2006 Live DRAFT Thread

[packrulz]

Dave Tollefson.


Looks like a tough dude. Reminds me of Kampman.

[Scott Campbell]

Updated: April 29, 2006
Wroten falls down to the third round
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com


Character counts.

That message was delivered loud and clear by NFL teams on the first day of the 2006 draft. Transgress off the field and, it seems, you regress on teams' draft boards.

Just ask Claude Wroten of LSU, rated by many scouts as the most athletically gifted defensive tackle in this year's talent pool but left undrafted on Saturday until the fourth choice in the third round, when Arizona stopped his free-fall.

In a letter sent to all 32 franchises two weeks ago, a supposedly contrite Wroten allowed that he had tested positive for marijuana during his college career. He explained the details of an arrest in early February, when police cited him for possession to distribute marijuana, charges that subsequently were dismissed because of lack of evidence.

During a recent interview with ESPN.com, Wroten insisted he had sworn off marijuana and acknowledged he feared his indiscretions might cost him a professional football career.

And then, shortly after teams received Wroten's letter, they were notified by the league that the former LSU star was one of two players who had tested positive at the scouting combine sessions. And whatever chances Wroten had of salvaging his high-round draft status went up in smoke, literally and figuratively.

"From a pure talent standpoint," agreed one AFC general manager a few hours before the start of Saturday's proceedings, "(Wroten) is probably one of the best tackles I've seen in the last few years. But you make an investment in these guys, and you have to protect it. I'm not going to let a 'character' guy cost me money. Sooner or later, maybe some of these guys will understand how much (money) they're costing themselves. Basically, teams have decided we're going to make examples of these guys."

On a first day in which teams demonstrated the increasing emphasis on selecting prospects as solid off the field as they are on it, Wroten was hardly the only highly-regarded player to pay a steep price.

Once projected as a possible top 10 selection, Southern California tailback LenDale White slid all the way to the 13th pick in the second round, the 45th selection overall, not because of drug tests but rather the perception he lacks a strong work ethic. Complicating the White situation was that he never completed a 40-yard dash for scouts because of a hamstring injury that will sideline him until mid-May. The drop to the second round cost White millions of dollars.

"Right now," said White on Saturday, "I'm looking at a 31-team chip on my shoulder."

A published report Friday claimed White had failed an NFL drug test, but the report was deemed erroneous. The only function at which an NFL drug test is administered is the scouting combine in Indianapolis. And the only player besides Wroten to be flagged for a positive combine test was Missouri State kicker Jon Scifres.

Four general managers or personnel directors contacted by ESPN.com on Friday and Saturday said there was no follow-up letter citing additional positive tests. All four said they were unfamiliar with any league tests that White might have failed.

Teams are not permitted to conduct drug screenings on players when they bring them to their complexes for individual pre-draft meetings. That said, a few franchises skirt the rules and do conduct such tests. Those teams, though, would have no reason, given the competitive nature of the draft, to share or leak the results.

"The reports (on White) were false," said Titans coach Jeff Fisher. "We just feel that, considering the ability he has, and the production he had (in college), and the running style he brings to this franchise, this was a player too good to pass up."

Still, had scouts not perceived some character issues with White, there is no way he would have been available to the Titans in the second round.

Another former USC star who dropped out of the first round for character reasons was offensive tackle Winston Justice, regarded by many as the second-best prospect in the draft at the position. Some projections had the Philadelphia Eagles grabbing Justice in the first round. But they passed on Justice in the opening stanza, and so did everyone else. Ironically, it was the Eagles who tossed Justice a safety net in the second round, taking him with the 39th overall selection.

Virginia Tech star Jimmy Williams, who entered his senior season with the Hokies rated as the nation's premier defensive back, fell out of the first round, in part because of the feeling of many teams that he had some personality flaws. Williams was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round.

[Scott Campbell]

SUNDAY, April 30, 2006, 5:08 p.m.

By Rick Klauer
Tollefson fishing, closes out Packers' draft

With their final pick and the third-to-last pick in the draft, the Green Bay Packers selected Dave Tollefson, a defensive end from Northwest Missouri State.
Dave Tollefson. Photo/Northwest Missouri State
Tollefson is 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds.

The Packers' media relations department tried to contact Tollefson for an interview with the media, but was told that he "is currently fishing."

