Partial
08-27-2007, 05:13 PM
First-day draft picks get roster priority
MIKE VANDERMAUSE
Coaches and general managers never would admit it, but the facts don't lie.
Any rookie selected in the first three rounds of the NFL draft is all but guaranteed a job his first year in the league.
Even if a player falls on his face, teams go out of their way to make room on their rosters for first-day draft picks.
It's been 36 years since a Packers draft pick selected in the first three rounds was flat-out cut prior to the start of the regular season. Running back Virgil Robinson, who was chosen in the second round of the 1971 draft, has that dubious distinction.
The Packers have made terrible first-day draft decisions since then, and many high picks either never played a down in Green Bay due to injuries and other circumstances, or endured unproductive careers. But for at least a year, employment for the highly touted rookies was secure.
Kicker Brett Conway was taken in the third round in 1997 and wouldn't have made the team, but an injury prevented him from getting released. Other high picks placed on injured reserve who never played a game for the Packers include defensive lineman Donnell Washington (2004, third round), tackle Dave Croston (1987, third round), quarterback Robbie Bosco (1986, third round) and guard Rick Scribner (1977, third round).
Defensive tackle Bruce Clark was chosen in the first round in 1980 but refused to play for the Packers. At least the team recovered from that embarrassment by eventually trading Clark for another first-round pick.
B.J. Sander (2004, third round) had one of the strangest rookie seasons in team history. He wasn't hurt and he wasn't good enough to serve as the Packers' punter, so coach Mike Sherman took the unusual step of keeping two punters on the roster. It was Sherman's way of giving Sander a chance to grow into the job.
In this era of large signing bonuses and sophisticated scouting, teams offer their high draft choices every chance to succeed, sometimes to a fault. Patience didn't work for Sander, who eventually was waived, and it proved to be an even bigger gaffe in the handling of first-round draft pick Jamal Reynolds, taken 10th overall in 2001.
The Packers waited three long seasons for Reynolds to emerge, but the only thing he proved was that he didn't belong in the NFL.
Some players don't have to produce immediately to make the team. First-round draft choice Justin Harrell is no better than the fifth-best defensive tackle, but he locked up a roster spot the day he was drafted. Harrell might be an impact player some day, but it won't happen this year.
It doesn't mean the Packers made a mistake on Harrell. Teams often draft players for their long-term potential, giving high picks a built-in advantage.
Third-round safety Aaron Rouse, for example, is in no danger of getting cut, even though he hasn't necessarily performed any better than less-heralded safeties like Charlie Peprah and Tyrone Culver.
Most players know there's an unwritten rule about high draft choices making the team.
"Yeah, most of the time, that's how it is," said Peprah, who was claimed on waivers last year. "Usually if you're picked in the first through third rounds … financially, they're not going to cut you."
Free-agent guard Adam Stenavich said: "There's some guys that are pretty much guaranteed spots, and the rest of us are all fighting."
It's not always a matter of fairness, but rather, how business is conducted in the NFL.
MIKE VANDERMAUSE
Coaches and general managers never would admit it, but the facts don't lie.
Any rookie selected in the first three rounds of the NFL draft is all but guaranteed a job his first year in the league.
Even if a player falls on his face, teams go out of their way to make room on their rosters for first-day draft picks.
It's been 36 years since a Packers draft pick selected in the first three rounds was flat-out cut prior to the start of the regular season. Running back Virgil Robinson, who was chosen in the second round of the 1971 draft, has that dubious distinction.
The Packers have made terrible first-day draft decisions since then, and many high picks either never played a down in Green Bay due to injuries and other circumstances, or endured unproductive careers. But for at least a year, employment for the highly touted rookies was secure.
Kicker Brett Conway was taken in the third round in 1997 and wouldn't have made the team, but an injury prevented him from getting released. Other high picks placed on injured reserve who never played a game for the Packers include defensive lineman Donnell Washington (2004, third round), tackle Dave Croston (1987, third round), quarterback Robbie Bosco (1986, third round) and guard Rick Scribner (1977, third round).
Defensive tackle Bruce Clark was chosen in the first round in 1980 but refused to play for the Packers. At least the team recovered from that embarrassment by eventually trading Clark for another first-round pick.
B.J. Sander (2004, third round) had one of the strangest rookie seasons in team history. He wasn't hurt and he wasn't good enough to serve as the Packers' punter, so coach Mike Sherman took the unusual step of keeping two punters on the roster. It was Sherman's way of giving Sander a chance to grow into the job.
In this era of large signing bonuses and sophisticated scouting, teams offer their high draft choices every chance to succeed, sometimes to a fault. Patience didn't work for Sander, who eventually was waived, and it proved to be an even bigger gaffe in the handling of first-round draft pick Jamal Reynolds, taken 10th overall in 2001.
The Packers waited three long seasons for Reynolds to emerge, but the only thing he proved was that he didn't belong in the NFL.
Some players don't have to produce immediately to make the team. First-round draft choice Justin Harrell is no better than the fifth-best defensive tackle, but he locked up a roster spot the day he was drafted. Harrell might be an impact player some day, but it won't happen this year.
It doesn't mean the Packers made a mistake on Harrell. Teams often draft players for their long-term potential, giving high picks a built-in advantage.
Third-round safety Aaron Rouse, for example, is in no danger of getting cut, even though he hasn't necessarily performed any better than less-heralded safeties like Charlie Peprah and Tyrone Culver.
Most players know there's an unwritten rule about high draft choices making the team.
"Yeah, most of the time, that's how it is," said Peprah, who was claimed on waivers last year. "Usually if you're picked in the first through third rounds … financially, they're not going to cut you."
Free-agent guard Adam Stenavich said: "There's some guys that are pretty much guaranteed spots, and the rest of us are all fighting."
It's not always a matter of fairness, but rather, how business is conducted in the NFL.