Seahawks reunite the Griffin brothers
ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Sea-hawks coach Pete Carroll is known for taking chances on players. So many, from Richard Sherman to Russell Wilson to Doug Baldwin, have worked out.
On Saturday, Carroll and GM John Schneider spent the 141st overall selection in the NFL draft on linebacker Shaquem Griffin.
That fifth-round choice, announced in Seattle, drew loud cheers from fans at AT&T Stadium. Griffin, whose left hand was amputated when he was young, has become the feel-good story this year and one of the most
popular players in this draft because of his perseverance, outgoing personality and, of course, his talent.
Griffin helped Central Florida go undefeated last season, then blew through the NFL combine with a 4.38 in the 40, sensational lifting work with his prostethic,
and a can-do attitude. Exactly the sort of player the Seahawks seem to find; they drafted his twin brother, Shaquill, out of UCF last year.
Griffin was at the first two days of the draft, sitting through 100 picks without hearing his name. He returned Saturday afternoon with his family, including Shaquill, with whom he stood for photos wearing a light blue sports jacket and eyeglasses under a Seahawks cap.
“It’s amazing just to be here right now, I couldn’t ask for more, “Shaquem Griffin
said. “It’s been a long road coming, but I’m glad I had the opportunity to be here.
“It’s been a really good experience. I would have been crazy to turn an experi
ence down like this. I’m just glad I was one of the selected few to be here.”
Griffin had one of the more unusual ways of finding out he was chosen.
“I was using the restroom
and my brother came and tackled me with my cell phone, saying ‘answer it, answer it,’ and I looked, and that’s when tears started pouring down,” Griffin explained. “I literally went to use the restroom and that’s when my brother busted in and tackled me. I think I was more scared of him tackling me in the bathroom and not knowing what was happening than anything.”
Griffin received, by far, the biggest cheers of the day — louder even than when the Cowboys’ selections were announced. And he made a promise: “Great things are coming to Seattle.”
In other notable selections Saturday:
■ Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst was taken one spot in front of Griffin by Oakland. The All-American would have gone much earlier, but a heart condition was discovered at the combine, dropping him far down draft boards. He had 5 ½ sacks as an interior rusher and led all nose tackles and defensive tackles with 49 total quar- terback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
“It’s tough thinking that you’re one of the top players in the draft and having good tape and everything like that, just having to wait,” Hurst said. “You believe you’re better than guys who go ahead of you is tough. I’m just happy to be in the right place and a great organization.”
As for his health, “I’m ready to go right now.”
■ The Giants took the first quarterback of the third day, Richmond’s Kyle Lau- letta at No. 109. The Giants passed on trying to get their quarterback of the future to replace Eli Manning in the first round, taking running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall. Lauletta doesn’t have a big arm, but he showed good athleticism and accu- racy at the FCS school.
■ Cleveland used a fourthround pick, No. 105 overall, to take one of the draft’s most talented but troubled wide receivers: Florida’s Antonio Callaway. He had multiple suspensions while playing with the Gators and report- edly failed a drug test at the NFL scouting combine.
■ Wisconsin tight end
Troy Fumagalli, who is miss- ing the index finger on his left hand, went to Denver in the fifth round.