Purcell, Peters, Ilaoa

Garret over at the excellent UH Warrior Quotes blog finds this Melila Purcell profile from the Cleveland Browns web page. Here's an excerpt:

Now, the grassroots efforts of the area as well as Purcell's development at Hawaii have led him nearly 7,000 miles away from his homeland all the way to Cleveland, where he recently became a Brown.

But the move is not met without adversity. Purcell is far from his friends and family and in a new climate vastly different from what he's accustomed.

As of the team's rookie minicamp in early May, Purcell was still adjusting to the six-hour time difference. Waking up early in the morning felt like getting up in the middle of the night. Going to bed at a normal time felt like trying to sleep in the dead of the afternoon.

"It's hard to sleep at night because it's still seems like it's 4 o'clock," he said. "I'm having trouble staying up in meetings. I'm adjusting but it's adversity. You just have to go through it."

But that's temporary and secondary for a player whose journey has spanned thousands of miles. He's anxious to get going and be the next great Samoan player in the NFL.

"Whatever they need me to do I'll do it," he said. "I'm very happy to be here."

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Leonard Peters gets a mention on the New York Jets website.

Peters collected 74 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups last year. He has a reputation as a big hitter who can deliver the punishing blow.

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Nate Ilaoa gets mentioned a couple times in the Eagles practice day blog, but nothing really of note. Sounds like everyone is working out the kinks on the first day of practice.