He suddenly turned back, looked at a group of people standing by the entrance and exclaimed, “Did you guys see that? That was (ESPN’s) John Clayton I was talking to.”

Such is the life of an NFL neophyte, where the interviewee is more impressed than the interviewer.

It was just an example of things Bryant and his fellow rookies were attempting to adapt to in their early days in the NFL.

Bryant, the team’s fourth-round pick, spoke of the strength of every player on the field. Lawrence Jackson, the team’s first-round pick, said the offensive linemen get out of their stance much more quickly than what he experienced in college at USC. Second-round pick John Carlson said that the defensive backs are much faster, which requires running more precise routes.

“It is a lot different than the college game,” Carlson said.

The Seahawks’ veterans will continue this week with a voluntary minicamp that will consist of one practice a day. But, per league rules, the rookies were shuttling out of the team’s practice facility, taking flights home or back to their respective schools.

Jackson was going to work out at USC. Carlson, a Minnesota native, was going to Notre Dame.

And Bryant was flying to Texas to rejoin his fiancée, Janelle Green, who will move with him to Seattle.

All the players will be back in a few weeks for the next minicamp in early June, but until then they will have time to reflect on their first experiences with their new teammates.

“I was a little rusty, not being around football for a couple months,” Jackson said. “I felt like my last practice was better than the other ones and I kept getting better and better.

“Obviously they expect us to come in and be productive, and I think I showed the core part of me as an athlete and what I can do. Now it is just tweaking things and getting to that professional level.”

Jackson primarily backed up Darryl Tapp at right defensive end, but he also worked at left end. On Sunday he got into the backfield to knock down a Seneca Wallace pass. On Saturday he blew past William Robinson in a pass-rushing drill for what would have been a sure sack.

“I picked up a lot of stuff,” Jackson said. “(Patrick) Kerney helped out, Tapp, (Jason) Babin. I am looking forward to using that stuff as I progress as a player, just little pointers and stuff of how to do things to be successful.”

Carlson was fundamentally sound, though he did not seem to get a lot of separation from defensive backs in many drills. He worked out with various units but saw a lot of time with the first team.

“I really didn’t know what to expect,” Carlson said. “The offense is very complex – but they are very good at teaching it and they give you a lot of time to study. There are a lot of things I need to sharpen up on.

“Consistency is the most important thing. You have to be so precise with routes; you have to be much quicker coming in and out of breaks. That stuff, I need to get better at.”

Bryant had perhaps the best camp of any of the rookies, standing out against second-year guard Mansfield Wrotto during pass-rushing drills on Saturday, then making several nice plays during drills Sunday.

“I am starting to get more and more confidence,” Bryant said. “But as I said, I am a rookie and I don’t want to think I got all the answers yet because I know they are veterans and they are very sound at what they do.”

The 318-pound Bryant said he worked with defensive line coach Dwaine Board on technique and gaining leverage.

“Everybody here is big, everybody is fast,” Bryant said. “I am country strong, that’s what everybody on the team says. But that is just not working. Just grabbing guys and throwing them every kind of way. But now I need to learn how to play with technique to be able to progress. The technique side of things just blew my mind.”

As did meeting Clayton.

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KEY DATES

Ahead for the Seahawks:

Today-Thursday: Voluntary veterans camp, Kirkland

June 2-5: Voluntary camp, Kirkland

June 9-12: Voluntary camp, Kirkland

July 25-27:* Training camp begins, Kirkland

Aug. 8: Exhibition season opener at Minnesota

Aug. 16: First home exhibition game, vs. Chicago

Sept. 7: Regular-season opener at Buffalo

Sept. 14: First regular-season home game vs. San Francisco

* Opening date of camp not determined