-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
- Thread starter Buckeye513
- Start date
OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
4/30/06
4/30/06
COMMENTARY
NFL draft proves to be a windfall for Ohio State
Sunday, April 30, 2006
BOB HUNTER
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
There are lots of ways to measure the success of a college football program.
Wins are obviously the best way, and the one most fans use. Give most Ohio State fans a win over Michigan, a Big Ten title and a bowl victory, and they’re good until September. To most fans, it’s all about the games.
To others, that isn’t enough. Some people are just as focused, maybe even more focused, on the other two seasons, recruiting season and NFL draft season. To these zealots, the draft yesterday was almost the equivalent of another national championship.
Southern California and Ohio State had been expected to have the most picks in the first round, and some draft "experts" — just the use of that term gives me a nervous tic — had actually mused that this USC draft class might be the best ever.
Unfortunately for these "experts," NFL executives aren’t quite as predictable as Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. Three schools (OSU, Florida State and North Carolina State) had more first-round picks than the Trojans, and the Buckeyes absolutely blew them away.
When the New York Jets took Ohio State center Nick Mangold with the 29 th pick, making him the fifth Buckeye taken in the first round, I could have sworn I heard the victory bell in the distance. It was probably just my stomach grinding — it’s hard to watch four hours of ESPN’s draft coverage without getting a little nauseated — but I have to admit the Buckeyes’ draft showing was impressive nonetheless. If you’re an OSU fan who is really into this stuff, it must have felt a little like watching Buster Douglas upset Mike Tyson.
He hit him. He hit him again. And again. And again. After USC’s Reggie Bush went to New Orleans with the No. 2 pick and Ohio State’s A.J. Hawk at No. 5 to Green Bay, both of which were pretty much expected, that Douglas-Tyson boxing play-by-play pretty much described all the (non)action.
Ohio State safety Donte Whitner came seemingly out of nowhere to land (Pow!) with Buffalo at No. 8. USC quarterback Matt Leinart, whom some folks had going in the top three, was picked by Arizona at No. 10, then Bobby Carpenter went to Dallas (Pow!) at No. 18.
There were no more USC picks in the first round. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s Santonio Holmes went to Pittsburgh at No. 25 and Mangold to the Jets, leaving OSU one pick from Miami’s record of six firstround picks set in 2004.
It didn’t happen, but ESPN’s slobber must have pleased OSU fans who were watching. While Mangold was getting hugs from family and friends in Centerville, Chris Berman asked "What’s in the water in Columbus? " and Michael Irvin chipped in with, "Pretty good football program in Columbus, huh? "
A little reality should be introduced here; the number of first-round picks doesn’t mean a whole lot. North Carolina State had three first-round picks, but the Wolfpack finished the season that really mattered 6-5.
Maybe that’s why I have a tendency to make light of people who seem so passionate about this stuff. It just seems like a way to keep an obsession going for the full 12 months when the season only lasts three or four. If you can’t write letters to the editor in April to complain about a call Jim Bollman made during the Texas game, you have to find other things to obsess over.
Hence, recruiting and the draft.
But a little admiration is in order for all of the Ohio State coaches who have been recruiting these guys. For the past 10 or 12 years, OSU has had probably as much talent as any school in America. With all the whining about the OSU footballers that goes on around here, the draft was one more sign that things are actually going pretty well.
Maybe that’s why some folks spent so much time carping about the colors of those jerseys. With Maurice Clarett gone, there hasn’t been much to complain about.
Bob Hunter is a sports columnist for The Dispatch.
[email protected]
Upvote
0
martinss01
blissfully stupid
way to go schlegs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thats a bit of an endorsement for best lb's in the nation. 2 in the first round then the complete package by pick 76.
though i expected ay to go late, with the "experts" billing him as a first rounder. im curious as to what they saw that wasn't there. aslo, one of the articles mentioned that carp didn't interview particularly well... which is kind of the opposite to what i have been reading.
thats a bit of an endorsement for best lb's in the nation. 2 in the first round then the complete package by pick 76.
though i expected ay to go late, with the "experts" billing him as a first rounder. im curious as to what they saw that wasn't there. aslo, one of the articles mentioned that carp didn't interview particularly well... which is kind of the opposite to what i have been reading.
