Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb and Akili Smith went to Cleveland, Philadelphia and Cincinnati in Saturday's NFL draft - the first quarterback trifecta since 1971.
And five quarterbacks overall were taken in the top dozen with Daunte Culpepper going to Minnesota with the 11th pick and Cade McNown to Chicago with the next choice.
But they had to share top billing with the New Orleans Saints and coach Mike Ditka, who did just what he said he'd do: get Williams, the Heisman Trophy-winning running back, no matter what it took.
In turn, Ditka's deal helped out the Washington Redskins. He made his move when Indianapolis used the fourth overall pick to take Miami running back Edgerrin James instead of Williams.
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| AP PHOTO Indianapolis' snub might have surprised him, but Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams is all smiles here after being selected by New Orleans with the fifth pick.
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After the deal for Williams was struck, Ditka emerged from the Saints' war room, pumped both fists in the air, fired up a big cigar and shouted: "The power of prayer did it."
Colts president Bill Polian said it "basically was a tie" between James and Williams, although James was better at catching the football. That's important in the Colts' offense, particularly without Marshall Faulk, who had 86 catches last season but was traded to the Rams on Thursday.
This was also a socially significant draft. Of the first five quarterbacks taken, three are black: McNabb, Smith and Culpepper.
That equals the entire number of black quarterbacks taken in the first round since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 - Doug Williams in 1978, Andre Ware in 1990 and Steve McNair in 1995. Oakland, then in the AFL, chose Eldridge Dickey in the first round in 1968.
"It's about time. We have maybe five or six African-American quarterbacks that will be going in the draft today or tomorrow," said Smith, whose prediction came true again in the second round when the Buccaneers took King.
"Because of people like Doug Williams who have paved the way, it now becomes a burden on us to pave the way for the next generation," Smith said.
The Browns' pick was preordained after the new team signed the Kentucky junior before the draft. So was Philadelphia's selection of McNabb, the Syracuse quarterback, although Eagles fans wanted Williams so badly that a group seated in the gallery booed and shouted "We want Ricky!" when the team selected McNabb.
Player Pos School NFL Team
1. Tim Couch QB Kentucky Cleveland
2. Donovan McNabb QB Syracuse Philadelphia
3. Akili Smth QB Oregon Cincinnati
4. Edgerrin James RB Miami (Fla.) Indianapolis
5. Ricky Williams RB Texas New Orleans 6. Torry Holt WR N. Carolina St. St. Louis
7. Champ Bailey DB Georgia Washington
8. David Boston WR Ohio State Arizona
9. Chris Claiborne LB USC Detroit
10. Chris McAlister DB Arizona Baltimore
11. Daunte Culpepper QB Central Florida Minnesota
12. Cade McNown QB UCLA Chicago
13. Troy Edwards WR Louisiana Tech Pittsburgh
14. John Tait OL Brigham Young Kansas City
15. Anthony McFarland DL Louisiana St. Tampa Bay
16. Jevon Kearse LB Florida Tennessee
17. Damien Woody OL Boston College New England
18. Matt Stinchcomb OL Georgia Oakland
19. Luke Petitgout OL Notre Dame NY Giants
20. Ebenezer Ekuban DL North Carolina Dallas
21. L.J. Shelton OL Eastern Mich. Arizona
22. Lamar King DL Saginaw Valley Seattle
23. Antoine Winfield DB Ohio State Buffalo
24. Reggie McGrew DL Florida San Francisco
25. Antuan Edwards DB Clemson Green Bay
26. Fernando Bryant DB Alabama Jacksonville
27. Aaron Gibson OL Wisconsin Detroit
28. Andy Katzenmoyer LB Ohio State New England
29. D. Underwood DL Michigan State Minnesota
30. Patrick Kerney DL Virginia Atlanta
31. Al Wilson LB Tennessee Denver
Michigan players in the draft
Player Pos Rd Pick Team
Jon Jansen OL 2 6 Washington
Jerame Tuman TE 5 3 Pittsburgh
Tai Streets WR 6 2 San Francisco
Andre Weathers DB 6 36 NY Giants
Prospects Marcus Ray and Sam Sword were not drafted.
04-19-99
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