Shaquem Griffin puts on a show for media during 1st day of NFL training camp
Shaquem Griffin made a name for himself as an All-American at the University of Central Florida and then wowed NFL personnel with his metrics at the NFL Combine.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that the Seattle Seahawks rookie again impressed during his first day of training camp on Thursday.
Griffin, who was born with amniotic band syndrome that resulted in the amputation of his left hand, is overcoming that handicap and is living up to his quote that, “It’s not a disability until you make it one.”
Griffin first worked out with the linebackers and drew a large ovation from the Seahawks fans after he did the sled drill.
Shaquem Griffin. Day one of his first NFL training camp.
Amazing. #Seahawks @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/KBT04oQVGu
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) July 26, 2018
As a fifth-round draft pick, Griffin is also expected to contribute on special teams, and he participated in some punt coverage drills alongside another rookie from UCF, No. 38 T.J. Mutcherson.
Rookie Shaquem Griffin in LB drills at his first NFL training-camp practice. #Seahawks @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/Rj1nr8yGTo
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) July 26, 2018
After playing on different teams for the first time in their lives in 2017, Shaquem and his twin brother, Shaquill, are reunited once again as Shaquill was drafted by the Seahawks last year.
The brothers took time after practice to meet with kids from the Giving to Fly organization, which provides athletic camps and clinics to amputees and those with missing limbs.
After Day 1 of #SeahawksCamp, @ShaquillG & @Shaquemgriffin spent time with children from Giving to Fly, a group that supports amputees and children with missing limbs. pic.twitter.com/IpumksYSwF
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) July 26, 2018
The twins are rooming together at training camp and Shaquill talked about what it’s like to be sharing quarters with his brother again.
“He’s taking up a lot of space,” Shaquill joked. “I’m glad to have him back. He moved right in once he got here. I’m glad to have my roommate back.”
Shaquill said that there has been “no change” after the brothers spent a year apart. “I just feel like we’re back to normal. The first year being alone, here away from the east coast, now I’m on the west coast away from the family. It was different for me but I adapted to it and now I don’t have to worry about being by myself anymore at the house. To have him back, it feels right.”
However, the absence of All-Pro safety Earl Thomas doesn’t feel right for Seahawks fans. He wants an extension but the Seahawks aren’t ready to give him one so he is holding out and the team placed him on the reserve/did not report list.
The team says it won’t even consider an extension until Thomas reports to camp, and Thomas said he’s willing to sit out through training camp and into the regular season, so things could get ugly between the two sides.
The Seahawks will hold their second training camp practice on Friday and training camp will continue through August 16. Their first preseason game will be on Thursday, August 9 against the Indianapolis Colts at CenturyLink Field.
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