Upvote
0
CPD
4/30
Teams don't pass many Bucks
Sunday, April 30, 2006Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Ohio State fell one player short of the NFL record of six first-round picks from one school, but the five first-round Buckeyes seemed to find nearly ideal NFL fits on Saturday.
Picked fifth, throwback A.J. Hawk joined Green Bay's football tradition.
Picked eighth, Cleveland native Donte Whitner landed three hours up Lake Erie in Buffalo, joined by OSU secondary mate Ashton Youboty, who went in the third round to the Bills.
Picked 18th, Bobby Carpenter joins Dallas' Bill Parcells, who coached his father, Rob, as a New York Giant.
Picked 25th, Santonio Holmes slid into a vacant receiving spot for the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
Picked 29th, center Nick Mangold will revamp the New York Jets offensive line along with mammoth tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, with Buckeyes linebacker Anthony Schlegel providing a potential roommate after the Jets took him in the third round.
"Five guys, it's great to be a part of that," Mangold said by phone shortly after his selection, his draft day consisting of golf and Monopoly with his family in Centerville, Ohio. "I look forward to matching up with all those guys."
Nothing can top the match of Hawk and the Packers, who plan to play him at weakside linebacker. General Manager Ted Thompson settled on Hawk about three weeks ago, then sweated it out while hoping he'd be available at No. 5.
"I did a lot of praying," Thompson said.
No. 50 Hawk jerseys were for sale nearly immediately on the Packers Web site, and it's not hard to envision Hawk becoming one of the faces of the NFL in Titletown, USA.
"Kids ride bicycles to their training camp, and I wouldn't be surprised if A.J. came to practice on a bicycle as opposed to an Escalade," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "They won't be disappointed."
"I was kind of hoping to go there," said Hawk, who turned down an invitation to attend the draft in New York and as a compromise was saddled with ESPN and NFL Network camera crews in his living room. "My family's really excited because I'm staying in the Midwest. Hopefully it's a good fit. It's a football town, just like Columbus is."
Carpenter, Hawk's more flamboyant tackling mate, was destined for Dallas, saying the Cowboys were extremely interested after a private workout. That running back Rob Carpenter had played for Parcells during part of his 10-year NFL career only sealed the deal.
"I've always kind of dreamed of playing for him," said Carpenter, who will be an outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense.
Owner Jerry Jones and Parcells called Carpenter to inform him of their pick, a call made public on the Cowboys' Web site. Parcells joked about leaving tickets for Carpenter's dad, and the son ended the conversation by saying, "I'm looking forward to winning the Super Bowl, coach."
That may come more quickly for Holmes, who fell a little lower than projected and was shown yawning on ESPN before the Steelers traded up to make him the first receiver drafted. He should step in immediately for Antwaan Randle El, who left as a free agent.
Mangold went four picks later and should start in the hole left when the Jets cut their center, Kevin Mawae, last month. The Jets took Ferguson, a tackle, earlier in the round with the No. 4 pick.
Youboty was the only potential first-round Buckeye left waiting, falling to the 70th overall pick in the third round. The Bills could start three Buckeyes in the secondary, with Whitner at safety and Youboty and former OSU player Nate Clements at corners.
Schlegel was a mild surprise as a third-rounder, picked No. 76, giving the Buckeyes seven first-day picks. Offensive lineman Rob Sims, defensive end Mike Kudla, kicker Josh Huston and defensive tackle Marcus Green are among the Ohio State players expected to go in rounds four through seven today.
4/30
Teams don't pass many Bucks
Sunday, April 30, 2006Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Ohio State fell one player short of the NFL record of six first-round picks from one school, but the five first-round Buckeyes seemed to find nearly ideal NFL fits on Saturday.
Picked fifth, throwback A.J. Hawk joined Green Bay's football tradition.
Picked eighth, Cleveland native Donte Whitner landed three hours up Lake Erie in Buffalo, joined by OSU secondary mate Ashton Youboty, who went in the third round to the Bills.
Picked 18th, Bobby Carpenter joins Dallas' Bill Parcells, who coached his father, Rob, as a New York Giant.
