BAMAPHIN 22
FinHeaven Elite
Every team is happy with its haul from the NFL draft. Every player chosen is thrilled to be on an NFL roster. Or so they say.
Now, for the truth.
The draft is as much a lottery as anything in pro sports. So the fact Matt Leinart, the likely No. 1 overall pick in 2005 who chose to quarterback Southern California in his senior season, slipped to 10th in this weekend's proceedings is just part of the game.
And the ascent of safety Donte Whitner of Ohio State, originally projected as a late first-rounder or lower, is just as much a part of the grab bag. The unheralded Whitner went eighth overall to Buffalo, ahead of even Leinart, a Heisman Trophy winner.
``The draft is fun,'' 80-year-old Bills general manager Marv Levy said. ``It's fantasy football. We got the ingredients, and now we have to bake the cake.''
Or, as Leinart's new coach, Arizona's Dennis Green, put it: ``The bottom line is, all these guys have to learn to be pro players.''
http://sportsillustrated.netscape.cnn.com/sports/story.jsp?floc=sp-more-index_ap_sports_nfl&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20060501%2F0453703824.htm&sc=2020
Now, for the truth.
The draft is as much a lottery as anything in pro sports. So the fact Matt Leinart, the likely No. 1 overall pick in 2005 who chose to quarterback Southern California in his senior season, slipped to 10th in this weekend's proceedings is just part of the game.
And the ascent of safety Donte Whitner of Ohio State, originally projected as a late first-rounder or lower, is just as much a part of the grab bag. The unheralded Whitner went eighth overall to Buffalo, ahead of even Leinart, a Heisman Trophy winner.
``The draft is fun,'' 80-year-old Bills general manager Marv Levy said. ``It's fantasy football. We got the ingredients, and now we have to bake the cake.''
Or, as Leinart's new coach, Arizona's Dennis Green, put it: ``The bottom line is, all these guys have to learn to be pro players.''
http://sportsillustrated.netscape.cnn.com/sports/story.jsp?floc=sp-more-index_ap_sports_nfl&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20060501%2F0453703824.htm&sc=2020