Saturday, April 28, 2007
It was the fourth time in five years the Lions chose a wideout high in the draft.
NEW YORK -- The debate about the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft ended for Raiders coach Lane Kiffin as soon as he sat down and talked with JaMarcus Russell.
As impressed with Russell's leadership as he was with his spectacular play at LSU, Kiffin chose Russell as the player to rebuild the Raiders around.
"There was no doubt in our mind this was the direction we wanted to go," Kiffin said Saturday. "This is someone who's coming in here to compete to play. We know from what we've seen on film and when we've met with him and all the research we've done, going back to when he was extremely young, that this is someone who can come in and help us win games."
First since Marinovich
Russell was the choice over Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson and Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. He was the first quarterback the Raiders have taken in the first round since drafting Todd Marinovich with the 24th pick in 1991.
The Raiders had passed on Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler in recent years but felt Russell was too good to pass up. Kiffin said he'd compete for the starting job right away but put no timetable on when he expected Russell to win the job.
When Goodell, conducting his first draft as commissioner, announced Russell's name, Raiders fans in the crowd cheered loudly. But there was a mixture of cheers and boos when Russell, who is bigger than some NFL linemen, came on stage to don a Raiders hat and hold up a No. 1 black jersey.
Then came chants of "L-S-U, L-S-U" for the man who soon will be in charge of the Oakland offense.
"I kind of had faith in it. Everybody had been talking about it for a while," Russell said of being chosen first. "It's a dream come true. Growing up as a kid playing every sport in life and always seeing the guys on the professional level, and here I am today."
Anticipating role
"I can't wait to get in the black and silver and get to work."
While he works for a team that went 2-14 last season and scored only 168 points, Landry heads to the Redskins to team with Sean Taylor in what could be a dynamic set of safeties.
"Our feeling there was, with this pick, we need to pick someone that we feel is going to play for a long time," coach Joe Gibbs said, "and have a chance to do some outstanding things."
LSU wide receiver Dwayne Bowe went 23rd to Kansas City, and wideout Craig Davis was chosen 30th by San Diego. It's the first time LSU has had four first-round picks.
After Russell's selection, Detroit declined several trade options for the No. 2 overall pick and chose wide receiver Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech, considered the best athlete available. It was the fourth time in five years the Lions chose a wideout high in the draft. Only one of the others, Roy Williams, has succeeded in Detroit. Johnson, an All-American junior known as "Spider-man," is 6-4 and 237 pounds and can run a 4.35 in the 40.
"I told him when he was here [for a pre-draft visit] that he wouldn't get past 2," Lions president Matt Millen said. "This guy is the real deal."
First defensive player
Tampa Bay picked the first defensive player, Clemson end Gaines Adams, who at 6-5 is an inch shorter and three pounds lighter than Russell.
"Oh, it's a tremendous honor," Adams said of being the top defensive selection. "There's a lot of great defensive players that are out in this draft and it's just an honor to me to be one of the first ones chosen."
Arizona also went for offensive line help at No. 5, taking Penn State tackle Levi Brown, who should replace Leonard Davis, now with Dallas after leaving as a free agent.
Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma was chosen by Minnesota, which apparently was unconcerned by the running back's history of injuries in college.
"I don't want to say necessarily disappointed because my dream has come true," Peterson said of sliding to seventh overall. " You never put all your eggs in one basket. I am just excited."
At No. 8, Arkansas defensive end Jamaal Anderson went to Atlanta, which went to the Super Bowl in 1999 with a running back named Jamal Anderson.
Dolphins didn't waver
Then Miami surprised everyone by taking Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr.
"I promise you that Ted Ginn is going to be someone you're going to enjoy watching play for a long, long time as a Miami Dolphin," coach Cam Cameron said.
But Johnson was the true prize at wide receiver, and Lions coordinator Mike Martz has a history of using such players well.
"He's ecstatic just like me," Johnson said of Martz. "Like I said, I'm going to be in a good situation."
The 10th pick was 19-year-old defensive tackle Amobi Okoye of Louisville, by Houston. He's the youngest player drafted in the first round since the merger and will join last year's No. 1 overall pick, defensive end Mario Williams, on the line.