At this time last year, Lions’ tight end 
This year, while he prepares for the Lions’ offseason workout program which begins on March 15, his brother Rob is following the same path, starting with the combine.
And Dan had plenty of advice for his younger brother on what to expect.
“We sat down and went over a lot of the defenses (he’s gone up against) and plays that he ran,” Dan said. “I also asked him a lot of the questions that they had asked me last year and got him all ready for those.
“I’m training with him right now (in Florida) and trying to help him out as much as I can. I’ve definitely prepared him with the board work and questions that they might be asking him and he said he did a really good job with that at the combine.”
Rob made the decision to forgo his senior year at the University of Arizona, labeled as one of the top tight ends to enter into this year’s draft, despite undergoing season ending back surgery last year.
Though it was a decision that faced some scrutiny, Rob felt that it was the right time to move on to the next level.
“It was definitely a tough decision. Leaving my Arizona family was hard,” he said. “It was a great family there, great atmosphere, great football, but I always wanted to play in the NFL. It was always a dream of mine. When I have an opportunity, I step up for it; I don’t like waiting.”
While Rob opted to skip the workouts in Indianapolis, allowing an extra couple of weeks of recovery to get back to full speed, he is optimistic that he’ll be ready to go by the time of his Pro Day set for around March 26.
“I’ve been cleared by doctors and there are really no issues about my back anymore,” he said. “It’s about a three to five month recovery rate and it’s been more than five months. I’m ready to go.”
One of the most difficult parts about having to sit out for what he knew was going to be his final season at Arizona was missing the opportunity to play with his older brother Chris, during his senior year.
Chris, who played fullback at Arizona, is also hoping to be drafted this year which was another factor that led to Rob’s decision to leave after his junior season.
“He could have come back another year, but it was our brother Chris’ senior year, so I think that was the thing that hurt him the most, not being able to play his last year with his brother,” said Dan.
“It was definitely hard on him, but the recovery process went as planned. He’s passed all the physicals and he’s doing almost 100 percent. He just has to get his strength back in his legs and he’ll be right back where he was before.”
With the opportunity for all three brothers to be in the NFL in 2010, Dan credits their competition with one another growing up to where they are today.
“I don’t think there were many rivalries between us, but we always hung out together and we were always active and playing in one sport or another,” said Dan.
“We were always playing physical, checking each other, tackling each other and it really kept us all focused. I have four brothers and we’re all sports oriented and it helped us get ready for now and for the future.”
