The second day of the NFL draft demonstrated just how quarterback-poor the league is becoming.
As many teams search for an established quarterback, only eight were taken among the 254 players drafted Saturday and Sunday.For the first time since 1988, no quarterbacks went in the first round and only two were selected on the first day Saturday - Tony Banks of Michigan State to St. Louis in the second round and Bobby Hoying of Ohio State to Philadelphia in the third round Saturday.
Two more went in the fourth found Sunday - Jeff Lewis of Northern Arizona to Denver (John Elway's replacement?) and Danny Kanell of Florida State to the Giants.
Then none went until late in the sixth round, when Pittsburgh took Spence Fischer of Duke and Indianapolis chose Michael Hawley of James Madison. Then Baltimore selected Jon Stark of Trinity (Ill.) and Green Bay went for Southern California's Kyle Wachholtz in the seventh and last round.
Tommie Frazier, who led Nebraska to two national championships, didn't go at all, in part because he's not a classic pro-style quarterback, but more likely because of a recurrence of a blood clot in his leg this spring.
That kept away teams that might have been interested in Frazier as a running back or defensive back in the manner of Kordell Stewart, who played wide receiver, quarterback and running back for the Steelers last season.
His backup at Nebraska, Brook Berringer, died in a plane crash last week. Berringer was projected to go late in the draft.
Otherwise, it was a typical second day at the draft, with teams concentrating on projects, sleepers and small college players in rounds four through seven.
Jimmy Johnson, as usual, traded around, particularly in what he perceived as a particularly rich second day.
He did well in Dallas with such second-day choices as Leon Lett and Larry Brown and hoped to do the same in Miami. On Sunday, that netted him three fourth-round picks - defensive back Kirk Pointer of Austin Peay, running back Stanley Pritchett of South Carolina and linebacker LaCurtis Jones.
But the more interesting developments took place Saturday, such as the selection by New England of Terry Glenn, the Ohio State receiver. It was made at the behest of owner Robert Kraft and personnel director Bobby Grier over the objections of coach Bill Parcells.
Kraft said the Patriots rated Glenn higher than Keyshawn Johnson, selected first overall by the Jets. And Parcells lost his leverage when the New York Giants used the fifth overall pick on Oklahoma defensive end Cedric Jones, whom Parcells wanted.
"We really lucked out on a value basis to get a player like this," said Kraft, who even before the draft was arguing for a wide receiver rather than a defender. "I think we have an impact player."
Kraft was tactful. He said he had a "collegial discussion" about which way to go with Parcells and Grier.
"I've hired expert people, and it's their decision to do what they think is correct," Kraft said. "I think they made a good decision."
But Parcells, who in 1990 lobbied for the Giants to take linebacker Darion Conner over running back Rodney Hampton, told friends the pick had been "shoved down his throat" by Kraft. That phrase that doesn't bode well for a relationship already strained by Kraft's decision to remove some personnel duties from his coach
Parcells did make one of the more interesting choices Sunday when he drafted Nebraska's Christian Peter in the fifth round. Peter has pleaded no contest to one sexual assault charge and has another pending against him. He might have been drafted higher if not for that.
Two teams took players who had left junior colleges to go to the Canadian league - Juran Bolden, a defensive back who went to Atlanta in the fourth round, and Joe Horn, a wide receiver who went to Kansas City in the fifth. The Chiefs did well last year plucking Tamarick Vanover from the CFL.
And, as usual, it was a day for relatives of bigger names.
Houston drafted defensive back Anthony Dorsett of Pitt, son of Tony Dorsett, the former Dallas running back who was the second overall pick in 1977.
Guard Heath Irwin of Colorado was chosen in the fourth round by New England. His uncle, golfer Hale Irwin, won the PGA Seniors' Championship on Sunday.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Lusk goes in the 7th to New Orleans
Utah's Henry Lusk wasn't drafted as high as expected, but he was happy to be chosen by New Orleans in the 7th round Sunday afternoon.
Lusk was one of only two Utah collegians drafted by the NFL this year, joining BYU's Mike Ulifale, who went to Dallas in the third round.
"I was expecting to go a little higher, but I'm glad to go to the Saints," said Lusk. "I think there's a place for me there. I look forward to the opportunity of playing and winning a spot."
Lusk played tight end, fullback and slotback for Utah as well as punt returner and hopes to have a shot at those positions with the Saints.
Former Highland High player, Colorado lineman Kerry Hicks, was picked in the 7th round by Carolina.
-- Mike Sorensen