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Top players from the 2008 rookie class will gather in Los Angeles for the Reebok NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere Presented by EA SPORTS beginning Thursday, May 15. Beckett Football will be on site to cover the event and post behind-the-scenes updates on Beckett.com.


This unique event provides trading card companies Donruss Playoff, Topps and Upper Deck with the opportunity to photograph rookie players for the first time in their official team jerseys. In conjunction with The NFL Network, NFL PLAYERS produces an in-depth one-hour television special featuring the event that will broadcast on the network this summer.

“This is a one-of-a-kind event that brings together some of the top rookies in the 2008 class for the first time,” NFL PLAYERS Chief Operating Officer Andrew Feffer said. “It is a unique opportunity to showcase these players to our partners as interesting and compelling personalities, features that are at the core of the NFL PLAYERS brand.”

In addition to the trading card photo shoots at the Los Angeles Coliseum, rookies will visit a local hobby shop, host a football clinic for local youth, go head-to-head at the EA SPORTS Rookie Madden Bowl, and take part in media appearances and corporate hospitality during their four days in Los Angeles. For the fourth consecutive year, Diet Pepsi will also be on hand to capture footage for their season-long Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week and Rookie of the Year promotions.

Here is a schedule of events for the Roookie Premiere:

Thursday, May 15: DeSean Jackson (California/Philadelphia Eagles – WR) and Kevin O’Connell (San Diego State/New England Patriots – QB) will sign autographs and interact with fans at the Beverly Hills Baseball Card Shop, 1137 South Robertson, Los Angeles, between Olympic and Pico.

Friday, May 16: Rookies will lead more than 150 students in skills and drills competitions as part of a youth football clinic at Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School. The Children’s Health Fund (CHF) will also be on hand to promote healthy living and nutrition habits to students through fun and interactive demonstrations. Later on Friday, the EA SPORTS Rookie Madden Bowl will test the videogaming skills of the top rookies.


Saturday, May 17: Upper Deck and Donruss will conduct their photo shoots all day.

Sunday, May 18: Topps will conduct it's photo shoot in the morning.

Players scheduled to attend:

Donnie Avery - St. Louis, WR
Earl Bennett - Chicago, WR
John David Booty - Minnesota, QB
Brian Brohm - Green Bay, QB
Andre Caldwell - Cincinnati, WR
Jamaal Charles - Kansas City, RB
Glenn Dorsey - Kansas City, DT
Early Doucet III - Arizona, WR
Harry Douglas - Atlanta, WR
Joe Flacco - Baltimore, QB
Matt Forté - Chicago, RB
James Hardy - Buffalo, WR
Chad Henne - Miami, QB
DeSean Jackson - Philadelphia, WR
Dexter Jackson - Tampa Bay, WR
Chris Johnson - Tennessee, RB
Felix Jones - Dallas, RB
Dustin Keller - New York Jets, TE
Malcolm Kelly - Washington, WR
Jake Long - Miami, T
Mario Manningham - New York Giants, WR
Darren McFadden - Oakland, RB
Rashard Mendenhall - Pittsburgh, RB
Jordy Nelson, Green Bay, WR
Kevin O’Connell - New England, QB
Ray Rice - Baltimore, RB
Eddie Royal - Denver, WR
Matt Ryan - Atlanta, QB
Jerome Simpson - Cincinnati, WR
Steve Slaton - Houston, RB
Kevin Smith - Detroit, RB
Jonathan Stewart - Carolina, RB
Limas Sweed - Pittsburgh, WR
Devin Thomas - Washington, WR