After a grueling three-month process of being timed, measured,
poked and prodded, it all comes down to this weekend.
For at least six former Bruins, the results of this
weekend’s National Football League Draft has the potential to
permanently alter the rest of their lives.
But until this weekend, all they can do is wait and see.
For six Bruins ““ wide receiver Tab Perry, fullback Manuel
White, receiver Craig Bragg, safety Ben Emanuel, punter Chris Kluwe
and cornerback Matt Clark ““ though they have a chance of
being drafted, they may have to wait longer than some as there are
no true first-round contenders in the bunch.
Most are projected to be picked anywhere from the third round on
Saturday, to the draft’s final round on Sunday, while the
possibility exists that some may not be drafted this weekend.
But for some players, round selections aren’t all
they’re cracked up to be.
“A lot of people get wrapped up in all that, but there are
a lot of guys who were selected in the first round that
aren’t even in the league anymore,” Perry said.
“You can’t judge success by where you get drafted;
it’s about how you finish once you’re in the league.
And right now, I’m just happy to have an
opportunity.”
For Perry, much of the auditioning process has come during the
postseason after seeing only limited playing time for the Bruins
during the 2004 season.
Perry, who took a year off due to academic problems, has
regained his previous form and as a result has seen his stock rise
dramatically, especially with his impressive 40-yard dash times at
the NFL Combine and UCLA’s Pro Day.
His size, strength and kick-return ability have helped propel
him on the draft list.
“I knew going into the season, that since I was going to
be a starter things were going to be more difficult,” Perry
said. “So that going into the offseason I knew I had to
prepare well.”
As for White, whose greatest strengths are his versatility and
size, he is pegged as one of the first Bruins to be selected.
For Bragg, analysts are quick to point out his playmaking
ability along with good hands, but say he may lack the size, speed
and athletic ability for the NFL, and mark him only as a solid No.
2 starter.
Emanuel, on the other hand, has both the size and athletic
ability, but constantly heard the criticism at UCLA that he never
quite lived up to his potential.
For those who aren’t selected during the seven rounds of
the draft, there exists the possibility that they will be picked up
as free agents after the draft and will get a chance during
training camps to prove their worth.
But for the time being, until the draft is over on Sunday, all
they can do is sit back, wait and see.
“There are 32 teams and only one has to pick me. For the
31 that don’t, I’ll wait until I’m on the field
to make them pay,” Perry said.