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w toledoblade.com + SECTION C, PAGE 8 NFL THE BLADE: TOLEDO, t SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009 + SELECTIONS ROUND ONE Southern . Jenkins, Wells go in 1st 1. , , qb, 2002 – David Carr, , QB, . Fresno State. 2. St. Louis, Jason Smith, ot, Baylor. 2001 – , , QB, 3. Kansas City, , de, Tech. LSU. 2000 – Courtney Brown, , OSU teammate Laurinaitis drafted in 2nd round 4. , Aaron Curry, lb, Wake DE, Penn State. 1999 – , Cleveland, QB, Forest. pro Tim Hightower at the running 5. (from Cleveland), Kentucky. METAIRIE, La. — The New Or- back position. , qb, Southern Cal. 1998 – , , leans Saints selected Ohio State Wells’ new home fi eld will be 6. , Andre Smith, ot, Ala- QB, Tennessee. yes- University of Phoenix Stadium, bama. 1997 – , St. Louis terday with the 14th pick in the where he rushed for 106 yards in 7. , Darrius Heyward-Bey, wr, Rams, T, Ohio State. . 1996 – , New York fi rst round of the NFL draft. 16 carries in Ohio State’s 24-21 8. Jacksonville, , ot, Jets, WR, . Jenkins, the Thorpe Award win- loss to in the last Virginia. 1995 – Ki-Jana Carter, Cincinnati, RB, ner as the nation’s best defensive season. 9. Green Bay, B.J. Raji, Col- Penn State. back last year, had a career-high In three seasons with the Buck- lege. 1994 – , Cincinnati, 57 tackles, intercepted three eyes, the 6-foot-1, 237-yard back 10. , , DE, Ohio State. passes and forced three . wr, Texas Tech. 1993 – , New England, Jenkins Wells from Akron rushed for 3,382 yards, 11. Buffalo, , de, Penn QB, Washington State. He started 45 of 49 games at Ohio averaging 5.78 yards per attempt. State. 1992 – , Indianapolis, State, fi nishing his career with went to at No. 12 and He gained 1,609 in 2007 and, 12. Denver, , rb, DE, Washington. 196 tackles and 11 , Georgia. Donald Brown of Connecticut to despite missing the three games, 1991 – , , DL, returning two for . He 13. Washington, , de, Miami. Indianapolis at No. 27. gained 1,197 yards as a junior last was an Associated Press fi rst-team Texas. 1990 – , Indianapolis, QB, Wells had been projected to go season. 14. , Malcolm Jenkins, All-Big Ten choice as a junior and . somewhere in the middle of the Wells will have to adjust from db, Ohio State. 1989 – , Dallas, QB, senior. round, if not sooner. the run-oriented Ohio State style 15. Houston, , lb, UCLA. Ohio State went 43-8 in his four Southern Cal. “If you could have told me going to the prolifi c passing game of the 1988 – , Atlanta, LB, years, winning or sharing the Big 16. San Diego, , lb, into this draft today that we would Cardinals. That means blocking to Auburn. Ten title all four seasons. Northern Illinois. 1987 – , Tampa Bay, have had a chance to get him with protect and catching 17. Tampa Bay (from N.Y. Jets through Jenkins was the fi rst defensive QB, Miami. our 31st pick, I would have been passes out of the backfi eld. Cleveland), , qb, Kansas back taken in the draft. He played 1986 – , Tampa Bay, RB, very excited,” Arizona coach Ken “I defi nitely can,” he said. “It State. Auburn. every game at cornerback for Ohio Whisenhunt said. “Needless to just wasn’t part of our scheme at 18. Denver (from ), Robert 1985 – , Buffalo, DT, State but may play free safety for Ayers, de, Tennessee. say, we’re very pleased. He’s been a Ohio State, but that’s something I . the Saints. He ran the 40-yard 19. (from Tampa Bay 1984 – , New England, WR, very productive in a know I can do.” through Cleveland), , wr, dash in 4.51 seconds at the NFL Nebraska. very good conference.” Missouri. scouting combine in February, 1983 – , , QB, Wells said he was not disap- Rams take Laurinaitis 20. Detroit (from Dallas), Brandon slower than the ideal speed for a Pettigrew, te, Oklahoma State. Stanford. pointed that he wasn’t chosen ST. LOUIS — In the second 1982 – , New England, cornerback. 