NEW YORK -- Five quarterbacks were selected in the top 12
picks of the 1999 NFL draft, making for the most significant run on signalcallers since
the renowned Class of '83, which included John Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly. Here are
the highlights of what this year's class of quarterbacks is saying:TIM COUCH (No. 1,
Cleveland)
Couch and the Browns agreed to contract terms on Saturday morning, just hours before
the draft started. "That's the best part about it for me," Couch says.
"(Agent) Tom (Condon) and all the guys at IMG (have) done a tremendous job for me,
(getting) that cleared up. Now, it's just go play football, do what got me here."
Couch's workout on April 11, just six days before the draft, seemed to be the deciding
factor in making him the No. 1 overall pick. "I think (the) workout was what really
got me over the top," Couch says. "I threw the ball with a lot of velocity. I
think they (saw) in the workout what they wanted to see from me."
DONOVAN McNABB (No. 2, Philadelphia)
The Eagles picked McNabb, disappointing a hoard of noisy Eagle fans chanting for Ricky
Williams. "I'm excited to be with the Eagles. (Head) coach Andy Reid has a lot to do
this year," McNabb said. "About the fans, all we have to do really is get
everything going back the way it used to be, get back on the winning track. Then they'll
believe it was the right pick."
As for the thought that he will be a project in Philly, McNabb says, "I'm
confident in myself that I can learn the offense and step in there and do what I've been
able to do throughout college. I don't believe in sitting on the bench. I'm not going to
work to sit on the bench. I'm going to work to be the starter. If I'm rewarded with the
starting position, I'm going to work for higher goals."
AKILI SMITH (No. 3, Cincinnati)
Smith has been a professional athlete before, and he says his experience in the
Pittsburgh Pirates' minor-league system will help him deal with off-the-field distractions
in Cincinnati. What about his on-the-field strengths? "From what I've heard
throughout the NFL, I have the best arm in the draft," Smith says.
Smith says the Bengals have told him he will get a chance to start this season. As to
the long-term expectations that he will resurrect the franchise, Smith says, "Once I
learn the offense, I'm going to try to be the starter.
Smith is one of three black quarterbacks who was selected in the draft's first round,
along with McNabb and Daunte Culpepper. Only three black quarterbacks had been chosen in
the first round of the draft in history before this year. "We're trying to downplay
that right now," Smith says. "Hopefully, we don't have to worry about the
African-American QB thing ever again."
DAUNTE CULPEPPER (No. 11, Minnesota)
Culpepper is going into an ideal situation with the Vikings, who have a terrific
offensive line and receiving corps and veterans Randall Cunningham and Jeff George as QB
tutors. "I think I'm going to learn a lot from Cunningham and Jeff George,"
Culpepper says. "They've been in the game a while. They know the ropes. I'm sure
there won't be any problem with them showing me the ropes. (And head) coach (Dennis) Green
is a great coach. I'm happy and lucky to go up there."
Culpepper says he isn't disappointed that he won't be a starter in his rookie season.
"I'm a team guy. I want to win," Culpepper says. "If it takes time for me
to sit and learn, ... that's what I have to do. I don't mind sitting on the bench and
learning because that's what's going to help the team the best."
As for his best quality, Culpepper says it is his play-making ability. "I think
that in itself combines everything that it takes to be a good quarterback," Culpepper
says.
CADE McNOWN (No. 12, Chicago)
McNown says getting picked by the Bears means he has achieved one of his main goals.
"Goal No. 1 for me was to get drafted, ... high hopefully," McNown says.
"I'm super, superexcited (about) where I landed. I couldn't think of a better
situation."
He also says he never worried that his lack of ideal stature and arm strength would
hurt his draft position. "Nobody ever questioned my height when I was contributing to
a team that was winning a lot of games," McNown says. "Nobody ever said
anything. When you get out of that, then you're really focused in on tangible things:
height, weight, looking at the guy who has a mile per hour more on his ball, (who's)
hundredths of a second faster on his 40.
"All these things, I mean, you laugh at them. If you take them too serious, you're
going to get beat by it. Fortunately, there's some teams out there that aren't going to
miss the forest for the trees. I think the Bears are one of them. They're putting a lot of
faith in me to draft me in Round One at No. 12. I intend on making them realize they may
have gotten more than they wanted." |
