New England Patriots
The Arkansas running back is the most intriguing of New England's four picks on the second day of the draft.
09:51 AM EDT on Monday, April 26, 2004
FOXBORO -- Last fall, Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt was asked
about his senior running back Cedric Cobbs, a player who'd been good on
the field and bad off it in his three years with the Razorbacks.
"I've just been so pleased with him," said Nutt. "He was a true freshman
MVP in the Cotton Bowl, everybody had him written up to be a first-round
pick, he was on top of every magazine. He went from there to being
injured and then underneath the radar screen where nobody even
recognized his name anymore. So what you love is how he's approached his
senior year with great dedication and commitment, a great work ethic,
great attitude and he's running extremely hard right now. I'm just real
proud of him."
By the end of the year, Cobbs had given his coach more to be proud of as
he ran for 1,329 yards and 10 touchdowns on 227 carries. That
performance didn't entirely offset Cobbs' transgressions from before his
junior year when he was arrested for drunken driving and possession of
marijuana. And that's likely why the Patriots were able to take him with
their second fourth-round pick in yesterday's draft, the 128th overall.
The Patriots had four selections yesterday and used them on North
Carolina safety Dexter Reid (113th pick), Cobbs, Florida State receiver
P.K. Sam (164th overall) and Illinois cornerback Christian Morton
(233th).
Cobbs is the most intriguing, and yesterday he acknowledged that his
arrest may have played a role in his slide.
"I know I had some issues in the past but I got over it a long time
ago," said Cobbs. "I didn't think there was anything I did in the past
that would affect me, but I know it can hurt me."
Asked what the differences were between the Cedric Cobbs who was drafted
yesterday and the one who got himself arrested, the 22-year-old said,
"I'm more grown up now, I have responsibilities. I have a fiancée, I
have a child, I have another child on the way. I now have to take care
of my business or else I'm going to be out on the streets. I have a love
for football and I want to be able to excel in football and life itself."
If Cobbs has turned over a new leaf, he could be a steal. He's described
as a tough, physical runner who enjoys contact. He will likely
understudy for newly acquired Corey Dillon this season.
"Cedric has a lot of talent," said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
"We felt he was real good value there. He's an explosive guy who can run
with power. If you saw him run against Alabama, he pretty much carried
the team in that game."
Asked who he compares himself to, Cobbs said, "Someone like Fred Taylor,
somewhat Jamal Lewis and in the past someone like Bo Jackson or Earl
Campbell."
Given that all those backs were top-10 picks (Jackson and Campbell were
both No. 1 selections), Cobbs may be reaching some. But he certainly
didn't expect to be going this late.
"I'm a little bit heartbroken (about being selected in the fourth), but
being selected by the world champions made me a little happier to know
that I have a chance to come in and contribute and have a chance to win
a world championship in my early years. Being picked by the New England
Patriots I won't take for granted."
In taking Reid, the Patriots continued their effort to fill their depth
issue at safety. Saturday night, they drafted Florida's Guss Scott with
their third-round pick (95 overall). Like Scott, Reid is about
5-foot-10, 200 pounds and is a ferocious hitter and team leader. He runs
a 4.42 40 and had 132 tackles in 2003 to lead the Tar Heels.
"Dexter was probably one of the most productive players in college
football," said Belichick. "He had close to 500 tackles at North
Carolina. He had a ton of production in all different phases of the
game. He's really a smart guy, he quarterbacked their defense and we
feel he'll be a factor in the kicking game as well as on defense. He's a
highly productive player."
Belichick said yesterday he hoped both safeties drafted could contribute
in the regular defense as rookies.
Sam is another intriguing pick. He's 6-3, 210 pounds and caught 50
passes for 735 yards and five touchdowns for the Seminoles last season.
"Sam's a big guy," said Belichick. "He's got size, got speed and an
ability to run after the catch. He really is an effective runner and can
make people miss after the catch."
As for Morton, he's 6-foot, 188 pounds.
"Christian Morton played opposite (second-year defensive back Eugene
Wilson) in the 2001 season when Illinois won the Big 10. He's a bigger
guy with height and range."
Patriots' picks
Pick
Player
School
21
Vince
Wilfork
Miami
32
Ben Watson
Georgia
63
Marquise Hill
LSU
95
Guss Scott
Florida
113
Dexter Reid
N. Carolina
128
Cedric Cobbs
Arkansas
164
P.K. Sam
Florida St.
233
Christian Morton
Illinois
|
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