just because its not a guarantee at 17...it might as well been, EVERYONE knew they wanted him, they wanted to draft him with that pick...no other team was in the market for a first round kicker in 2000, because that doesnt ever happen. While it might be a surprisingly stupid overall decision....it was well known at that podium when they were on the clock of who they were gonna take. It should make a dumb pick list, not a real shocker though
It was not everyone saying they were going to get him. They were interested and that was about it. At the time Seabass was facing a bribery charge that could of lead to his deportation, that pick was a huge surprise because of his position amd his legal issues. They were saying they liked him but at #17 was a surprise.
See the above link to an article titled "surprise, surprise" (how fitting) that was written after the draft in 2000.
Quote:
NEW YORK — For a draft that held so much uncertainty at its outset, the 2000 NFL draft produced relatively few big surprises.
With Cleveland vacillating on whom it would select with the first overall pick, and a dearth of NFL-caliber quarterbacks available, many observers were expecting a rash of trades. Maybe even a blockbuster deal as clubs scrambled to gain a shot at one of the four players who stood head and shoulders above the rest in this draft class.
What did all this uncertainty produce? Zero trades in the first round. It marked the first time since 1983 — the year of the great QB class with John Elway, Dan Marino, etc. — that no first-round trades were consummated after the round had begun.
This is not to say the draft was completely devoid of surprises. There were two relative shockers in the first round, in fact.
Al Davis engineered the first one. Defying convention, Davis’ Raiders drafted Florida State PK Sebastian Janikowski in the first round, with the 17th overall pick. This selection was risky not only because it involved a placekicker, but a placekicker who is facing a bribery charge that potentially could cause the Polish citizen to be deported or serve jail time. Janikowski allegedly offered a police officer $300 to release his college roommate from custody after the roommate had been arrested for trespassing at a Tallahassee, Fla., nightclub when he refused to leave.
It was not everyone saying they were going to get him. They were interested and that was about it. At the time Seabass was facing a bribery charge that could of lead to his deportation, that pick was a huge surprise because of his position amd his legal issues. They were saying they liked him but at #17 was a surprise.
What i'd like to know is what other holes they had to fill during this draft.
????????
I remember the logic behind the SJ pick was that they lost alot of close games. Funny thing is I dont think Janikowski actaully helped them their the next season
not very many actually, they were pretty solid and lost a ton of close games, I understood the pick, I was just still shocked that it actually happened
I remember the logic behind the SJ pick was that they lost alot of close games. Funny thing is I dont think Janikowski actaully helped them their the next season
What i meant was that if they spent their pick a good offensive or defensive prospect instead, maybe the game wouldn't be close enough to be lost by a kicker..I just don't see drafting a punter or kicker in the first unless you have no holes to fill.
Top 10 Suprise Draft Picks Over 10 Years
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