By Danny Picard
CSNNE.com
FOXBORO -- @font-facefont-family: "Times New Roman";p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormalmargin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; table.MsoNormalTablefont-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; div.Section1page: Section1; One of Shane Vereens goals is to become a sportsbroadcaster. His summer internship with Comcast SportsNet Bay Area proves that.
But first, hed like to make an impact as a running back forthe New England Patriots.
The Patriots selected him with the 56th overall pick, andthe tailback from the University of California is ready for any challenge thatcomes his way.
I just see myself as a player thats looking for anopportunity to play the game, said Vereen in a conference call on Fridaynight. Any position that they need me in, Ill be more than willing.
I always take pride in myself in being able to do allthings that are called on for a running back: catching the ball, passprotection, running the ball. Anything that is called on me to do, I alwaystake pride in doing that to the best of my abilities.
Vereen said he met with the Patriots at the combine, and hada workout in his hometown of Valencia, California with Patriots director ofplayer personnel Nick Caserio.
New England Patriots
As a versatile running back, Vereen believes the area inwhich he has to improve in most, is his pass protection. But hes not tooconcerned, for two reasons. One, he feels hell come along just fine with NewEnglands coaching staff. And two, the offense at California was similar to apro-offense.
It was a very pro-style offense, said Vereen. A lot ofthe things that we did at Cal is replicated in the NFL. Im sure theterminologys different, but I think a lot of the things that we did are alsoduplicated in the NFL.
Danny Picard is on Twitter at http:twitter.comDannyPicard.