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| 04-25-2005 | Previous edition: 04-22-2005 |
        
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Printer-friendly version Former boilers get chance at stardomBy Jeremy PostonAssistant Sports Editor After 255 picks passed by during the NFL Draft, one Boilermaker player was selected, while four others left their fate to free agency. Quarterback Kyle Orton, who was Purdue’s starting quarterback for most of the past four years, was selected in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears. Orton was the fifth pick of the round and the 106th overall in the draft. Orton, a 6-foot-4, 233 pound native of Altoona, Iowa, was the seventh quarterback taken in the draft as well as the 10th Boilermaker quarterback taken since 1967. The last Boilermaker quarterback was San Diego Charger Drew Brees. "I’m excited," Orton said in a statement. "It’s a good opportunity for me, and it’s close to home. (Saturday) was a long day, and I’m glad the waiting is over." Orton will step into a situation where he will have to battle for the starting quarterback spot with former Flordia Gator Rex Grossman, who over his pro career, has battled with injuries. Wide receiver Taylor Stubblefield, who holds the NCAA career receptions record with 325, signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent. He received a $15-20,000 signing bonus along with the league minimum salary. "I had 15-20 teams calling me through the sixth round telling me how surprised they were that I was still available," Stubblefied said. "I narrowed my choices down to San Diego, Tennesee, and Carolina, and two minutes after the draft ended I signed with Carolina because it was the best fit." Stubblefied, who said he watched most of the second day of the draft, said that it was hard to watch himself and teammate Orton not get drafted during the parts of the draft. "It’s funny cause after the first day you ask yourself ‘how can they still be on the board?’" Stubblefield said. "But we both got on a team and now we got a chance to prove ourselves at the next level." Fullback Jon Goldsberry signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. His contract included a $20,000 signing bonus to go along with the league minimum salary. Goldsberry said that he chose Buffalo over Detroit and New England because they offered the highest signing bonus and the situation at Buffalo was the best. "They have a guy playing fullback who’s 33 and gets injured." Goldsberry said. "(I’m) going to Buffalo and raising hell." Offensive guard Tyler Moore, who went undrafted, was trying to make a deal with the Baltimore Ravens to sign as an undrafted free agent. "The Ravens sound pretty good, so we’re trying to make a deal," Moore said. Cornerback Antwaun Rogers, who played only six games in his senior season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, went undrafted in as well. As of last night, no teams were in contact with Rogers. Printer-friendly version |
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