Sports
Email
Print
Payne Is Getting Noticed
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: July 5, 2008
LAND O' LAKES - Fresh out of the University of Minnesota, Logan Payne didn't experience the typical first day on the job that most people have.
He started the process of getting to know his co-workers, some of whom bear the names Matt Hasselbeck, Bobby Engram, Seneca Wallace, Walter Jones, Julian Peterson and Lofa Tatupu. Stars in the city of Seattle for a team known as the Seahawks.
That's the life for a rookie in the National Football League.
Payne was a free agent signee after not being selected in the 2007 draft, and he spent that NFL season on the Seahawks practice squad.
In that arrangement, Payne practiced against the starting defense, running the opposing offense the Seahawks would face that week.
"It's not just bodies," Seahawks president and former Bucs director of player personnel Tim Ruskell told the Seattle Times during the 2007 season. "When you have a really good practice squad of guys that are committed, want to get better, they push our people to get better. We've seen that this year. This is definitely the best group I've ever been associated with."
Now, back to Payne's first day.
The former Land O' Lakes star had to knock back a pair of saucer eyes and a case of nerves.
"I'm not going to lie, I was a little star-struck after getting out there," he said. "I definitely had the jitters. When that first pass comes to you, and you barely catch it and it's like, what's going on here?
"After a while, we're all football players. There definitely was a little anxiety, but after a while, you're out there playing football, doing what's natural to you."
Last month, during the Seahawks' minicamp, the 23-year-old Payne took steps toward getting his No. 19 permanently added to Seattle's active roster.
"It went real well," Payne said, excitement coursing through his voice. "I ran with the starters, switching off. I got a lot of reps with Matt Hasselbeck, which is good to get him familiarized with me and vice versa. It's going real well. I'm excited. Everything they told me thus far has kind of panned out. They didn't draft any receivers, and one of the starters from last year, D.J. Hackett, he went to he Carolina Panthers.
"They definitely like us, and I know I'm getting a lot of opportunities, and I'll get even more this upcoming year."
Making his transition most important is his familiarity with the playbook. Last season was more for learning and searing the playbook into his brain, while the recent minicamps have been all about focusing on technique and becoming a well-known target on the field.
He's also shuttling around the offense learning the flanker, slot receiver and split-end positions.
"I'm a blue-collar guy," he said. "Whatever they need me to do, I'm gonna do. I'm a hard worker, I'm the first one at the workout, the last one to leave, which is kind of how I was raised. My experiences that I've been in have shaped me to be that way."
Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.
Email
Print
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
