Browns rookies taking part in rookie transition program this week

We previously highlighted how the Cleveland Browns’ 2016 rookie class participated in a youth football camp last week. We also noted how the AFC and NFC Rookie Symposiums were put to an end this year in lieu of individual team programs.

For the Browns and most other teams in the NFL, those programs, called the “NFL Rookie Transition Program,” commenced this week and appears to be running from Tuesday, June 21 through Thursday, June 23rd.

Per the NFL, there are 15 mandatory topics that teams will cover. These topics include:

• A video introduction to the NFL and league policies.
• Player benefits and benefit resources, including their NFLPA player rights and resources, and the NFL programs that are available to them.
• Player expectations, including the importance of sportsmanship, respect in the workplace, media responsibilities and how to work with their club’s public relations staff.
• Social responsibility for players, which covers league policies and the ramifications of issues like driving under the influence, or committing acts of domestic violence or sexual assault.
• Maintaining strong mental health and fitness, and an introduction to the health and safety resources available to all players and their families in times of need.
• An introduction to the culture, values and history of the league and a player’s club.
• Rule changes from college to the pros.

On Tuesday, the Browns’ rookies took part in the second of two youth football camps held at FirstEnergy Stadium. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, the Browns were hoping to take the rookies down to The Q on Wednesday to experience the parade in-person, but “it later became apparent that logistics will likely prevent such an outing from occurring.” Instead, the rookies reportedly took in the parade on TV in Berea as part of a team-bonding experience. Today, the rookies are set to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

This program will be the rookies’ final team-associated event they have before they join the rest of the team in the freedom of off time over the next month as everyone then awaits the start of training camp.