Robert Steeples Starts NFL Training Camp Journey With Rams

The public will have a first chance to check out what the 2013 St. Louis Rams football team could become on Thursday as the NFL club's training camp opens in Earth City.

The next few weeks will also determine if Robert Steeples, a De Smet Jesuit graduate will have a chance to play for the pro team he grew up rooting on as a fan.

Steeples signed with the team as an undrafted free agent after playing in college at Missouri and Memphis.

"It's a blessing. I still wake up every morning and pinch myself, like is this really happening, but it's just great because I'm St. Louis based, my family's all from St. Louis," Steeples told Patch at an event last month to help launch the team's partnership with Elite Football Academy in Chesterfield.

"I love my city so to be able to represent them on the field and not just in name is a blessing."

While the season is still weeks away, Steeples may have already had his "welcome to the NFL" moment. FOXSportsMidwest's Ben Frederickson chronicled an offseason mini-camp experience Steeples had when he was beaten on a play by second year wideout Chris Givens despite his best efforts. 

Steeples told Patch that it may have been his "hey rookie moment" but also was a way of showing that he was serious about making his own introduction. 

"We wouldn't be here if we didn't take it as seriously," he said. "Even if its practice, you still want to win every rep."