Picked 25th, Santonio Holmes slid into a vacant receiving spot for the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
Picked 29th, center Nick Mangold will revamp the New York Jets offensive line along with mammoth tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, with Buckeyes linebacker Anthony Schlegel providing a potential roommate after the Jets took him in the third round.
"Five guys, it's great to be a part of that," Mangold said by phone shortly after his selection, his draft day consisting of golf and Monopoly with his family in Centerville, Ohio. "I look forward to matching up with all those guys."
Nothing can top the match of Hawk and the Packers, who plan to play him at weakside linebacker. General Manager Ted Thompson settled on Hawk about three weeks ago, then sweated it out while hoping he'd be available at No. 5.
"I did a lot of praying," Thompson said.
No. 50 Hawk jerseys were for sale nearly immediately on the Packers Web site, and it's not hard to envision Hawk becoming one of the faces of the NFL in Titletown, USA.
"Kids ride bicycles to their training camp, and I wouldn't be surprised if A.J. came to practice on a bicycle as opposed to an Escalade," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "They won't be disappointed."
"I was kind of hoping to go there," said Hawk, who turned down an invitation to attend the draft in New York and as a compromise was saddled with ESPN and NFL Network camera crews in his living room. "My family's really excited because I'm staying in the Midwest. Hopefully it's a good fit. It's a football town, just like Columbus is."
Carpenter, Hawk's more flamboyant tackling mate, was destined for Dallas, saying the Cowboys were extremely interested after a private workout. That running back Rob Carpenter had played for Parcells during part of his 10-year NFL career only sealed the deal.
"I've always kind of dreamed of playing for him," said Carpenter, who will be an outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense.
Owner Jerry Jones and Parcells called Carpenter to inform him of their pick, a call made public on the Cowboys' Web site. Parcells joked about leaving tickets for Carpenter's dad, and the son ended the conversation by saying, "I'm looking forward to winning the Super Bowl, coach."
That may come more quickly for Holmes, who fell a little lower than projected and was shown yawning on ESPN before the Steelers traded up to make him the first receiver drafted. He should step in immediately for Antwaan Randle El, who left as a free agent.
Mangold went four picks later and should start in the hole left when the Jets cut their center, Kevin Mawae, last month. The Jets took Ferguson, a tackle, earlier in the round with the No. 4 pick.
Youboty was the only potential first-round Buckeye left waiting, falling to the 70th overall pick in the third round. The Bills could start three Buckeyes in the secondary, with Whitner at safety and Youboty and former OSU player Nate Clements at corners.
Schlegel was a mild surprise as a third-rounder, picked No. 76, giving the Buckeyes seven first-day picks. Offensive lineman Rob Sims, defensive end Mike Kudla, kicker Josh Huston and defensive tackle Marcus Green are among the Ohio State players expected to go in rounds four through seven today.
Upvote
0
Way to go Buckeyes! Adding to a an uparalelled storied history.
I hate the Jets!!!!!! It is so hard for me to see Buckeyes go there. If the Dolphins don't stop drafting SEC guys and pickup some Bucks, I'm going to lose it.
Here's hoping that we pick up Kudla today!
I hate the Jets!!!!!! It is so hard for me to see Buckeyes go there. If the Dolphins don't stop drafting SEC guys and pickup some Bucks, I'm going to lose it.
Here's hoping that we pick up Kudla today!
