Three-day minicamp opens with 44 rookies

Detroit started its three-day rookie minicamp Friday. Forty-four rookies and four former practice-squad players will participate in the orientation weekend. Coach Jim Schwartz called Detroit's 90-minute workout Friday an opportunity to “get the jitters out.” He praised the young players' efforts during the practice, but he cautioned against overanalyzing early performances. “It's the first day,” he said. “(The rookies) tried to make a good impression and they all did. We did a good job of staying on our feet and didn't have very many balls on the ground.”