Wacky offseason continues at draft
First Posted:
NEW YORK — Cam Newton provided one of the few predictable moments, so far, in a bizarre NFL offseason.
While the league’s labor dispute played out in the courts, the Heisman Trophy winner was selected No. 1, as expected, in Thursday night’s NFL draft, taken by the Carolina Panthers.
Moments before the Auburn quarterback’s name was called by Roger Goodell, frustrated fans showered the NFL commissioner with chants of “We want football. We want football.”
Goodell responded with a smile, saying, “I hear you. So do I.”
Newton led Auburn to an undefeated season and its first national championship since 1957. Carolina was 2-14 last year, using four quarterbacks, two of them rookies.
“I’m ready to change this whole organization around, to go from worst to first,” said Newton, the third straight quarterback taken first overall. “Just being a Panther is the most special part about this.”
Then things got a little wackier when Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller became the second pick, selected by Denver. Miller, a plaintiff in the antitrust lawsuit players filed to block the lockout, strode across the stage with tears in his eyes and hugged Goodell.
“I’ve never had anything against Roger Goodell,” Miller said. “I just want to make sure football continues to get played. When I walked across the stage, I was meeting the commissioner. That was it.”
It was a strange opening for what normally is a festive occasion. In this offseason of labor strife, the league’s first work stoppage since 1987 temporarily ends Friday. The 32 teams will resume business in compliance with U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson’s order to lift the lockout.
But the lockout could be back in place if the NFL wins an appeal. If that happens, Newton, Miller and all the players chosen Thursday night would be thrown back into a labor limbo.
For now, they will be allowed to report to their teams, meet coaches and get playbooks. Contract negotiations are uncertain until the league announces its rules for the 2011 season — rules that might be in force for only a short time if an appeal is granted.
The draft was never in danger of being held because it was protected under the old collective bargaining agreement that expired in March. Moments before it began, Goodell requested a moment of silence for victims of the vicious storms that decimated part of the South on Wednesday. On stage, he was surrounded the Auburn and Alabama stars and their coaches.
As for the stars, none shined brighter than Newton, who has shown he can handle the heat of a spotlight. He turned in a sensational 2010 season while the NCAA investigated his recruitment. Newton’s father, Cecil, has admitted soliciting money from Mississippi State during the recruiting process, but said neither the player nor Auburn knew about the pay-for-play attempt.
With the third pick, Buffalo selected Alabama nose tackle Marcell Dareus, who gave Goodell an even bigger hug. Of course, Dareus weighs 308 pounds, about 70 more than Miller — and at least 100 more than Goodell.
Cincinnati, perhaps calling the bluff of quarterback Carson Palmer, who is demanding a trade, instead took the top receiver in this crop, A.J. Green of Georgia.
Arizona, also in need of a quarterback, selected the top cornerback available, Patrick Peterson of LSU.
The labor strife caused speculation not many trades would be made Thursday. But just six picks in, Atlanta cut a massive deal with Cleveland and moved up from No. 27 to grab Alabama receiver Julio Jones — the fifth Southeastern Conference player in the first six.
x-pass on selection No. 26
Eagles draft former firefighter in Round 1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles have selected Baylor offensive lineman Danny Watkins with the 23rd pick of the NFL draft.
The 26-year-old Watkins is a former firefighter who took an unconventional route to the NFL. The Canadian has more experience as a firefighter (five years) than a football player (four) and played hockey and rugby in high school.
Watkins, listed at 6-foot-4 and 312 pounds, played left tackle in college, but projects as a guard in the pros. He could help an offensive line that allowed 49 sacks last season, despite the presence of Michael Vick.
