Angry Pope
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Art talks about Boothe and the rest of the draft picks...
Raiders Excited About Draft
May 1, 2006
Shortly after 3:00 p.m. yesterday, Paul Salata, who founded the "Mr. Irrelevant" award in 1976, stepped to the podium at Radio City Music Hall in New York to announce the final selection in the 2006 NFL Draft. With that pick, The Oakland Raiders added Maine WR Kevin McMahan to an exciting, versatile 2006 Draft class.
The Raiders selected seven players in all during the NFL's 71st Annual Selection Meeting - Texas safety Michael Huff, UTEP LB Thomas Howard, Weber State OL Paul McQuistan, USC safety Darnell Bing, Cornell OL Kevin Boothe, Michigan State C Chris Morris and Maine WR Kevin McMahan.
"We will always take what we think is the best player for our football team and if that happens to be a need for us then so be it," Raiders Head Coach Art Shell told the Bay Area media at the conclusion of the Draft. "I think it went well for the Raiders. I would say we got the players that we wanted."
The Raiders began Day 2 of the Draft and selected Bing with their 4th Round choice. Bing started 35 games for the Trojans. He recorded 182 tackles (120 solos) and had 12.5 stops for losses of 29 yards, including an assisted sack. He caused three fumbles while recovering another. He deflected eighteen passes and intercepted eight others for 161 yards in returns (20.1 avg) and a touchdown. His 161 yards on eight interception returns rank fourteenth on the school's career-record list. Bing was an All-American first-team selection by the Associated Press after the 2005 season.
"[Bing] can play on the box, he can run and he can cover," Coach Shell said. "We decided that he would be a good prospect as a linebacker. That's where were projecting him."
The Raiders selected Cornell offensive lineman Kevin Boothe with their 6th Round pick. The 6'4", 320-pounder was a three-time All-Ivy League selection and only the fourth Cornell player to earn All-Ivy League honors three times in a career. "He lost a lot of weight he moves a whole lot better," Coach Shell said. "We did get some big guys, you can't have enough of the big guys. He was a left tackle [at Cornell] but we saw him at a All-star game where he played guard."
With the first of two 7th Round choices, the Raiders stayed on the offensive line and picked up Michigan State C Chris Morris. The 6'4", 305-pounder was a three-year starter for the Spartans. Morris, who started his last 45 games at Michigan State, recorded 186 career knockdown blocks and allowed only one sack over the past two seasons. In 2005, he earned Academic All-America honors for the fourth straight year.
"One thing you learn when you come in this league, you are going to be more than just a center. Versatility is important for a young guy when he comes in," Coach Shell said. "Any time you find anybody who can snap the ball, it bodes well for that young man and that bodes well for your football team. [Morris] will come in and compete and work as a center, and have the opportunity at the guard position."
And last, but certainly not least, the Raiders selected Maine WR Kevin McMahan with the final choice in the 2006 NFL Draft.
"McMahan is 6'2" and he can run and he can catch the ball," Coach Shell said. "We saw some cut ups of him against Nebraska. The guy was exciting."
The Draft class will get their first taste of life in the NFL when they arrive in California later this week. The Raiders will get their first look at the complete 2006 squad starting Friday morning during the team's mandatory mini-camp at the Silver and Black's Alameda, Calif., facility.