Upvote
0
DDN
5/1
Ohio State draft picks
By the Dayton Daily News
<!--endtext-->
<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> <table style="clear: right;"> <tbody><tr><td class="tablelabel" colspan="6">Ohio State draft picks</td></tr><tr><td> Player</td><td>Round</td><td>Overall</td><td>Pos.</td><td>Team</td></tr><tr><td> A.J. Hawk</td><td>1</td><td>5 </td><td>LB</td><td>Green Bay</td></tr><tr><td> Donte Whitner</td><td>1</td><td>8</td><td>S</td><td>Buffalo</td></tr><tr><td> Bobby Carpenter</td><td>1 </td><td>18</td><td>LB</td><td>Dallas</td></tr><tr><td> Santonio Holmes</td><td>1</td><td>25</td><td>WR</td><td>Pittsburgh</td></tr><tr><td> Nick Mangold</td><td>1</td><td>29</td><td>C</td><td>New York Jets</td></tr><tr><td> Ashton Youboty</td><td>3</td><td>70</td><td>CB</td><td>Buffalo </td></tr><tr><td> Anthony Schlegel</td><td>3</td><td>76</td><td>LB</td><td>New York Jets</td></tr><tr><td> Nate Salley</td><td>4</td><td>121</td><td>S</td><td>Carolina</td></tr><tr><td> Robbie Sims</td><td>4</td><td>128</td><td>OT</td><td>Seattle</td></tr></tbody> </table>
5/1
Ohio State draft picks
By the Dayton Daily News
<!--endtext-->
<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> <table style="clear: right;"> <tbody><tr><td class="tablelabel" colspan="6">Ohio State draft picks</td></tr><tr><td> Player</td><td>Round</td><td>Overall</td><td>Pos.</td><td>Team</td></tr><tr><td> A.J. Hawk</td><td>1</td><td>5 </td><td>LB</td><td>Green Bay</td></tr><tr><td> Donte Whitner</td><td>1</td><td>8</td><td>S</td><td>Buffalo</td></tr><tr><td> Bobby Carpenter</td><td>1 </td><td>18</td><td>LB</td><td>Dallas</td></tr><tr><td> Santonio Holmes</td><td>1</td><td>25</td><td>WR</td><td>Pittsburgh</td></tr><tr><td> Nick Mangold</td><td>1</td><td>29</td><td>C</td><td>New York Jets</td></tr><tr><td> Ashton Youboty</td><td>3</td><td>70</td><td>CB</td><td>Buffalo </td></tr><tr><td> Anthony Schlegel</td><td>3</td><td>76</td><td>LB</td><td>New York Jets</td></tr><tr><td> Nate Salley</td><td>4</td><td>121</td><td>S</td><td>Carolina</td></tr><tr><td> Robbie Sims</td><td>4</td><td>128</td><td>OT</td><td>Seattle</td></tr></tbody> </table>
Upvote
0
ABJ
5/2
Draft report
Good situations for Kudla, Everett
Former OSU standouts sign deals as free agents with Steelers, Broncos
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal staff writer
<!-- begin body-content --> It might not erase the disappointment of being passed over in this weekend's NFL Draft, but Ohio State defensive end Mike Kudla and cornerback Tyler Everett quickly found new homes afterward.
Kudla, the former Highland High star, is headed to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team confirmed Monday. The 6-foot-2, 265-pounder could be tried as an outside linebacker or a pass-rush specialist in Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's scheme.
``Dick LeBeau is the father of the zone blitz, and that's what we are,'' Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said Monday at the National Football Foundation banquet in Westlake. ``So everything he's asked to do there, he will have done a million times. That's better than somebody saying, `Let me take him,' and then be in the wrong system. He's in the perfect system.''
Canton McKinley's Everett signed with the Denver Broncos on Sunday night, his agent, Eugene Lee, said.
Lee said that the Broncos drafted no defensive backs and that Everett will be the only one among the five free agents the Broncos plan to bring in.
``The financial commitment they made to him as an undrafted free agent is very, very strong,'' Lee said. ``That supported the stance they really wanted him.
``They liked his versatility. He'll play safety, cornerback, special teams, wherever they need him to play. (Safety) John Lynch is in his 13th year.''
Lee said Everett visited the Steelers, Packers, Titans, Chiefs and Bills before the draft and worked out for the Bears and Cowboys in Columbus. Lee said he received a phone call from the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round, saying they were down to Everett or Fresno State's Tyrone Culver, whom they selected.
OSU led the Big Ten with nine draft picks, including five first-round choices, which broke the school record of four in 1971. The five was the second-highest number of first-round picks, only the University of Miami's six in 2004 topped it. Only four schools -- USC (11), Miami (9) and Virginia Tech (9) and OSU -- had nine or more selected this year.
