When I think of the NFL Draft, several memories stick out.
There was this one time, Philadelphia Eagles fans groaned and hissed at quarterback Donovan McNabb when they wanted their team to pick Ricky Williams and instead took the Syracuse signal-caller.
Ricky Williams? You remember him. That’s the guy Mike Ditka gave up all those draft picks for to come play for the New Orleans Saints.
What about that other memory from the NFL Draft when ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. mocked the Colts for taking linebacker Trev Alberts instead of quarterback Trent Dilfer? Indianapolis president of football operations ripped Bill Tobin for that, saying, “Who the hell is Mel Kiper anyway?”
There was also that time the Vikings forgot to make their pick in 2003.
Yet for all the memories, there is one that always sticks out on the final day. It happens for the dead-last pick, when this old man comes to the podium, looking all excited to tell everyone who will be the next Mr. Irrelevant.
Last year, Paul Salata announced David Vobora to the world and had a Rams jersey ready for him with the No. 255 on the back, letting him know where he was taken in the NFL Draft.
This year it’s going to be Mr. Irrelevant XXXIV and he will be pick No. 256 of the NFL Draft, announced on Sunday in New York. Barring a trade — believe me, it’s happened before — he will go to the Kansas City Chiefs. Then in June, he’ll be celebrated during Irrelevant Week.
There’s a way for you to make this draft more memorable.
Who will be the 34th Mr. Irrelevant?
You can take a guess and maybe win $500. Do some research and you can improve your chances.
The contest, put on by the kind folks at Irrelevant Week, the Daily Pilot and GameOnOC.com, started on Saturday. The entry form is in this paper.
You can also write on the entry form what high school in the Newport-Mesa District that you want to represent for the contest. The school with the most entries will have $1,000 donated to that school by the Daily Pilot.
As always, yours truly is excluded from the contest.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t help you out.
The Chiefs need some help on the offensive line, as well on the defensive line. They could also use some depth at running back.
The past two Mr. Irrelevant picks have been on defense with Vobora, the linebacker going to the Rams, and defensive back Ramzee Robinson going to the Lions.