21. Cleveland (from Philadelphia), sooner. round, the St. Louis Rams ad- DT, Texas. The Saints scored an NFL-best , c, California. “I knew this whole process was dressed a defensive need with 1981 – George Rogers, New Orleans, 463 points in 2008 but fi nished 22. Minnesota, , wr, going to be a blessing for me,” Ohio State All-American lineback- . RB, . last in the NFC South at 8-8 be- 1980 – , Detroit, RB, he said. “So many kids or college er . The 6-2, 244- 23. Baltimore (from New England), cause they allowed 393 points, the Oklahoma. players grow up wanting to play in pound Laurinaitis was Big Ten de- , ot, . seventh-highest total. Much of the 24. Atlanta, , dt, Missis- 1979 – , Buffalo, LB, the and fensive player of year and led the Ohio State. attention fell on a secondary that sippi. I’m just blessed to have the oppor- school in tackles three times. 1978 – , Houston, RB, allowed 221.7 passing yards per 25. Miami, , db, Illinois. tunity. I’m just so excited I can’t General manager 26. Green Bay (from Baltimore through Texas. game. get the words out right now.” said the Rams had explored trad- New England), Clay Matthews, lb, 1977 – Ricky Bell, Tampa Bay, RB, ing up to a late fi rst-round slot to Southern Cal. Southern California. Concerns about durability ap- 1976 – , Tampa Bay, Wells to Arizona make sure Laurinaitis, the son of 27. Indianapolis, Donald Brown, rb, parently led to Wells’ availability Connecticut. DE, Oklahoma. TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona so late in the fi rst round. A report former professional wrestler Joe 28. Buffalo (from Carolina through 1975 – , Atlanta, QB, Cardinals, looking to improve surfaced in the days leading up to “The Animal” Laurinaitis, was still Philadelphia), , c, Louisville. California. the worst ground game in pro the draft that a structural problem available. Instead, Devaney said, 29. , , 1974 – Ed Jones, Dallas, DE, Tennes- football, selected running back in his foot could lead to further the Rams “sweated it out” for a wr, . see State. Chris “Beanie” Wells with the 31st player who fulfi lls their desire for 30. Tennessee, , wr, 1973 – , Houston, DE, injuries like the one that sidelined Rutgers. Tampa. pick overall, giving Ohio State two him for three games last season. more size at the position. 31. Arizona, Chris Wells, rb, Ohio 1972 – , Buffalo, DE, players selected in the fi rst round. But Arizona general manager Laurinaitis said his agent, St. State. Notre Dame. The NFC champions wanted a Rod Graves said the team was Louis-based , told 32. , Evander Hood, dt, 1971 – , New England, running back, and Wells was the confi dent the foot “did not present him the Rams wanted to pick him. Missouri. QB, Stanford. last of the top three available left He’s billed as a three-down line- 1970 – , Pittsburgh, itself as a major problem.” ROUND TWO QB, Tech. when the team fi nally made its With James’ impending depar- backer with coverage skills and made an impression with his fi rst 33. Detroit, , db, 1969 – O.J. Simpson, Buffalo (AFL), choice. ture, Wells will join second-year Western . RB, Southern California. Knowshon Moreno of Georgia workout in St. Louis. 34. New England (from Kansas City), 1968 – , Minnesota, T, South- , db, Oregon. ern California. 35. St. Louis, James Laurinaitis, lb, 1967 – , Baltimore, DT, Ohio State. Michigan State. 36. Cleveland, , wr, 1966 – , Atlanta, LB, Lions take Stafford with top pick Ohio State. Texas. 37. Denver (from Seattle), Alphonso 1966 – , Miami (AFL), ASSOCIATED PRESS plenty of them to overcome with might get a chance to develop Smith, db, Wake Forest. RB, Illinois. ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The De- the Lions. slowly, watching Daunte Culpep- 38. Cincinnati, , lb, 1965 – , N.Y. Gi- Southern Cal. ants, RB, Auburn. troit Lions became the NFL’s fi rst He will, though, be paid well. per from the sideline. 39. Jacksonville, , ot, 1965 – Lawrence Elkins, Houston 0-16 team last season in large part Stafford, from Dallas, signed a But Stafford isn’t conceding Arizona. (AFL), WR, Baylor. because their defense was one of six-year contract with $41.7 mil- anything. 40. New England (from Oakland), Ron 1964 – , San Francisco, the worst in league history. lion in guarantees and $78 million “I’m a competitive guy,” Staf- Brace, dt, . WR, Texas Tech. Detroit decided to ignore its 41. New England (from Green Bay), 1964 – , Boston in maximum value. ford said. “I’m going to try to get , db, Connecticut. many needs on ‘D’ in the fi rst (AFL), QB, Boston College. The night before, he stepped ready as quick as I can.” 42. Buffalo, , db, Oregon. 1963 – , , QB, round of the draft yesterday, outside of a restaurant in New Stafford said it will be up to the 43. Carolina (from San Francisco), Oregon State. choosing Georgia York where he was with about coaches to decide if he’s ready to Everette Brown, de, Florida State. 1963 – , Kansas City Matthew Stafford as expected 20 people, including his parents, start in Week 1 on the road against 44. Miami (from Washington), Pat (AFL), DT, Grambling. with the No. 1 pick and Oklahoma White, qb, West Virginia. 1962 – , Washington, RB, to talk to agent Tom Condon, the , when De- 45. New York Giants (from New Or- State after the negotiations were com- troit will try to win its fi rst game Syracuse. leans), , lb, Virginia. 1962 – , Oakland (AFL), in a surprising selection at 20th pleted. since Dec. 23, 2007. 46. Houston, , de, QB, North Carolina State. overall. “I went back in and gave ev- But with the money the Lions Cincinnati. 1961 – , Minnesota, RB, “We stuck to our core values, erybody the thumbs up,” Stafford are paying Stafford, there will be 47. Oakland (from San Diego through Tulane. New England), Michael Mitchell, db, looking for value ,” Lions general recalled. pressure to put him on the fi eld. 1961 – Ken Rice, Buffalo (AFL), G, Ohio. Auburn. manager Martin Mayhew said. Who picked up the check? When Stafford does play, Pet- 48. Denver, Darcel McBath, db, Texas “We weren’t tempted to go offense 1960 – , Los Angeles, “I did,” Stafford said quietly. tigrew will likely help him as a Tech. RB, LSU. 49. Seattle (from Chicago), Max Unger, or defense. We took the best player Stafford can’t fi x all the prob- pass-receiving threat and block- 1959 – , Green Bay, both times.” lems associated with a franchise ing asset. c, Oregon. 50. Cleveland (from Tampa Bay), QB, . Even though ’s that has been bad enough to go The 6-foot-5, 263-pound Petti- , wr, Georgia. 1958 – , Chicago Cardinals, background is on defense, De- 31-97 since 2001 in what has been grew became the fi rst tight end in 51. Buffalo (from Dallas), , QB, Rice. troit’s new coach didn’t mind wait- the worst eight-year stretch by Oklahoma State history with 100- g, Oregon State. 1957 – , Green Bay, HB, 52. Cleveland (from N.Y. Jets), Notre Dame. ing to address that side of the ball. an NFL team since the Chicago plus receptions in a career, but as 1956 – , Pittsburgh, DB, “We have a of needs,” Cardinals won 23 percent of their a senior had as many receiving , de, . 53. Philadelphia, LeSean McCoy, rb, Colorado A&M. Schwartz said. “Our No. 1 need is games from 1936-43. touchdowns (none) as the Lions Pittsburgh. 1955 – George Shaw, Baltimore, QB, talent.” But Detroit can’t afford to have had wins last season. 54. Minnesota, Phil Loadholt, ot, Oregon. Detroit did bolster its defense, Stafford join its list of draft-day Pettigrew, though, was a fi rst- Oklahoma. 1954 – , Cleveland, which came close to setting an 55. Atlanta, William Moore, db, Mis- QB, Stanford. busts that includes Joey Har- round pick in part because he 1953 – Harry Babcock, San Francisco, NFL record for points allowed last souri. rington, Charles Rogers and Mike loved blocking so much that he 56. Indianapolis (from Miami), Fili WR, Georgia. year, by taking Western Michigan Williams. asked for running plays to be run Moala, dt, Southern Cal. 1952 – , Los Angeles, QB, safety Louis Delmas with the fi rst “The great thing about the game in his direction. 57. Baltimore, Paul Kruger, de, Utah. Vanderbilt. pick in the second round. of football is, it’s a team game,” Delmas, from North Miami 58. New England, , 1951 – , New York Giants, “He plays liked a guided mis- Stafford said on a conference call. Beach, Fla., might get a chance ot, Houston. HB, SMU. sile,” Schwartz said. 59. Carolina, Sherrod Martin, db, Troy. 1950 – , Detroit, WR, Notre “I’m just going to be one piece of to start right away because safety 60. New York Giants, , ot, Dame. Stafford said “winning solves the puzzle.” Gerald Alexander is recovering Connectitcut. 1949 – , Philadelphia, a lot of problems,” and he’s got The strong-armed quarterback from a neck injury. 61. Miami (from Indianapolis), Sean C, Pennsylvania. Smith, db, Utah. 1948 – , Washington, QB, 62. Tennessee, Sen’Derrick Marks, dt, . Auburn. 1947 – , , Veikune (Vay-koo-nay), who Mangini and general manager 63. Arizona, , lb, Con- HB, Oklahoma A&M. necticut. 1946 – , Boston, QB, kept his mind off the draft by George Kokinis were ultra-secre- 64. Denver (from Pittsburgh), Richard Notre Dame. Browns playing a round of golf, was the tive in the weeks and days leading Quinn, te, North Carolina. 1945 – , Chicago Cardi- Browns’ third selection in the sec- nals, HB, Georgia. Continued from Page 1 up to their initial draft as Cleve- ond round. Veikune recorded 18 land’s management team. NO. 1 SELECTIONS 1944 – , Boston, QB, Notre Dame. was once a ball boy with the career sacks at Hawaii. With only fi ve picks and needs The fi rst choice in the annual selec- tion of college players by professional 1943 – , Detroit, HB, Browns. Cleveland may not be done almost everywhere, they were ex- Georgia. trading. The Browns may move football with player, team, position and “It’s unbelievable,” said the pected to be busy — and no team college: 1942 – , Pittsburgh, HB, either quarterback younger Robiskie, who spent was more active in the fi rst round. 2009 – Matthew Stafford, Detroit, QB, Virginia. or Derek Anderson before the 1941 – , Chicago Bears, three summers shagging balls and The early wheeling and dealing Georgia. folding towels. draft ends. 2008 – , Miami, OT, HB, Michigan. seemed to point toward a high- 1940 – , Chicago The Browns addressed wide It’s ironic Mangini would assist Michigan. 2007 – JaMarcus Russell, Oakland, Cardinals, HB, Tennessee. receiver again later in the second the Jets in acquiring their poten- profi le selection, but Mack was somewhat of a surprise since it QB, LSU. 1939 – , Chicago Cardinals, round, taking Georgia’s Mohamed tial franchise quarterback. Mangi- 2006 – , Houston, DE, C, TCU. Massaquoi at No. 50. ni was fi red following his third appeared the Browns were mov- North Carolina State. 1938 – , Cleveland, Desperate for pass rushing help, season in New York when the Brett ing around to land a better known 2005 – , San Francisco, FB, Indiana. the Browns selected Favre experiment failed down the player like USC’s Rey Maualuga, QB, Utah. 1937 – Sam Francis, Philadelphia, FB, 2004 – , San Diego, QB, Nebraska. David Veikune from Hawaii with stretch and the Jets missed the Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells Mississippi. 1936 – , Philadelphia, pick No. 52. after an 8-3 start. and Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin. 2003 – , Cincinnati, QB, HB, Chicago.

