ESPN NFL

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Stuck in an alcohol treatment center in South Carolina, Koren Robinson wasn't sure where his life was headed.

Overcome with anxiety, guilt and embarrassment, Robinson tried to figure out how he went from ninth overall draft pick in 2001 to sitting on the brink of career ruin.

	Robinson

Then the phone rang.

Vikings coach Mike Tice was on the other end and, after a few conversations, Tice told the troubled young receiver that he may have a second chance waiting for him in Minnesota when he checked out of rehab.

Suddenly, Robinson had hope.

"To have someone like Coach Tice call you and say they'll give me an opportunity once you get out of there, it's that much better to go in and do what you have to do and get out of there," said Robinson, his voice quivering a bit. "It gives you motivation to get everything handled, because you have someone waiting on you when you get out. In any situation, any aspect of your life, to be wanted feels good."

Robinson signed with the Vikings on Tuesday. Now the former North Carolina State star is looking to resurrect a career -- and a life -- that was overwhelmed by the temptations of pro football during his four years in Seattle.

Robinson pleaded guilty in July to drunken driving and had all but one day of his yearlong sentence suspended. He has a Sept. 14 court date stemming from the charge, but the Vikings are confident his troubles with alcohol are behind him.

He was cut by the Seahawks, three seasons after showing so much promise when he caught 78 passes for 1,240 yards and five touchdowns.

"I definitely got caught up in the NFL lifestyle," Robinson said. "That didn't get me where I wanted to go, where I wanted to be. I had to do something else, man."

Robinson checked into the treatment facility and spiraled into a pit of self-doubt.

"It was tough," Robinson said, swallowing hard, his eyes welling up with tears. "I was afraid, I was scared. The fear of the uncertainty, not knowing if I was ever going to get the opportunity to play ball again. Knowing that I had to do some things to get myself right, personally, as far as being a better father, a better son, a better brother. I felt like I had to get that right first and foremost before any of the football things.

"I felt like I was embarrassing my family. My parents didn't raise me like that, for the things I was doing. They didn't raise me like that. It was time for a change."

A player with Robinson's speed and talent will always get a second chance. That it came with the Vikings, who dumped Randy Moss in the offseason because they were tired of the distractions he created, came as a mild surprise.

"Koren Robinson is a guy who has such great ability," quarterback Daunte Culpepper said. "His off-the-field things, everybody goes through something to get where they want. We have to welcome him and embrace him and hope that he understands the importance of him being successful and doing the right thing."

Easing the transition will be cornerback Brian Williams, a close friend of Robinson's from their days at North Carolina State. Williams encouraged Tice to pursue Robinson and vouched for him on a personal level.

Now it's up to Robinson to prove his friend right. Wearing No. 18, Robinson is currently listed as sixth on the depth chart at receiver and Tice said he did not expect him to suit up for at least the first two games.

"We're not going to rush him because I have some pretty good receivers ahead of him right now who are really coming on quite strong," Tice said.

What ultimately convinced the coach to give Robinson another shot was his humble demeanor and willingness to admit he needed help.

"He voluntarily went into rehab and knows that he messed up," Tice said. "You deal with these spoiled athletes and a lot of times even though they've made mistakes and they're caught, they still don't want to admit they need to get some things squared away. I think this young man has done that. I think he deserves a second chance."

Hearing that, Robinson could only express appreciation and gratitude toward Tice for giving him that chance.

"Being down there in that treatment facility, man, it just made me reflect on everything as far as growing up as a little kid to that point," Robinson said. "I'd been taking a lot of things for granted. I see that. I'm just ready to move forward with my life and my career."

But he knows it will be a long time before anyone lets him forget about his troubles, and before he gets a complete handle on them himself.

For now, he's just happy that some sense of normalcy has returned to a life marked by too many highs and lows for too long.

"Very chaotic," Robinson said, describing these last few months, before pausing to compose himself. "It's been sad, it's had its ups and downs. But I've learned a lot from it.

"All in all I feel like it's a learning process. I'm here today, I'm alive and I'm breathing. I have a lot to be thankful for."

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press