New Jeremy Bloom article: No Need To Apologize
Jeremy Bloom wants to play football. He understands there's a demand for him from the media who show an abnormal interest in a fifth-round pick. He probably realizes there's a legion of fans that care more about D-spins than defense. But Bloom just wants to play football.
After two years away from the sport, you can't blame him.
And he's all in. There's no doubt football is his only priority right now. Bloom's story as an Olympic skier and Colorado football star that took a devastating twist when the NCAA ruled him ineligible from college football has been well chronicled. But he's shifting from that celebrity to the obscurity of a fifth-round pick. The problem has been the obscurity part. Although it hasn't been for a lack of effort.
WR/KR Jeremy Bloom |
"My biggest focus is that playbook," Bloom said, pointing to the hulking encyclopedia in his locker.
Bloom's quickly catching on, and leaving nothing out of the acclimation process. With some players, the rookie camp is a time to learn the terminology of a new playbook. For others, it's important to learn the fundamentals of a different position or different scheme. Some rookies' biggest adjustment is to the conditioning of the NFL.
But Bloom is focusing on every aspect of the transition. He hasn't played football in two seasons, and while not quite like riding a bike, he insists he's making up for lost time. But he's not being judicious about what to emphasize.
"It's a mix of fundamentals, the physical game and the mental game," Bloom said. "I'm getting back into football shape, getting stronger, getting faster, catching the ball. It's really a mix of everything."
Bloom's confident in his conditioning, and despite summer-like humidity that's unforgiving in Philadelphia - or at least compared to Boulder, Colo. - he said training in Colorado's high altitude has helped him with the adjustment.
He notices the speed of everyone and everything in the NFL compared to college. He said the size of the players hasn't been that much of a shock (there aren't many slouches in the Big 12 Conference), but the speed of the players and the processes can be taxing.
Lucky for Bloom, speed has been his most praiseworthy tool. His speed at Colorado was particularly evident on special teams, where Bloom figures to make his mark as a returner. But he's not prepared to pencil himself into any slot. Bloom insists that's for the coaches to decide.
"Athletics can get very political; I know that from the Olympics," Bloom said. "That's why they hire coaches, that's why they hire decision makers. I'm not a decision maker; I'm an athlete."
Bloom's becoming a quick learner, though. He knows it'll take more than being athlete to make the Eagles. He was diligent about making it to his meeting. He was quick to discuss the importance of learning the playbook. And at this point, he wants to make sure football is the emphasis of his transition from two-sport athlete to one-sport athlete.
So when the Eagles had Memorial Day weekend off, rather than capitalize on his celebrity, Bloom tried to maximize his time.
"I went to my aunt and uncle's house and visited my cousins," Bloom said, "and then I went right into the playbook."
Typical. It's the football player in him doing the talking.
taken from philadelphiaeagles.com