The best thing about this weekend’s minicamp for defensive end Chris Long was his new status as a veteran. “It’s great not to be a rookie,” said Long, who sympathizes with this year’s first-round pick, offensive tackle Jason Smith.

“When you come out of the draft you feel like you’re a burden. You’re a rookie, you’re screwing everything up, everybody’s looking at you, and you’re trying to catch up with everybody else,” said Long, who, like Smith, was the No. 2 overall selection in the draft. “I feel for the guy. He’s got a lot of pressure on him, and that’s what people don’t understand. It’s immense pressure.”

With a new coach, Steve Spagnuolo, and a new defensive coordinator, Ken Flajole, Long is trying to nail down another new scheme. At least he has company this time. “Everybody is kind of on the same wave length and on the same plane,” Long said. “Everybody is learning a new scheme, so we’re all in this together and we can build as a team team through that.”

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Notes & quotes:

*G Richie Incognito finally is under contract after signing his one-year tender offer from the Rams. Incognito had been a restricted free agent.

*Donnie Jones was booming his punts Sunday. Jones averaged a league-best 50 yards per try last season and should’ve made the Pro Bowl.

*Vet WR Tim Carter, who was here on a tryout basis, had a pretty good weekend.

*Although he’s unfamiliar with the defense, rookie LB James Laurinaitis showed some savvy on the field, reacting quickly as plays unfolded.

*Alex Barron looks comfortable at LT, which is where he lined up most often at Florida State.

*QB Marc Bulger is adjusting to his new C, Jason Brown. “We’re getting there,” Bulger said. “It’s just a feel thing . . . you know, literally.”

*Minicamp went “pretty good,” Spagnuolo said. “The first practice on Friday, I thought we were very sluggish. So I kind of challenged them, to see if they’d respond. And they did. They knocked out a good practice Friday afternoon and two good ones yesterday. Today was just kind of average. But I did like the way they responded after Friday morning.”

*OTAs get under way May 19. The final of three minicamps is June 5-7. Training camp will begin in late July at Rams Park.

All for now . . .