This past weekend Brandon Jackson missed Packers minicamp. Anthony Gonzalez was unable to attend Colts minicamp.

Why?

The NFL forced the rookies to attend a photo shoot called the 2007 Reebok NFL Rookie Premier, presented by EA Sports.

Yep - that's 2 sponsors in the title. 

Apparently the business end of football is much more important than the players getting acclimated into a new system.

And that's a crying shame.

Consider that one of the reasons Gonzalez was perfect for the Colts was his commitment to practice.  It's tough to get on the same page as Peyton Manning when you have to take pictures for bubble gum cards.

And Jackson drew rave reviews from Mike McCarthy when we chatted about the rookie running back.  It's tough to get a leg up for the starting job when coaches can't have you in meetings and in drills.

Having rookies miss mini-camp for this event is a joke.  There had to be another way to schedule it.  It was an embarrassment to the league.