Seidel: Lions' Abdullah using fear in quest to make roster

Ameer Abdullah showed up at the Lions' practice facility at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, preparing to weightlift on his own before minicamp, and that's just the start of a long list of things to like about this rookie running back from Nebraska.

Abdullah doesn't feel entitled because he was a second-round draft pick or because he has a four-year contract worth about $4 million (more than half is guaranteed).

Abdullah is afraid he won't make the team.

"He's like, 'Man, I gotta get on this team,' " said running back Desmond Martin, who probably has more to worry about as an undrafted rookie from Wayne State. "He talks about it all the time."

"Ameer," Martin tells him. "You did get drafted in the second round."

"He's always like, 'I'm just trying to find a way to get on this team,' " Martin said. "I'm dead serious. You would think he's undrafted. He's that guy who is just trying to fight and get a job and earn it."

That fear and drive hasn't lessened during this camp, even though Abdullah took the first rep at running back with the first team; and he has looked quick and impressive — although, to be fair, everybody looks quick without pads.

"I have to work harder," Abdullah said after practice while walking into the facility. "You can always push yourself a little harder. You can never get comfortable. Second round. First round. Seventh round. Undrafted.

"I've learned from a lot of my friends that all of that stuff means nothing when you get here. You gotta make the team. I can't come out here and think, 'I'm second round. I will at least make the team.' "

The Lions drafted Abdullah because he can do it all. He can run the ball. Catch the ball. Return kicks and punts. Whatever you want. "The return game is something that I'm going to have to get better at," he said. "I'm going to have to sacrifice some time and get better at it and do it."

Abdullah has drawn praise for his vision, balance, good route-running and great hands. "He's a lot better receiver than some people think," Martin said. "I didn't know how smooth he was, running the football and running routes. His routes are crisp."

And he's smart.

Which brings us to another thing to like about Abudullah: There is a depth to his personality. He majored in history at Nebraska because he wants to become a lawyer.

His favorite time in history? The Roaring '20s.

"It's the most innovative time in American history," he said. "A lot was going on. The automobile industry. You guys know, you are from Detroit. Ford was popping the Model T. A lot of things were making America what it is today. You can see how far we have come even from that point. It's mind-boggling to think about."

Ford was popping the Model T?

Check that. My favorite thing about him is the way he can turn a phrase.

Abdullah grew up in Alabama, the youngest of nine children, in a family where education was stressed. "Every time I explain this to people, they think that my parents were cracking the whip," Abdullah said. "But they were pretty laissez-faire. Hands off. They let us be our own people. We just respected so much how they were their own people, and we wanted to follow in their footsteps."

Abdullah is passionate about learning; and that's how he is attacking this camp, trying to learn from the other running backs. "You can take a little bit here from Joique (Bell)," he said. "You can take a little bit here from Theo (Riddick). You can take a lot from Zach Zenner."

Smart. Driven. Dedicated. Talented. Explosive. Grounded.

That list keeps growing.

Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @seideljeff.

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Lions' key dates

Today: Mandatory minicamp for entire team.

Aug. 3: Training camp first practice.

Aug. 13: Exhibition opener vs. New York Jets at Ford Field, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 13: Regular-season opener at San Diego, 4:05 p.m.

Meet Ameer Abdullah

Who: Lions' rookie running back.

Pick: No. 54 overall.

Vitals: 5-feet-9, 205 pounds.

Age: 21.

College: Nebraska.

From: Homewood, Ala.

The skinny: He was Nebraska's MVP, All-Big Ten and a noted workout warrior. He rushed for 1,611 yards last year and 4,588 yards in his career, and averaged 28 yards on kick returns.