Green Bay Defensive lineman B.J. Raji passed his physical, a conditioning run and the eyeball test Friday in his first official day as a member of the Green Bay Packers.
The team presented Raji to reporters for a late-afternoon briefing after he signed a five-year, $28.5 million contract containing just less than $18 million in guarantees.
Raji looked fit during the 10-minute session, said his conditioning was good and indicated that he actually lost a little weight during his 14-day hiatus. The Packers list him at 337 pounds.
"I tried to eat a lot more lean things," Raji said. "Just watched what I ate. I made sure it didn't get out of control. I really wasn't doing much besides working out."
The last time that a Packers' draft choice on defense was out of camp longer than Raji was cornerback T.J. Buckley, who didn't arrive until 50 days after his reporting date in 1992 and then had a forgettable start to his forgettable career in Green Bay.
Two weeks surely isn't seven weeks, and Raji appeared confident that his chances for an all-rookie type of season weren't the least bit tarnished.
"Definitely not," he said. "I still got a little less than a month to get ready for the opening game."
Raji flew out of Green Bay on Tuesday night and, contrary to the recommendation of his agent that he head for California, went to Boston. He worked out for two days at his alma mater, Boston College, before agreement was reached Thursday night.
He had spent several weeks in Green Bay working out by himself on the football field and track at Bay View Middle School in Howard.
Driving around I got a few honks but they let me do my thing, said Raji. I tried to go four or five days a week. I was running some gassers and some striders on the track. Laps. Technique things.
Although Raji said he never went by the Packers facility, he seemed inspired by telephone calls of encouragement from running back Ryan Grant and several rookies.
As for becoming an instant millionaire, Raji broke into a broad smile.
The best thing about it is I can support... and give back to my immediate family, which has been there for me, he said. The business side, obviously, it feels great. But I still have to prove myself. I dont get no special treatment.
As for the sometimes tense negotiations, Raji said neither side was to blame for the delay.
The Packers apparently will work with Raji on conditioning over the weekend before he makes his practice debut in pads Monday afternoon.
To create room for Raji, wide receiver Patrick Williams was placed on injured reserve. Williams was out with a hamstring injury for eight days before returning Thursday night.