The Dallas Cowboys concluded the first part of their preseason, finishing the rookie mini-camp where they had their first encounter with the team’s new head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, as well as with the rest of the coaching staff.
The rookies tried to catch the attention of their coaches, especially those players who were not selected in the Draft and arrived as free agents, such as wide receiver Traeshon Holden.
The University of Oregon graduate is one of nine Dallas players who came to camp after his best year in the NCAA with 718 yards and five touchdowns. He faces a big challenge if he wants to progress and remain a professional player in the NFL.
At the end of practice sessions, Holden pointed out that there is resentment for not having entered the NFL through the collegiate Draft, so he will try to prove to all the teams that they were wrong not to choose him.
“I’ve always been one to work hard, but I feel like I wasn’t respected, so now it’s time to make it happen,” the receiver said.
Holden and the grudge against the 32 NFL teams
Because he was not selected in the Draft and all 32 NFL teams passed him over, Holden finds himself in a position where it could be difficult to make the roster.
That’s not the first thing he’s thinking about, and as Schottenheimer said, he doesn’t want rookies to focus on their position on the roster, but on improving day by day.
Holden explained his way of being and the character that has distinguished him as a player since his days in high school.
“I’m someone who takes every opportunity. That’s who I am,” Holden said. “That’s how I work and that’s how I plan to be while I’m here.”
Holden will use rookie minicamp and the rest of the preseason work to show the coaching staff that he deserves to be on the roster, whether on the first team of 53 players or on the practice squad.
The lack of respect in the draft drives him to make the most of this opportunity with the Cowboys.
Read the full article here
