No. 5 pick: G Mike Goff Sunday, April 19, 1998
Pick: Third round (78th overall)
School: Iowa
Size: 6-foot-5, 314 pounds
Position: Guard
History: Blue Chip Illustrated All-America selection in high school in Peru, Ill . . . won Illinois sectional heavyweight wrestling title and lettered twice in track . . . Named offensive MVP in 1995 win over Wisconsin . . . Back injury in 1996 opener relegated him to reserves for rest of season. 1997: First team Big Ten . . . Started every game at right guard for eighth-best rushing team in the nation . . . Ran 5.14 seconds in 40-yard dash and bench pressed 225 pounds 24 times.
Bengals' projection: They expect him to push Scott Brumfield as the first guard off the bench. They eventually see a competition between him and last year's third-round pick, center Rod Payne, on a future line without 34-year-old center Darrick Brilz. If Goff beats out Payne, left guard Rich Braham can move to center. The Bengals say he is out of the same mold as current starting guards Braham and Ken Blackman, himself a third-round pick out of the Big Ten (Illinois) in 1996.
Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander on Goff: "He fits into the chemistry we're developing on the line . . . He's like (former Bengal tackle) Joe Walter in temperament. Strong silent type . . . He's big and he's a mauler. A tough guy . . . He's got the best hand strength I've scouted in four years."
Goff on Goff: "I'm just a guy who plays hard and brings it to you." Goff, when asked if he rides motorcycles like Blackman: "If that's what it takes."
Fun fact: Goff scored 38 on the draft's written timed test, second for for offensive linemen. Harvard's Matt Birk had 42 out of 50, which led all players.
by Associated Press
Bengals draft
Bengals draft for speed
Brown says no Moss
Picks will have to win jobs
Some impact, some insurance
1. Takeo Spikes,
LB, Auburn
1a. Brian Simmons,
LB, N.Carolina
2. Artrell Hawkins,
CB, Cincinnati
3. Steve Foley,
LB, NE Louisiana
3a. Mike Goff,
G, Iowa
4. Glen Steele,
DE, Michigan
6. Jason Tucker,
WR, TCU
7. Marcus Parker,
RB, Va. Tech
7a. Damian Vaughn,
TE, Miami U.
Sullivan
Daugherty
Five Bearcats drafted
Fabini, Ransom, Monroe taken on second day
Jackson taken by Dolphins