NASHVILLE – The crash course to Cam Ward's NFL career began over the weekend during rookie minicamp.
On Monday, the Titans quarterback will join the rest of the veterans in the offseason program.
Ward is learning everything from a new playbook – which he received right after the draft – to technique adjustments to names.
"From learning the custodian's name, (people on the cafeteria)," Ward said. "We have a great building, the front office. I am excited to get the journey going with the team we have, the group we have. I am ready to get the wheels rolling."
Ward, who was on the field two days during the rookie minicamp, was happy with the start.
He looked poised and comfortable on his first weekend, decked out in a red No.1 jersey, and red cleats.
"It felt great," Ward said. "It felt good to throw the ball and get the timing down with the receivers.
"I still have a lot of stuff to get better on. I don't know the whole playbook yet, but I know the majority of it to go play a game. But I know I have a lot more work to do, and I am willing to do it."
On Saturday, Ward threw the ball to draft picks Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor and Gunnar Helm, among others.
Receiver Xavier Restrepo, his teammate at Miami, was in the mix as well.
"(Elic), he is an explosive router runner, Chim is an explosive route runner as well," Ward said. "I think (the team) added speed, even though we already had it, and I think me adjusting to those guys, what they have been showing me already, what I have to continue to show them, it has been good."
Now, Ward and the rookies will compete alongside the veterans at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.
Ward said the veterans he's seen already have wished him well, and told him to "get ready to work."
He wants to make a good impression on and off the field.
"I (want people to know) I am all about business," Ward said. "I really want to be a pro. I want to be one of the great ones, and I want to be a good teammate at the end of the day. I want to win a lot of football games in my career, and I am excited to be around good vets like (Calvin) Ridley, good guys up front like Lloyd (Cushenberry) and JC (Latham) and those guys. I am excited, and ready to get to work."
Ward, selected first overall in the NFL Draft, will have to earn a starting spot this fall.
He'll need to impress in offseason work, including OTAs and minicamp, and then continue into training camp and the preseason.
Ward said he's ready to compete.
He's also ready to lead the way.
"I want to be a leader," he said. "I want to be there for my teammates. When everything goes down, I want to be the person to lift everybody back up. I am surrounded by a great group of guys. But at the end of the day, I am only one job. I have one job to do and that is play quarterback. Everybody else has a lot of other jobs."
