EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Brian Robison can't win any awards or earn his next big contract during a seemingly innocuous June practice. And he isn't fighting for a job, with his starting left defensive end spot for the Minnesota Vikings seemingly set, except for the typical need to continue to perform in the ever-changing NFL.
However, two big plays - interceptions, interestingly enough - during Wednesday's organized team activities were important for Robison and the team, and shows a big change in Robison from late last season: He has free movement of his arms.
By the end of last season, Robison was loaded from elbow to shoulder with gear. He wore a bulky brace most of the season on his sore left elbow injured in Week 2. Later, he had to strap into a shoulder harness to protect a Grade 3 AC sprain of his right shoulder just to play.
"The most difficult thing was feeling like I didn't have any arms to play with," Robison said Wednesday at OTAs.
Robison missed the Week 16 game after suffering the shoulder sprain. The Grade 3 designation means he had suffered major tears to the tendons, which sapped Robison of any power in his shoulder. He played in the regular-season finale and had a big strip-sack as the Vikings made the playoffs. A week later, and after a pain-killing injection, he started the playoff loss at Green Bay but couldn't finish when the pain became unbearable.
"Obviously I didn't feel like I was anywhere near 100 percent, but the competitor in me just wouldn't let me just chill out and sit out and do things like that," Robison said. "So I just tried to get out there and give it 100 percent. And once I felt like I was hurting the team more than it was helping, I just told coach. I just felt like it was time for Everson (Griffen) to take over at that time."
Robison, 30, still had career-highs with 8.5 sacks and seven passes defensed last season in 15 regular-season games. His injuries didn't require surgery and Robison enters the final season of a three-year, $13.5 million contract healthy and ready to earn his next deal. Plays like he made during Wednesday's practice are just what Robison and the Vikings are hoping to see.
During one play, Robison turned around and caught a pass after rookie cornerback Xavier Rhodes made a deflection. Later, Robison timed his jump perfectly to snare a pass at the line of scrimmage and walk into the end zone during goal-line drills.
"He's moving around extremely well," coach Leslie Frazier said. "I like his enthusiasm and the passion that he practices with, the same way he plays. To see him as healthy as he is without any hamstring injuries or a nagging shoulder, it's good. We hope to maintain that right through training camp, but right now he's doing well."
Robison, clearly feeling good, joked he's ready to show off an ability to play defensive back.
"I'll be ready to jam any receiver in this league," Robison said.
Minnesota won't use the 6-foot-3, 259-pounder in the secondary. But Robison looks healthy and doesn't have to be strapped into protective gear before a practice.
"It's been nice not to have braces on the left arm, braces on the right arm," Robison said. "The shoulder's definitely healed up a lot quicker than I thought it was going to. I feel good man. I really do.
The two interceptions in practice were curious as Robison is still looking for his first career interception in a game. Instead, Robison uses his quickness and power to make a big impact along the line.
Last season, he showed a knack for disrupting passes at the line of scrimmage.
"It's really about doing that," Robison said. "If you can't get to the quarterback, you've got to find a way to disrupt the offense's timing and things like that. For me, I've found a way to get my hands up in throwing lanes and be able to deflect passes. And a lot of times, that's as good as a sack."
Those sack numbers ultimately are what will likely get Robison the big dollars on his next contract. As a full-time starter the past two years, Robison has 16.5 sacks and Minnesota sees Robison as capable of more.
"I think he's one of those guys who can be a double-digit sack guy," Frazier said. "He has that type of burst and athleticism. We've seen it on a number of occasions. We just want him to be consistently good throughout 16 games and he's been able to do that in spurts. I know he's gotten off to some great starts and he's settled down a little bit and he's picked it back up, but just being able to see him do it consistently through the four quarters of a season and continue to crescendo over the course of a year. That would be good for our football team."
It could also be costly to the Vikings with Robison healthy and looking for a strong contract year.
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