Agent Jeff Chilcoat said four of his Buckeyes clients also signed as free agents: kicker Josh Huston with the Chicago Bears, where he will compete with ex-Penn Stater Robbie Gould; tight end Ryan Hamby with the Cincinnati Bengals; and defensive tackle Marcus Green and cornerback E.J. Underwood with the New York Giants.
Underwood spent last season at Pikeville (Ky.) College.
5/2
Draft report
Good situations for Kudla, Everett
Former OSU standouts sign deals as free agents with Steelers, Broncos
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal staff writer
<!-- begin body-content --> It might not erase the disappointment of being passed over in this weekend's NFL Draft, but Ohio State defensive end Mike Kudla and cornerback Tyler Everett quickly found new homes afterward.
Kudla, the former Highland High star, is headed to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team confirmed Monday. The 6-foot-2, 265-pounder could be tried as an outside linebacker or a pass-rush specialist in Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's scheme.
``Dick LeBeau is the father of the zone blitz, and that's what we are,'' Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said Monday at the National Football Foundation banquet in Westlake. ``So everything he's asked to do there, he will have done a million times. That's better than somebody saying, `Let me take him,' and then be in the wrong system. He's in the perfect system.''
Canton McKinley's Everett signed with the Denver Broncos on Sunday night, his agent, Eugene Lee, said.
Lee said that the Broncos drafted no defensive backs and that Everett will be the only one among the five free agents the Broncos plan to bring in.
``The financial commitment they made to him as an undrafted free agent is very, very strong,'' Lee said. ``That supported the stance they really wanted him.
``They liked his versatility. He'll play safety, cornerback, special teams, wherever they need him to play. (Safety) John Lynch is in his 13th year.''
Lee said Everett visited the Steelers, Packers, Titans, Chiefs and Bills before the draft and worked out for the Bears and Cowboys in Columbus. Lee said he received a phone call from the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round, saying they were down to Everett or Fresno State's Tyrone Culver, whom they selected.
OSU led the Big Ten with nine draft picks, including five first-round choices, which broke the school record of four in 1971. The five was the second-highest number of first-round picks, only the University of Miami's six in 2004 topped it. Only four schools -- USC (11), Miami (9) and Virginia Tech (9) and OSU -- had nine or more selected this year.
Agent Jeff Chilcoat said four of his Buckeyes clients also signed as free agents: kicker Josh Huston with the Chicago Bears, where he will compete with ex-Penn Stater Robbie Gould; tight end Ryan Hamby with the Cincinnati Bengals; and defensive tackle Marcus Green and cornerback E.J. Underwood with the New York Giants.
Underwood spent last season at Pikeville (Ky.) College.
Upvote
0
CPD
5/2
Dreams alive for OSU's five
Undrafted seniors get their NFL calls
Tuesday, May 02, 2006 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Mike Kudla couldn't dwell on his disappointment when the NFL Draft ended Sunday and he hadn't been selected. There were phones to answer.
"We had teams on every phone line, every cell phone, the home phone was ringing, I was trying to talk to my agent," Kudla said Monday. "Toward the end, it got real hectic."
When it ended, after receiving offers from roughly 12 teams, the Ohio State defensive end from Highland High was a Pittsburgh Steeler.
After nine Buckeyes were taken in the draft's seven rounds, Kudla was one of five OSU seniors to sign free-agent NFL contracts. Defensive back Tyler Everett hooked on with the Denver Broncos, kicker Josh Huston with the Chicago Bears, defensive tackle Marcus Green with the New York Giants and tight end Ryan Hamby with the Cincinnati Bengals. Fullback Brandon Schnittker will attend a Browns tryout camp this weekend, while offensive lineman Andree Tyree has no NFL offers at this point.
Though Kudla, Everett, Huston and Green were all solid draft candidates, Kudla's absence from the list of 255 players picked was the most surprising.
By bench-pressing 225 pounds 45 times, Kudla tied the unofficial record at the NFL Combine. Asked before the draft for an unsung Buckeye in the heavy OSU draft buildup, coach Jim Tressel mentioned Kudla. There was talk in the Kudla household of possibly going Saturday, during the draft's first three rounds.
"It was hard," Kudla said. "Going in we figured we'd be drafted, and we were hoping pretty high. But in hindsight, looking at how things fell now, I'm in a great spot with a great opportunity on my hands."
