As each team made its selection and the minutes ticked away,
Matt Ware sat waiting. The first round passed ““ no phone
call. The second round went by, and still no word.
Finally, with the 89th pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, the
Philadelphia Eagles called the 6-foot-3 cornerback and offered him
a job.
“It was tedious,” Ware said. “It was a tough
time. I kept seeing guys go off the board and thinking I knew I
could I beat them.”
Most analysts expected the former Bruin, who turned pro after a
junior season during which he was hurt for much of the year, to be
drafted in the first two rounds. Instead, he had to watch as 11
other cornerbacks were picked ahead of him.
Still, Ware has no doubts that he made the right decision by
jumping to the NFL early, and said he never questioned his
choice.
“I came into this not knowing what to expect, but I know I
was picked a lot lower than the projections had me,” he said.
“My agent told me that the draft is weird sometimes.
I’m just happy to be going somewhere and have a
job.”
Part of problem was that Ware, who played corner in college, was
projected by many scouts as a safety. But according to Ware, the
Eagles want him to play corner.
Overall, the Bruins didn’t have a standout showing at this
year’s draft. All-American defensive end Dave Ball
wasn’t picked until the the fifth round by the San Diego
Chargers, and tackle Rodney Leisle lasted longer than he expected
as well.
Ball’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, indicated there was concern
his client might need back surgery.
“He is one of those players who everyone knew would be
drafted below what his productivity was in college,”
Steinberg said.
Leisle, a fifth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints, also noted
the subpar showing by UCLA this year.
“A poor perception of UCLA is something that hinders
us,” Leslie said. “UCLA needs the younger guys to
change that. They have to start winning and performing.”
Perhaps the only pleasant surprise for the Bruins came when the
St. Louis Rams selected linebacker Brandon Chillar late in the
fourth round.
After the seven-round draft, both defensive end Mat Ball and
tackle Ryan Boschetti signed as free agents with the Jacksonville
Jaguars and Washington Redskins, respectively.
Former Bruin signee J.P. Losman, who transferred to Tulane in
1999, was the fourth quarterback taken with the 22nd pick in the
first round by the Buffalo Bills.
Of the six former Bruins drafted this past weekend, Chillar was
as excited as any of them.
“I get to keep playing football,” he said.
“I’m pretty happy.”