[Alberta's Child]

Here's an interesting late-round (sort of) draft story.

Back in 1985, Pitt DE/OLB Chris Doleman was considered one of the hottest prospects in the NFL draft. The New York Giants did not have a high selection in that draft (they had finished 9-7 the year before), but they sent a scout to the last Pitt game of the season against Notre Dame just to evaluate him anyway.

The scouting report on Doleman was interesting, to say the least. I paraphrase:

Doleman seems like a definite blue-chipper. Great physical pass-rushing skills for a college lineman. Excellent speed. Did not perform as expected, though. Spent most of the game flat on his @ss, courtesy of an unknown Notre Dame tight end named Mark Bavaro. Bavaro looks like a real hidden gem in this draft.

[hchutch]

They couldn't get Doleman, but they got the guy who was knocking Doleman on his ass!

Bavaro didn't do that badly in the NFL, IIRC.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Then Doleman went on to play for a decade too.

As a Bears fan I have great regard for Stockey. Watching him knock the hell out of that guy yesterday after catching the ball made me think of Da Coach and John Mackey. TE is another position at which the Bears are cursed. We can't get one to stay healthy for love nor money. This yr we had three go down and a rookie played the last four games and did look good.