Rookies Excel at Symposium

Last week, Oakland Raiders rookies attended the NFL's 10th annual Rookie Symposium in San Diego, Calif. The four-day orientation introduced the 2006 NFL Draft class to life in the NFL prior to the rookies reporting to training camps.

The program includes presentations, videos, and workshops about the operation of the NFL and the challenges faced by its players. The symposium's agenda consisted of topics such as personal finance, life skills, personal conduct, life as a rookie, media policy, substance abuse, personal experiences, family issues, player development, football operations, NFL security, and success in the NFL and life after football.

Along with the workshops and classes, the symposium's organizers administer the Ultimate Rookie Challenge, an interactive competition in which the players and their teams can win prizes for correctly answering questions about what they've been taught.

The Oakland Raiders' rookies captured the crown in the team competition, with Raiders seventh round draft pick C Chris Morris taking individual honors. The Raiders' rookies will receive free cell phone service for a year for their efforts, while Morris earned a one-year lease on a Sport Utility Vehicle. According to the NFL, Morris chalked up a perfect score of 32 out of 32.