As mentioned in an earlier blog entry, the biggest reason I watch the NFL Draft is to see who the Bay Area teams select and where players from the University of Nebraska (my beloved alma mater) get drafted.
We saw linebacker Cody Glenn get drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round. Offensive lineman Matt Slauson went to the New York Jets in Round Six while fellow line-mate Lydon Murtha went to the Detroit Lions in Round Seven.
I’m not terribly surprised that quarterback Joe Ganz or wide receiver Nate Swift did not get drafted but I must say that I’m surprised that no one drafted running back Marlon Lucky. Granted, Lucky was a virtual non-entity near the end of the season because of a turf-toe injury but he’s fast and showed great ability at times as a receiver.
I’m shocked that Glenn got drafted given his baggage. Glenn was the Huskers feel good story for the first half of the season, moving from a sporadically used running back to a starter at linebacker. Husker head coach Bo Pelini then suspended Glenn indefinitely after Game Nine.
Pelini never gave any specific reason for Glenn’s suspension but according to the Washington Post internet site, NFL sources reported that Glenn's suspension arose from ticket scalping. In short, Pelini had no choice or it would have been very bad for the program.
Just giving the Redskins the benefit of the doubt, they perhaps investigated the situation and are satisfied that Glenn is rectifying it.
I’m happy for Glenn and hope he has a successful career but he had not played enough to be drafted in the fifth round as a linebacker. Because of his lack of experience at linebacker, he could have been picked up as a free agent after the draft.
The dynamic that will bear watching is Slauson getting picked up by the Jets. Keep in mind, former Husker head coach Bill Callahan is the Jets assistant head coach and offensive line coach. Callahan recruited Slauson to come to Nebraska.
Slauson was pretty careful in his comments last year not to say anything bad about Callahan after he was replaced in favor of Bo Pelini but it was clear that he was pretty happy with the new staff and the way things turned out.
Callahan has a pattern of being petty and vindictive but I don't think they would have drafted him if there was a rift. I have to think that Callahan has input on who is selected, particularly along the offensive line.
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