“You can’t watch Delmas on helm, didn’t seem to excite, as not to mention fairly insulting in draft — he said as much twice tape and not like everything much as incite, the populace. this economy and, particularly, in during a conference call with lo- Hackenberg about the way he plays,” Schwartz All the polls and surveys indi- this hard-hit region. But Stafford’s cal media — and Schwartz called said. “He’s like a guided missile. cated Lions fans weren’t enam- agent, Tom Condon, fi gured the him “an NFL-ready blocker who Continued from Page 1 Size isn’t an issue there at all. He ored of Stafford with the fi rst pick. Lions had little choice, despite can block the edge, which we the second round, with a can play the run; he can cover the And when the media’s questions mixed results from top-pick quar- need if we’re going to run the great need at middle third receiver.” about the later selections bor- terbacks in recent years, and he football, and who’s also a big tar- and with both Rey Maualuga Why not an interior lineman or dered on second-guessing, both was right. Only a limited number get. We drafted a young quarter- and James Laurinaitis still on a middle linebacker, either at No. Mayhew and Schwartz seemed to of positions merit No. 1 money back and now we put the pieces the board, the Lions opted for a 20 or No. 33? bristle. and, as much as Detroit needed around him. Some are already there [running back , safety, Louis Delmas of Western “We didn’t feel there was a Well, they had better get used an offensive lineman and inside receiver , and Michigan. guy there who fi t our profi le,” to it. linebacker, they weren’t going Schwartz said. “We’re not going to Stafford is a huge risk at the there at No. 1. ] and now It may have been their most try to create players. You can’t fi t top of the draft, especially at $72 Give the Lions’ new brass some we put the tight end in the mix.” interesting pick of the day. square pegs into round holes.” million — perhaps as much as credit. They didn’t get spooked by To further turn this sorry pro- General manager Martin May- Or was it round pegs into $78 million based on incentives the price for a kid who just turned gram around, though, today’s hew, when asked about Delmas’ square holes? It doesn’t matter. — over six years with $41.7 mil- 21, or by the ghost of Joey Har- draft attention had best empha- 5-foot-11, 202-pound stature, The Lions roster is fi lled with lots lion of it reportedly guaranteed. rington, the last QB dice the Lions size defense. The Lions need said: “ is about the same of pegs and holes that don’t nec- Last year’s top quarterback, Matt rolled at the top of the draft. more guided missiles. Maybe size. So is . We de- essarily match. Ryan, received $66 million base Mayhew said the offense-de- some nukes. cided it’s not an issue.” So Detroit went with the big with $34.8 million guaranteed by fense issue wasn’t in play with the When coach Jim Schwartz took splash and then a couple of picks Atlanta at No. 3 overall. 20th pick. “It was the best player Contact Blade sports columnist his turn at the podium, he added that sort of made you shrug your The rookie pay scale grows by with the best value,” he said. Dave Hackenberg at: to those rather ex- shoulders. Mayhew and Schwartz, percentages year to year and now Pettigrew was the most com- [email protected] alted comparisons. in their fi rst go-around at the can offi cially be called shocking, plete tight end available in the or 419-724-6398 + +

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