At 6-3 and 265 pounds, Kudla fits best in the NFL as a hybrid defensive end/linebacker spot in a 3-4 defense, like the one the Steelers employ. He'll also have to earn his spot through special teams.
Eugene Lee, the agent for Canton McKinley High grad Everett, claimed a similarly ideal fit for his client in Denver. The Broncos selected no defensive backs in the draft.
"Tyler should have been drafted, but coulda, woulda, shoulda," Lee said. "But they really want him out there."
According to agent Jeff Chilcoat, Huston will take part in an open competition for the Bears kicking job with Robbie Gould.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that Pittsburgh first-round pick Santonio Holmes will miss three weeks of NFL indoctrination.
A college player cannot take part in NFL spring workouts until his college has had its graduation.
OSU's graduation is in mid-June. By then, the Steelers will have finished the 14 days of coaching sessions that follow their May 13-15 minicamp, which Holmes is permitted to attend.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
5/2
Dreams alive for OSU's five
Undrafted seniors get their NFL calls
Tuesday, May 02, 2006 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Mike Kudla couldn't dwell on his disappointment when the NFL Draft ended Sunday and he hadn't been selected. There were phones to answer.
"We had teams on every phone line, every cell phone, the home phone was ringing, I was trying to talk to my agent," Kudla said Monday. "Toward the end, it got real hectic."
When it ended, after receiving offers from roughly 12 teams, the Ohio State defensive end from Highland High was a Pittsburgh Steeler.
After nine Buckeyes were taken in the draft's seven rounds, Kudla was one of five OSU seniors to sign free-agent NFL contracts. Defensive back Tyler Everett hooked on with the Denver Broncos, kicker Josh Huston with the Chicago Bears, defensive tackle Marcus Green with the New York Giants and tight end Ryan Hamby with the Cincinnati Bengals. Fullback Brandon Schnittker will attend a Browns tryout camp this weekend, while offensive lineman Andree Tyree has no NFL offers at this point.
Though Kudla, Everett, Huston and Green were all solid draft candidates, Kudla's absence from the list of 255 players picked was the most surprising.
By bench-pressing 225 pounds 45 times, Kudla tied the unofficial record at the NFL Combine. Asked before the draft for an unsung Buckeye in the heavy OSU draft buildup, coach Jim Tressel mentioned Kudla. There was talk in the Kudla household of possibly going Saturday, during the draft's first three rounds.
"It was hard," Kudla said. "Going in we figured we'd be drafted, and we were hoping pretty high. But in hindsight, looking at how things fell now, I'm in a great spot with a great opportunity on my hands."
At 6-3 and 265 pounds, Kudla fits best in the NFL as a hybrid defensive end/linebacker spot in a 3-4 defense, like the one the Steelers employ. He'll also have to earn his spot through special teams.
Eugene Lee, the agent for Canton McKinley High grad Everett, claimed a similarly ideal fit for his client in Denver. The Broncos selected no defensive backs in the draft.
"Tyler should have been drafted, but coulda, woulda, shoulda," Lee said. "But they really want him out there."
According to agent Jeff Chilcoat, Huston will take part in an open competition for the Bears kicking job with Robbie Gould.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that Pittsburgh first-round pick Santonio Holmes will miss three weeks of NFL indoctrination.
A college player cannot take part in NFL spring workouts until his college has had its graduation.
OSU's graduation is in mid-June. By then, the Steelers will have finished the 14 days of coaching sessions that follow their May 13-15 minicamp, which Holmes is permitted to attend.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
Upvote
0
UpNorthBuckeye
Hall of Fame
Great to hear about all the free agents, especially Kudla! I'd bet my mortgage money on him making the roster come September!
Upvote
0
Dispatch
5/4
Buckeyes notch edge in draft over Wolverines
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"></table> </td></tr> </tbody> </table>
As if coach Lloyd Carr needed another reminder of how Ohio State has dominated his Michigan program recently, the NFL draft revealed the Buckeyes’ edge in producing pro talent.
Over the past five drafts (2002 to 2006), the Buckeyes have had 39 players selected to 20 for the Wolverines.
