The span of my Cardinals coverage has last more than 25 years. That's a lot of rookie minicamps, and far back enough to remember Saturday practices with some 45 guys and 11-on-11 helmeted work that looked like a real workout.
That's not how it's now. Cardinals rookie minicamp started Friday with 13 players total -- seven draft picks, six undrafted rookies, no QB -- in what amounts to a rookie orientation weekend rather than a minicamp.
"There is not one right or wrong way to do it," coach Jonathan Gannon said. "We have a couple things we want to get out of it. I've been a part of a lot of different ways it's been done.
"I have an understanding they are in the building for the first time and a new city for the first time. Lot of cortisol. Their cortisol levels are high right now so I'm really not trying to kill them. I want them to acclimate with how we do things. They are going to jump in with the vets and I don't want them to stick out, not knowing what to do."
(Editor's note: Cortisol can be called the stress hormone, produced by the adrenal glands. Stress is only one of its byproducts, but in this case, accurate. And we thank Dr. Gannon for teaching us all something new.)
The players got on the field Friday and will do it again Saturday. Sunday will be more about meetings, and then Monday, the veterans return for voluntary Phase Two work and the rookies will go from there.
Gannon is specific how he has developed his offseason program. The rookie weekend has been dialed back. Teams can have up to 10 OTAs -- helmeted, with offense v defense allowed -- but the Cardinals will have just six, prior to the mandatory minicamp which usually only ends up with a couple of practices as well as opposed to the three days once upon a time.
The rookies hadn't been in the building even 24 hours yet as they finished up their first day on the field. Sixth-round pick offensive lineman Hayden Conner was asked, after the initial work and meetings, if anything about the NFL stood out.
"You can get fined really quickly," Conner said. "And everyone takes it a lot more serious, and I'm all about that."
Gannon left his impression on the players -- Conner said he was a "bad ass" -- and all the cultural staples, like JG's winning behavior and five buckets, were relayed to the newest Cardinals. So too was the timeline. By the time next week starts, there is about five weeks left of the offseason program, then about five weeks of (relative) down time. Then training camp will be here.
"It's going to hit you like a train, really quick," Gannon said.
