NFL Draft Reactions, Part 1 – “They Took Who?!”

April 24 - 30, 2006

In part one of this week’s two-part AHV, I planned on talking just about the Penn State fella’s that were selected in the draft, but I just can’t help getting a few things off my chest first.

Just because I hate him doesn’t mean that I agree with where he went.  I’m talking about Reggie Bush.  Who was the last defensive end to go number one?  That’s right, our very own Courtney Brown in 2000.  And we all know how that turned out.  Yeah, he’s been on a bit of a high with the Broncos, but his career as a whole has not.  “Super Mario” will do just fine down in Houston, right?  I couldn’t tell you.  He looks great on highlight reels and has all the numbers behind him.  Yet, anytime I think of a number one pick and how much they get paid before they do anything, I can’t help but cringe. 

On Reggie going to the Saints, I think any team that got Bush is lucky, but I really think he should have gone first.  Maybe if he wasn’t such a self-centered, greedy jerk the Texans would have taken him.  I don’t care who you are, but once the numbers get above ten million, there’s no difference.  Mario Williams was just easier to get at number one. 

My favorite moment of the first round was the number seven pick to San Francisco.  Vernon Davis, of the University of Maryland broke down while everyone else cheered at the thought of a few million dollars floating their way.  Davis showed that he’s in this for the game, not the money or the show boating.  Other picks got up and gave hugs and handshakes, probably rehearsed Friday night, and tried their hardest to look their coolest - not Vernon Davis. 

With all the highlights going to everyone not from Penn State, I think the Nittany Lions represented themselves very well.  Penn State sent six players to the NFL via the draft this year, matching the 2003 draft which six Lions were selected.

There was no surprise to me that Tamba Hali, who sat behind me in media law class last Thursday, went in the first round.  I had actually picked him to go higher, but when I heard that Kansas City was looking for some pass rushers, I knew Hali was their man.  As if I wasn’t a KC fan already, now I have more to look forward to besides Larry Johnson. 

I was surprised that Ethan Kilmer was drafted by the Bengals, but it really shouldn’t be too shocking.  He played his guts out on every single snap this year.  He will make a fine contributor on special teams.  Also, not seeing Anwar Philips get drafted was a bit curious.  I understand that his character came into question a bit, as well as some of his on-the-field attributes.  However, I did suspect that he was going to be drafted in the fourth or fifth round today. 

Alan Zamaitis deserved to go higher.  Maybe it was the order of the teams, and/or what positions those teams needed to fill.  Still, he is an incredible steal for the fourth round. 

I imagine that guys like Matt Rice, Scott Paxson, Anwar Philips, and Chris Harrell will sign free-agent contracts soon.  These guys are good enough to make any NFL team, even if they’re backups to the backups. 

Who knew Mike Robinson would go in the fourth round?  You’re full of s***!  I didn’t think he’d go until late fifth round at best, but he showed everyone that if you do your best, and be nice to the scouts, they’ll like you enough.  I bet M-Rob will be more involved with the ‘Niners’ than anyone thinks.  He’s a true playmaker.  He just needs to be patient and he can get his shot.  I know, I know, he’s been hearing that for five years now.  But please, trust me; he will do just fine in the NFL, especially on a team looking to build like San Francisco.

More to come this week from my reactions to the 2006 NFL Draft. 

That wraps this week’s “Around Happy (Once Again) Valley, with Penn State Football.”  Come back every Sunday night/Monday morning for more weekly round-ups of what’s going on in Nittany Lion football.  And as always, please e-mail me your thoughts, opinions and questions at