When finally reached through a cell phone, Tollefson said that a friend entered him in a bass tournament today. He said he caught five fish - the limit - and admitted that he has never gone ice fishing.

Tollefson also said that he "wasn't expecting to be drafted," but added it was "a pleasant surprise." He set a Northwest Missouri State single season-record with 12 1/2 sacks.

[Scott Campbell]

What's your under/over on how many of these picks that make the 53 man roster?

You didn't ask me, but I'll say 8.

I'd say that's a pretty good guess Harv. I was thinking 8 or 9, just because Ted seemed inclined to go with the unproven guys last year if it was a close call.

[Rastak]

Excellent job on draft coverage and commentary by everyone. It was truly interactive.

Ditto...thanks Mad, great job on the site....

[RashanGary]

Thanks for the cool site Mad.....

[MadtownPacker]

Excellent job on draft coverage and commentary by everyone. It was truly interactive.

[RashanGary]

Based on my little knowledge

Hawk - Right pick...Star player at weak position..Lucky pick.....
Colledge - Very athletic, very smart, hard working...Great pick
Jennings - I think he'll be the #3 WR by seasons end
Hodge - Nice player, Solid starter. The kind of player you want on the field.
Spitz - Hard worker, Doesn't fit, Great motor, Looks like a Center only to me.
Rodgers - Is going to have to battle for a spot on the team. Great return potential.....Solid football player. Just makes plays.
Blackmon - Great with the ball, great athlete, special teamer who is a project at CB
Martin - Great pick, Smart, Fast, Strong arm, good player to take a chance on. Has all the skills
Moll - Thompson labeled this guy as the unique late day player when asked. Very Raw TE convert to OT. Might fly, might fall

Last three who knows. I think the DE could be damn good.

I project Hawk, Colledge and Hodge as immediate starters. I think they could easily get 5 out of this group in a year or two. If I had to take a blind stab, which is what it is, I would say it will eventually grade out to be an A. Hawk is just that great and many others could be really good starters.

[Bretsky]

have these forums been down? I was gone.

What does everyone think of our picks!?!

I haven't did all the research on each one yet, but my gut gives TT a C.

He added a lot of depth but seems to prefer the projects over players that might contribute sooner.

[Rastak]

Thanks to Rastak for the thread, Madtown for the forum, and to Harv, Bretsky, SC, Fritz, Merlin (the list is long and I can't remember everybody) and all your research and commentary. Your work made this draft very, very cool. The spot-on analysis, player bios, and all the other commentary was sooo much better than ESPN and the NFL network.

Thanks.

I think this was pretty entertaining for everyone involved. Glad you joined us.

Our first year Packer Rats draft thread went for about 113 pages in a little over 30 hours. Next year I think we need at least 200 pages. I'm sure we'll get a nice bump in post count just by not letting the Viking troll start the thread.

Two years running Scott......by the way, I'm not a troll despite the title Mad gave me.....

[Scott Campbell]

Thanks to Rastak for the thread, Madtown for the forum, and to Harv, Bretsky, SC, Fritz, Merlin (the list is long and I can't remember everybody) and all your research and commentary. Your work made this draft very, very cool. The spot-on analysis, player bios, and all the other commentary was sooo much better than ESPN and the NFL network.

Thanks.

I think this was pretty entertaining for everyone involved. Glad you joined us.

Our first year Packer Rats draft thread went for about 113 pages in a little over 30 hours. Next year I think we need at least 200 pages. I'm sure we'll get a nice bump in post count just by not letting the Viking troll start the thread.

[Partial]

have these forums been down? I was gone.

What does everyone think of our picks!?!

[HarveyWallbangers]

Well TT is consistent; never heard of him and no info out on him in the obvious spots

Well, the only thing I will say is that it's not unusual. Look at some of these names late:

WR Bennie Brazell
WR Kevin McMahon
OG Tyler Reed
OG Kili Lefotu
OG Tony Palmer
OG Aaron Merz
DE Dave Tollefson
DT Chase Page
LB Spencer Toone
LB Anthony Cannon
CB Ethan Kilmer
CB Courtland Finegan
CB Justin Phinisee
CB T.J. Rushing
S Justin Hamilton
S Vickiel Vaughn

I don't think most of these guys were on most draft boards. None were projected to get picked.

[MJZiggy]

I can't believe I missed Hendo go off.

[Partial]

has no one really posted on here in hours or am I crazy?