Last weekend, Ohio State had nine players drafted, including a school-record five in the first round. Michigan had three players taken, two in the fourth round (defensive tackle Gabe Watson and receiver Jason Avant) and one in the seventh (tight end Tim Massaquoi).
"I think it goes back to player development," said Tony Pauline, NFL analyst for Scout-.com. "(New England quarterback) Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick; he was never fully developed at Michigan. And take Watson. He was one of the highest-rated defensive tackles coming into the 2005 season. All he had to do to lock up being a top-15 pick was give consistent effort and production.
"He didn’t do either and got benched."
Michigan fans’ frustration is building over Carr, who has beaten Ohio State just once in the past five years. But Detroit Free Press columnist Michael Rosenberg said Carr’s job is safe because the school’s administration is pleased with his overall success (national title in 1997, five Big Ten titles, winning percentage of .750).
"It’s different because there’s not the year-round obsession with Michigan football here like there is in Columbus with Ohio State," Rosenberg said. "When people ask, ‘When is Lloyd going to be fired?’ I tell them, ‘He’s not.’ It’s not an issue."
[email protected]
Thursday, May 04, 2006
5/4
Buckeyes notch edge in draft over Wolverines
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"></table> </td></tr> </tbody> </table>
As if coach Lloyd Carr needed another reminder of how Ohio State has dominated his Michigan program recently, the NFL draft revealed the Buckeyes’ edge in producing pro talent.
Over the past five drafts (2002 to 2006), the Buckeyes have had 39 players selected to 20 for the Wolverines.
Last weekend, Ohio State had nine players drafted, including a school-record five in the first round. Michigan had three players taken, two in the fourth round (defensive tackle Gabe Watson and receiver Jason Avant) and one in the seventh (tight end Tim Massaquoi).
"I think it goes back to player development," said Tony Pauline, NFL analyst for Scout-.com. "(New England quarterback) Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick; he was never fully developed at Michigan. And take Watson. He was one of the highest-rated defensive tackles coming into the 2005 season. All he had to do to lock up being a top-15 pick was give consistent effort and production.
"He didn’t do either and got benched."
Michigan fans’ frustration is building over Carr, who has beaten Ohio State just once in the past five years. But Detroit Free Press columnist Michael Rosenberg said Carr’s job is safe because the school’s administration is pleased with his overall success (national title in 1997, five Big Ten titles, winning percentage of .750).
"It’s different because there’s not the year-round obsession with Michigan football here like there is in Columbus with Ohio State," Rosenberg said. "When people ask, ‘When is Lloyd going to be fired?’ I tell them, ‘He’s not.’ It’s not an issue."
[email protected]
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Upvote
0
Dispatch
5/4
TELEVISION
Columbus ranks first in viewers of NFL draft on ESPN
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Molly Willow
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"> <tbody><tr><td align="center">
</td></tr> <tr><td class="credit" width="200"> MIKE ROEMER | ASSOCIATED PRESS </td></tr> <tr><td class="cutline" width="200">A.J. Hawk, the first Ohio State player chosen — by Green Bay </td></tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr> </tbody> </table>
A higher percentage of people in the Columbus area watched the NFL draft on Saturday than anywhere else in the nation, driven by the big role that the Ohio State Buckeyes played.
Residents of central Ohio tuned in even more fervently than those in metro areas that have pro football teams.
Nielsen Media Research put the Columbus market at the top, with 8.5 percent of the population watching the draft on ESPN. And about 20 percent of the televisions in use were tuned to the cable network.
Such numbers shouldn’t be surprising, perhaps, in a place where 63,649 people attended the Ohio State spring scrimmage.
Mike Wachsman, who covers OSU football for the Buckeye Sports Bulletin site, didn’t see anything unusual about the large regional audience for the first-day coverage, which lasted eight hours.
‘‘Just with the whole amount of Buckeyes who had been projected to go in the first round, a lot of people were excited," said Wachsman, 40, of Delaware.
OSU dominated the opening rounds, with linebacker A.J. Hawk going to Green Bay at No. 5.
In what some folks have called the biggest early shock, the Buffalo Bills picked safety Donte Whitner at No. 8.
