EAGAN, Minn. — One of the smallest Vikings had a little bit of jitters leading up to Wednesday's training camp practice.
But once Chad Beebe hit the field, he felt right at home.
The Vikings wide receiver, who signed with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent this spring out of Northern Illinois, chatted with Vikings.com after his first professional training camp session.
"Coming into it, I was a little nervous and a little anxious," Beebe said. "But the football field is my home. It's what I'm passionate about and it's my sanctuary, that's what I like to call it.
"Once you get out there and get going, you start to feel more comfortable," Beebe added. "And I'm starting to get my comfortable with the playbook. But right off the bat, a little nerves."
Beebe had 64 catches for 930 yards and three touchdowns in 34 career games in college.
If his last name sounds familiar, Beebe's father, Don played nine seasons in the NFL with Buffalo, Carolina and Green Bay. He was with the Bills when the franchise went to four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s.
Chad Beebe said his father offered up some advice before his son headed off to his first training camp.
"The biggest thing he said was to not make the same mistake," Beebe said. "Everybody is going to make mistakes and nobody is perfect, right? But just eliminate those mistakes that you already made.
"Once you learn it and sit in the team meeting room at night, figure out what you did wrong and come back the next day and correct it," Beebe added. "But I call him whenever I have questions. He played nine years in the league so if I don't use him as a resource, I have a problem. Especially since he's my father."
Here are three other topics Beebe covered on Wednesday:
On Vikings wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell
"I love Coach Hazell. First of all, he's a great guy. And second, he has a great knowledge of the game. I've really enjoyed being in his room. He's good at being serious when it's time to be serious, but good at being funny when things need to be a little light."
On what Beebe brings to the NFL
"The biggest thing for my game is route running and quickness. Obviously I'm not the biggest or fastest or strongest guy. I think my quickness helps a lot, especially off the line and off the ball. Just being able to get open in small windows."
On the most fun thing he did over summer break
"I actually drove about two-and-a-half hours north of here because my family takes an annual fishing vacation up in Remer. That was the most fun thing I did. We had [minicamp] and I left right from there. We were there for a little over a week. I think it was the 37th year [they've gone there]. They continue that tradition every year."
Editor's Note: This series will run frequently during 2018 Vikings Verizon Training Camp. It will offer a quick snapshot of players on Minnesota's roster who are looking to make a name for themselves in camp.
