CANTON, Ohio — Quarterback Brandon Weeden spotted his brown No. 3 jersey hanging in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. 
OK, so it had a $99.99 price tag affixed to it and was for sale in the gift shop. As a rookie, you've got to start somewhere and NFL executives can't think of a better place than here.
The league's weeklong rookie symposium in Northeast Ohio concluded with a visit to the 85,000-square-foot time machine in which Walter Payton still jukes would-be tacklers and Otto Graham keeps cranking out world titles for Cleveland.
AFC first-year players -- who spent the previous three days attending seminars focused on their futures – immersed themselves in pro football's gladiatorial past. 
Browns running back Trent Richardson snapped pictures of Jim Brown's bust with his camera phone. Browns defensive tackle John Hughes marveled at an exhibit of old helmets. Weeden and No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts chatted in front of the likeness of Dan Marino.
"It's a surreal moment," Weeden said of standing in the hall's gallery of bronze busts. "It kind of hits home that we are in this league and obviously every guy's dream is to be here sooner or later."
While the league-mandated rookie orientation stresses player responsibility and code of conduct, it also yokes past to present.
The NFL has required teams to send their rookies to Canton since former receiver Michael Irvin, in his 2007 acceptance speech, lamented not touring the hall as a young player and learning more about the game's history. 
The league doesn't expect players to memorize John Madden's .759 career winning percentage, but it would like them to know he contributed more to football than a popular video game.
Hughes, who grew up in Columbus, admitted he didn't know the HOF was in Canton until he reached the University of Cincinnati. The bushy-haired tackle took his time in front of exhibits, making use of the many interactive displays. But Hughes, like so many of the players, said their favorite part was the circular bust gallery.
"The likeness is amazing," Hughes said. "It's like you are face to face with these guys."
A guide informed players that 15 of the 241 hall-of-famers were undrafted free agents. Being selected No. 1 overall, as Tim Couch discovered, doesn't guarantee success. Just 13 top picks have been inducted.
In the bust gallery, Weeden and Luck met up, providing a fortuitous photo-op for members of the public who were permitted to interact with the athletes. Weeden posed for countless pictures and signed autographs.
Mostly, he soaked in the history.
"I'm a huge fan of quarterbacks and I loved seeing the busts of all the great ones like Dan Marino, John Elway and Otto Graham," Weeden said.
Jim Brown might think Richardson is an "ordinary" running back, but the feeling is not mutual. Approaching the legend's bronze likeness, Richardson reached for his phone. He took a picture.
Then another.
And another.
He also delighted in capturing images of Emmitt Smith, who attended the same Pensacola, Fla., high school (Escambia) as Richardson.
Each rookie class had its photo taken alongside the encased Vince Lombardi Trophy. With the Browns examining a display of Super Bowl rings, a guide took an inopportune moment to remind them the Pittsburgh Steelers have won the most (six).
Several players designed virtual rings using an interactive display. As offensive lineman Ryan Smith added karats to his creation, Weeden barked: "You'll never work for Jostens."
The hall not only enshrines great players, but memorable moments. One display case features the white No. 16 jersey of teammate Josh Cribbs, who broke the NFL career record for touchdown kickoff returns in 2009.
After walking the corridors, the rookies watched an NFL Films presentation and were addressed by Hall-of-Famer Carl Eller.
"Remember the guys who paved the way and lit the path for you," Eller told the room.
Weeden said he went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., as a kid but was too young to appreciate the occasion. The former minor-league pitcher conceded Saturday's trip to Canton was more meaningful.
His pro football career unfurling before his eyes, Weeden had another confession:
"I got a chill just seeing my jersey in the gift shop."
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/06/trent_richardson_snaps_photos.html
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