Five Buckeyes went in the first round — a school record — and seven the first day.
Nationally, the draft became the most-watched in the 27-year history of being carried by ESPN — drawing 4.2 million households, a 10 percent increase from the record set last year.
Eddie George’s Grille 27, a campus-area sports bar, was packed for the affair, manager Chip Mullen said.
‘‘Everybody wanted to see where A.J. was going," he said.
Ninety percent of the restaurant’s 32 televisions, Mullen estimated, were tuned to the draft, which was also boomed over the expansive sound system.
Bill Hofheimer, a spokesman for ESPN, called the program "a perfect combination of the type of event that attracts both college- and pro-football fans."
Ohio, he noted, had three cities in the top 10 in percentage of viewers, with Dayton at No. 3 and Cleveland at No. 10.
(The central Ohio media market ranks 32 nd in size nationally, with Cleveland-Akron 16 th and the Dayton area 59 th.)
"It makes a lot of sense based on the popularity of Ohio State," he said.
Interest to the west was no doubt propelled by Hawk and center Nick Mangold (No. 29, to the New York Jets): Both hail from the Dayton suburb of Centerville.
Cincinnati tied with Atlanta for only 33 rd in viewership, probably because the Bengals blew their chances for a high draft pick by having a good season (11-5).
At Eddie George’s Grille, Mullen couldn’t help noticing the enthusiasm of customers.
"Any Buckeye who got picked, they went nuts."
[email protected]
5/4
TELEVISION
Columbus ranks first in viewers of NFL draft on ESPN
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Molly Willow
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"> <tbody><tr><td align="center">
A higher percentage of people in the Columbus area watched the NFL draft on Saturday than anywhere else in the nation, driven by the big role that the Ohio State Buckeyes played.
Residents of central Ohio tuned in even more fervently than those in metro areas that have pro football teams.
Nielsen Media Research put the Columbus market at the top, with 8.5 percent of the population watching the draft on ESPN. And about 20 percent of the televisions in use were tuned to the cable network.
Such numbers shouldn’t be surprising, perhaps, in a place where 63,649 people attended the Ohio State spring scrimmage.
Mike Wachsman, who covers OSU football for the Buckeye Sports Bulletin site, didn’t see anything unusual about the large regional audience for the first-day coverage, which lasted eight hours.
‘‘Just with the whole amount of Buckeyes who had been projected to go in the first round, a lot of people were excited," said Wachsman, 40, of Delaware.
OSU dominated the opening rounds, with linebacker A.J. Hawk going to Green Bay at No. 5.
In what some folks have called the biggest early shock, the Buffalo Bills picked safety Donte Whitner at No. 8.
Five Buckeyes went in the first round — a school record — and seven the first day.
Nationally, the draft became the most-watched in the 27-year history of being carried by ESPN — drawing 4.2 million households, a 10 percent increase from the record set last year.
Eddie George’s Grille 27, a campus-area sports bar, was packed for the affair, manager Chip Mullen said.
‘‘Everybody wanted to see where A.J. was going," he said.
Ninety percent of the restaurant’s 32 televisions, Mullen estimated, were tuned to the draft, which was also boomed over the expansive sound system.
Bill Hofheimer, a spokesman for ESPN, called the program "a perfect combination of the type of event that attracts both college- and pro-football fans."
Ohio, he noted, had three cities in the top 10 in percentage of viewers, with Dayton at No. 3 and Cleveland at No. 10.
(The central Ohio media market ranks 32 nd in size nationally, with Cleveland-Akron 16 th and the Dayton area 59 th.)
"It makes a lot of sense based on the popularity of Ohio State," he said.
Interest to the west was no doubt propelled by Hawk and center Nick Mangold (No. 29, to the New York Jets): Both hail from the Dayton suburb of Centerville.
Cincinnati tied with Atlanta for only 33 rd in viewership, probably because the Bengals blew their chances for a high draft pick by having a good season (11-5).
At Eddie George’s Grille, Mullen couldn’t help noticing the enthusiasm of customers.
"Any Buckeye who got picked, they went nuts."
[email protected]
Upvote
0