Training camp separates the Brinkleys

AUGUSTA — Jasper and Casper Brinkley were on the same side this past week for what might be one of the last times in a long while.
Brothers face playing on different teams for first time


The football-playing, twin brothers who starred as defensive stalwarts at Thomson High School and the University of South Carolina were not gearing up to face Tim Tebow or Knowshon Moreno. Rather, they took time to greet fans, sign autographs and show their appreciation, before heading off to NFL training camp.

For the first time since they have been playing on the same level, they will not be on the same team. Casper is starting his second season with the Carolina Panthers while Jasper agreed to terms on a contract after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of April’s draft.

“It’s one of those things. We knew it would come,” Jasper said. “We’ve been able to handle the adjustment well, but if there weren’t cell phones, we’d be devastated.”

Casper echoed his twin’s sentiments, saying it was a great feeling to have played together for so long but the two knew it would not last forever.

“We prepared,” Casper said. “We knew one day it would be like this.”

The only reason the twins did not face this dilemma as NFL peers a year ago was because of a leg injury Jasper suffered early in the 2007 season. He missed so much time that he was eligible to redshirt and returned to Columbia for an extra season, preparing himself for NFL scouts.

While Jasper played another season as a college linebacker, Casper gained some NFL experience. He was signed by Carolina as an undrafted rookie and spent the majority of the season as a defensive end on the Panthers’ practice squad.

What advice does Casper offer the new rookie in the family?

“Only thing I tell him is to be positive,” Casper said. “Take a deep breath and take things one day at a time. Don’t put too much on your plate.”

Casper said the biggest adjustment in becoming an NFL player was “staying in the playbook. The hardest part was the playbook and all of the meeting time.”

Jasper seemed to be heeding his brother’s advice saying, “I don’t know what to expect because I’ve never been there. I know it’s going to be tough. I was told to show up (to training camp) in shape and be ready to run like the wind.”

One thing Jasper plans on doing is learning from the experienced players on the Vikings.

“The great ones do extra things to make themselves great,” Jasper said. “I’ve got to hook up with some veterans and see how they do things.”

One of the veterans Jasper potentially could turn to is free-agent quarterback Brett Favre who is rumored to be joining Minnesota.

“I grew up playing old Sega games with him on it,” Jasper said. “I’m going to get a couple of things signed. He’s a Hall of Famer.”

The brothers could have a reunion on Dec. 20, when the Vikings travel to Charlotte to play the Panthers.

“I always told Casper if I saw him on the field, watch out,” Jasper said.