Giving It Up For The Pros

Also in practice, Randle El got a brief look at quarterback, a promise made to him by coach Mike Holmgren, whose Seattle Seahawks staff coached the North. "Part of my role here is to help these guys realize their dream," Holmgren said. "I'm doing extra stuff with Antwaan throwing, and hopefully it will give him an honest evaluation. I'd be the last person to say, 'No, you can't do this.' "

For the first 15 minutes of Wednesday's practice, Holmgren pulled two receivers and two tight ends to one end zone and had Randle El throw outs, crossing patterns and digs from five-and seven-step drops. "Mike and I thought he threw well," Seattle quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn said. "He's not going to be your starter. He didn't have a cannon, but he showed enough zip on the ball."

Randle El won over many NFL observers, including Baltimore Ravens vice president of player personnel Ozzie New-some. "It seems that Randle El has adapted to being a receiver," Newsome, a Hall of Fame tight end, said at midweek. "He could be a weapon." San Francisco 49ers scout Bill Rees said Randle El's performance last Saturday improved his draft position. "He's climbed to the middle rounds," Rees said.

As for Dantzler, Newsome preached patience. So did New York Jets running backs coach Bishop Harris. "With all his ability, you have to give him a chance," Harris said. "Not everybody can score touchdowns. Dantzler has shown the ability to get [end zone] paint on his pants."

Mitchell believes Dantzler and Randle El have to give themselves a chance to succeed at their new-positions. After he set NCAA records as a pass-run quarterback, Mitchell said, it took him until draft day, when the Redskins picked him in the fifth round, to leave his signal-calling days behind him. "History is full of stories about guys who only wanted to play quarterback in the NFL and never got to this league," Mitchell said. "Even if that's your dream, you've still got to be open to what they want you to do. If I came out of college and said, 'I'm only playing quarterback,' none of this would have happened."