By Dave Goldberg
The Associated Press

Once again, players drafted after the first round are doing as well in their rookie years as their more ballyhooed counterparts. Look at Miami - both the Dolphins and the Hurricanes.

Five players from last year's college national champions were taken in the first round of the NFL draft in April. Yet, with the possible exception of Oakland cornerback Philip Buchanon, who broke his wrist last week, the most productive has been a second-rounder. Running back Clinton Portis of Denver has gained 451 yards and has a 5.1 per carry average.

The two running backs taken in the first round, William Green of Cleveland (64 for 143) and T.J. Duckett of Atlanta (68 for 273) have 416 yards between them, 35 fewer than Portis.

"It happens every year," says Gil Brandt, who ran the draft for the Cowboys during the Tom Landry era and is now the NFL's draft consultant.

"In the first round, people try to find a great player. Often that's hit or miss. In the second round, there are always good, solid football players who are going to play in the NFL for a long time, even if they're not superstars."

Second-round wide receivers have hit it bigger than first-rounders Javon Walker of Green Bay, Ashley Lelie of Denver and Donte' Stallworth of New Orleans - although all three have performed decently.

The second-round group includes Deion Branch of New England, Josh Reed of Buffalo, Andre' Davis of Cleveland, Antonio Bryant of Dallas and Jabar Gaffney of Houston. Branch, the 65th player selected, leads the Patriots (and all rookies) with 37 receptions.

Another second-round pick, offensive lineman Langston Walker, has started at both left and right tackle for the Raiders, something few coaches would let an unprepared rookie do.

Will Demps, a free agent, is starting at safety for Baltimore. The Ravens also are starting Anthony Weaver, another second-rounder, at defensive end.

Back to Miami.

Jeremy Shockey, another Hurricane, was supposed to be the next great tight end after being drafted by the Giants and looking like a Hall of Famer on national television in, aptly, the Hall of Fame game.

He still may be. He's doing all right, considering he's been hampered by ankle and toe injuries and a sluggish New York offense - 16 catches for an average of 13.1 yards and a touchdown. That's one less catch in five games (he missed one with a toe injury) than Giants tight ends had all last season.

But Randy McMichael of the Dolphins, taken in the fourth round, currently leads rookie tight ends in receiving with 24 catches, a 13.6 average and four TDs.

He was the seventh tight end taken, behind Shockey, Daniel Graham of New England and Jerramy Stevens of Seattle, all first-rounders; Doug Jolley of Oakland (second); Matt Schobel of Cincinnati and Chris Baker of the Jets (third). Only Shockey's stats are anywhere close to McMichael's.

Another anomaly.

The Dolphins were without first- or second-round picks, having given both to New Orleans in the trade for Ricky Williams. McMichael's production so far has more than made up for it.

And what was supposed to be wrong with McMichael?

He's a little small for a modern tight end: 6-foot-3, 247 pounds. He missed two seasons with injuries at Georgia, although he started there as a true freshman.

"That should have been a tipoff," Brandt says. "Any player who starts as a freshman at a major school is usually very good."

What was Brandt's take on McMichael?

"I had him ranked 10th among tight ends," he laughs.

---

DIRTY DOZEN

The top six and bottom six teams on current level of play:

1. San Diego (6-1). Schottenheimer is coach of the year. Until the playoffs.

2. Green Bay (6-1). Favre gets added to the lengthy injury list and the bye week comes along. That means it's the Packers' year.

3. Pittsburgh (3-3). Remember, it's CURRENT level of play. Kendrell Bell's return is as big as Tommy Maddox' rebirth.

4. New Orleans (6-1). Leaks in the defense have to be repaired.

5. Philadelphia (4-2). More games from Duce Staley like last week's performance and the Eagles are on the up elevator.

6. Denver (5-2). Picky Broncos fans complain at 5-2?

---

27. New England (3-3). Let's see what happens after the bye.

28. Chicago (2-4). The breaks go the other way this year.

29. Washington (2-4). Dan (The Fan) Snyder's $5 million on a ball coach should have been spent on quarterbacks, guards, centers and younger defenders.

30. Minnesota (1-5). Daunte Culpepper has a 69.9 passer rating.

31. Houston (1-5). David Carr has been sacked 40 times.

32. Cincinnati (0-6). The only consistent team in the NFL.

Return to Bengals front page...