No blocking Roos’ path to success

Not coming soon to your local music store: “Michael Roos Sings His Holiday Favorites!” Roos, the former Eastern Washington University offensive lineman who has started every game in his rookie season with the NFL Tennessee Titans, found himself scouring the Internet the other day for the lyrics to about 20 Christmas carols.

Hey, it’s part of the job.

“Every day in training camp we had to sing,” Roos said, “and now we’re on to Christmas songs. It is most definitely not my favorite thing. I don’t dread it, but it’s something you have to go through.”

It’s part of the initiation process for rookie linemen, along with paying weekly “dues,” the amount of which depends on when or if a player was drafted. In Roos’ case, he gets hit with a higher tab because he was picked in the second round, EWU’s highest selection ever. The dues finance Thursday dinners for about nine calorically unchallenged linemen and quarterback Steve McNair.

Rookies usually get their hair cropped during camp, too, but Roos already sported a clean dome. So the veterans shaved off his eyebrows.

Not that Roos minds a bit. He found himself picking up the dinner check Dec. 17 at a Nashville hotel in the company of his mom, Mae Bates, and a small group of family and friends that included EWU coach Paul Wulff.

At dinner, Bates mentioned that it was the 13th anniversary of the day she and her three children emigrated from Estonia – by way of Moscow, Russia – to the U.S. in search of better life for her kids.

Wulff asked Roos if he remembered the plane ride. “Yeah,” said Roos, who was 10 at the time. Did you ever think you’d be in Nashville playing in the NFL, Wulff followed up. “Uh, no,” replied the 6-foot-7, 320-pound Roos.

Roos is in select company. There are 1,696 players on active rosters of 32 NFL teams. Only four rookie offensive linemen have become regular starters.

Roos earned the right tackle spot in training camp, but split repetitions at left tackle because veteran starter Brad Hopkins was suspended for the season opener. Roos probably will end up at left tackle in the future.

“We’re very happy with his progress,” Titans line coach Mike Munchak said. “He’s a smart guy, and it shows on the field because he rarely makes the same mistake twice – in fact, I don’t know if he has. He has a great demeanor for the game. Even when he gets beat, he can let it go.

“There’s a huge upside for him. We knew he was very raw, but we’re thrilled with how quickly he’s coming along. When he gets another offseason of lifting, he’s only going to get better and better.”

Roos’ offseason will be busy. He plans on getting married to his EWU sweetheart this summer and he’s having a condominium built in Nashville. He hopes to find time to visit Estonia, but that probably will have to wait another year or two.

Roos’ contract is somewhat unusual by NFL standards. He didn’t receive a signing bonus common to rookie contracts. Instead, his Seattle-based agent Cameron Foster negotiated a four-year deal – the norm is five – with a roster bonus of $400,000 and an option bonus of nearly $1.5 million that is expected to be exercised by March.

Roos would receive the option bonus over several installments in 2006.

The plus of signing for four years is that rookies who perform well often get a sizable pay hike with their second contracts. Roos would reach his second contract a year sooner than most rookies, Foster said.

Roos, who graduated with a double major in finance and economics, has been prudent with his money but has allowed himself a few extravagances.

“A Cadillac CTS,” said Roos, whose contract averages $866,000 per season. “The first car I’ve had. I didn’t have one at EWU.”

Roos has already helped out Eastern’s football program and he has a special present in mind for his strong-willed mother, who often worked two jobs to support her children.

“I haven’t done anything big yet for my mom because she hasn’t told me what she wants yet, but it’ll probably be a trip to Estonia with my stepfather next year,” said Roos, who paid $12,000 to outfit EWU in new home uniforms. “It’s really nice being able to help. The school helped me get where I am. It’s nice to give back.”

However, much to the dismay of his Titans’ teammates, Roos has no plans of investing in singing lessons.