't show. At least they didn't show for the photo shoot.

One thing that all 40 of the invited players have in common is that they all play on offense. Actually they all play the so-called "offensive skill positions." They all touch the football. They all score touchdowns. No offensive linemen or defensive players are invited to this annual event. This is ridiculous. I guess that the grunts on the line and the monsters on defense need not worry themselves over endorsement deals and the business side of football. These poor football players are people too. They have dreams beyond the game. I thought that the NFLPA represented all football players and not just the ones that pop up in fantasy football stat sheets. Come on people, open your arms to all rookies. Players from both sides of the line, and on the line, should be welcome to this event.