Jason Smith Now Just Another St. Louis Rams Rookie

He's got a brand new contract that will pay him $62 million over the next six years.

He's got the charisma and media savvy of a seasoned veteran.

He's been lauded for his skills, which earned him the distinction of being the second overall pick in April's draft.

But, even with all that going for him, Jason Smith is just another rookie.

The St. Louis Rams opened training camp over the weekend, and their rookie offensive tackle from Baylor was there on Friday—the ink on his new deal not yet dry. Smith's high-profile status still doesn't prevent him from his duties as a rookie.

"Whether it's playing right tackle or left tackle, serving water, making sure the Gatorade's cold, handing out towels, whatever it is, I feel that I'm a little better at it now," said Smith, who added that he feels comfortable playing right tackle.

He's also grown accustomed to another rookie task: carrying the helmets of the veterans.

"I carried the usuals," Smith said. "All five starters on the offensive line, Mr. (tight end Randy) McMichael's, Mr. (running back Steven) Jackson. Every once in awhile, I'll try to grab (quarterback Marc) Bulger's, but he won't let me. Mr. Bulger, Mr. Bulger.

"But, you know, I've got these big arms, I just wrap them up and go. It is what it is."

Smith knows his place. Asked when he'll get to call Bulger by his first name, Smith said, "Probably when I hit retirement."

During the weekend practices, while coaches were calling the veterans by their first names, tight ends coach Frank Leonard referred to Smith as "guy with the bag" during a blocking drill.

"It is what it is," Smith repeated his favorite phrase. "I went to the rookie symposium and that was the only thing I remembered. It is what it is."

Rookies were to report to camp on Thursday, and Smith was ready to go.

"I was sitting by the phone waiting for them to say come on over," Smith said. "I was happy with the way things got done so I could be on the field with the team, and do whatever Coach Spags asks me to do."

Smith drove the deal, saying that getting to camp on time was a priority.

"I know that, in order to play football, you gotta be here," Smith said. "You can't be in the house. In order to be a part of the team, you've got to be with the team. I'm a football player, and I've got to be on the field playing football."

"Football is football," Smith said. "There are a lot of big physical guys running around real fast, and you gotta be ready for it."

Smith waited all day Thursday for the call to come, receiving an early morning phone call to tell him he was "on notice." The deal finally came to fruition late Thursday night, but Smith said he had no butterflies about his first practice.

"I woke up this morning, and was like, wow, I woke up," Smith joked Friday afternoon. "So I was happy.

"I wake up every morning thankful of what I have because of the ability I was given. At the end of the day, I'm just happy that I get to play football every day. Oh, and they're going to pay me to do it? Cool."

With his new contract in hand, Smith is settling into St. Louis, and has "pretty much" found a permanent place to live.

"I was thinking about the Holiday Inn, and making the top floor a penthouse," he quipped.

He said he would treat the team to dinner, adding that his new teammates were "a great group of guys."

Both Smith and second-round pick linebacker James Laurinaitis are expected to work themselves into the starting lineup by the end of camp. Both rookies continue to work with the second team, but it's not something that concerns Smith.

"It is what it is."