BillsFever
06-29-2003, 04:18 PM
A league source tells us that it's presently unclear as to whether any NFL team will be burning a 2004 draft pick early, by selecting Georgia Tech running back Tony Hollings in the July 10 supplemental draft.
Per the source, Hollings generally is regarded as a very good athlete who may or may not have the instincts to play running back in the NFL. He played the position at Tech for only four games before tearing up his knee.
Sure, he was leading the nation in rushing average at the time, but two of those games came against early-season cannon fodder like UConn and Vanderbilt.
There are other potential problems. Because Hollings declared himself eligible for the supplemental draft only recently, teams won't have the same kind of opportunity to poke and prod his knee as they would've had if Hollings were part of the "normal" draft pool. As it stands, any team who wants to take a look at Hollings must send a delegation to Atlanta.
Also, word is that Hollings isn't ready to run the 40, which has prompted some folks within league circles to question whether Hollings has been sufficiently diligent in his rehab efforts and/or in his workout habits.
Finally, the fact that Hollings managed to flunk out of a cash-driven collegiate educational system that found a way to churn out the likes of Dexter Manley suggests that, when it comes to the books, Hollings is even more worthless than the typical athlete-student.
These facts likely indicate that teams won't be inclined to take a flyer on Hollings. Every April a fresh crop of running back prospects hits the market, and NFL teams always have a full and fair chance to investigate the potential draft picks before pulling the trigger.
Still, we wonder whether a team with a clear need in 2003 for an extra tailback might throw a seventh-rounder at Hollings. The Bucs, for example, are facing the loss of Michael Pittman to the Mean Machine -- and they're likely to get a supplemental pick or two in 2004 based on the departure of Dexter Jackson and Al Singleton.
So why not use the current seventh rounder on Hollings?
The problem, of course, is that if the Bucs send a couple of guys to Atlanta to check out Hollings, someone else might become interested in drafting him. And as the buzz grows, more and more teams might think about burning a low-round pick on Hollings.
We expect, then, to hear nothing at all about a team being specifically interested in Hollings. And, in the end, we peg his chance at being taken after round five at 50-50, at best.
http://profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm
Per the source, Hollings generally is regarded as a very good athlete who may or may not have the instincts to play running back in the NFL. He played the position at Tech for only four games before tearing up his knee.
Sure, he was leading the nation in rushing average at the time, but two of those games came against early-season cannon fodder like UConn and Vanderbilt.
There are other potential problems. Because Hollings declared himself eligible for the supplemental draft only recently, teams won't have the same kind of opportunity to poke and prod his knee as they would've had if Hollings were part of the "normal" draft pool. As it stands, any team who wants to take a look at Hollings must send a delegation to Atlanta.
Also, word is that Hollings isn't ready to run the 40, which has prompted some folks within league circles to question whether Hollings has been sufficiently diligent in his rehab efforts and/or in his workout habits.
Finally, the fact that Hollings managed to flunk out of a cash-driven collegiate educational system that found a way to churn out the likes of Dexter Manley suggests that, when it comes to the books, Hollings is even more worthless than the typical athlete-student.
These facts likely indicate that teams won't be inclined to take a flyer on Hollings. Every April a fresh crop of running back prospects hits the market, and NFL teams always have a full and fair chance to investigate the potential draft picks before pulling the trigger.
Still, we wonder whether a team with a clear need in 2003 for an extra tailback might throw a seventh-rounder at Hollings. The Bucs, for example, are facing the loss of Michael Pittman to the Mean Machine -- and they're likely to get a supplemental pick or two in 2004 based on the departure of Dexter Jackson and Al Singleton.
So why not use the current seventh rounder on Hollings?
The problem, of course, is that if the Bucs send a couple of guys to Atlanta to check out Hollings, someone else might become interested in drafting him. And as the buzz grows, more and more teams might think about burning a low-round pick on Hollings.
We expect, then, to hear nothing at all about a team being specifically interested in Hollings. And, in the end, we peg his chance at being taken after round five at 50-50, at best.
http://profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm