Kelly, Butkus steal 2nd-round show
Former Bills QB receives emotional welcome on stage
CHICAGO — The show stoppers Thursday night at the NFL draft were two Hall of Famers: Jim Kelly and Dick Butkus.
The legendary former players were on hand to announce the second-round selections for the Bills and Bears, respectively. Kelly’s appearance was spell-binding, and after a lengthy standing ovation, he told the audience that he is cancer free.
It’s not easy to outdo Butkus in the Windy City, but Kelly did so.
Earlier, Butkus took the stage. Arguably the most beloved football player in this Bears-crazy town, 50 years after he played, his star still shines as brightly as those of Michael Jordan, Ernie Banks and Bobby Hull — his counterparts in basketball, baseball and hockey.
Butkus presented Da Bears’ choice — and he surely enjoyed it. Butkus even paused for emphasis, saying “I like this,” then announcing nose tackle Eddie Goldman of Florida State.
Former Broncos receiver Rick Upchurch, who is fighting leukemia, thanked “my Denver family ... for being in my corner” before announcing Colorado State tackle Ty Sambrailo at No. 59.
Three players with checkered resumes also went Friday: wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, cornerback Jalen Collins and linebacker Randy Gregory.
With the pick it got in a deal with the Giants, who moved up seven spots to begin the round by grabbing Alabama All-America safety Landon Collins, the Titans took all of two seconds to select Green-Beckham. Tennessee went quarterback in the opening round with Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, and has added a tall, playmaking option in the 6foot-5 Green-Beckham.
Of course, that’s if he straightens out his life. He was kicked off the Missouri team after several run-ins with the law, enrolled last year at Oklahoma and could not get NCAA permission to play there in 2014.
“Not having football has had an effect on him,” Titans general manager Ruston Webster said. “He went to Oklahoma and handled himself well and stayed out of trouble. ... He was basically a scout team practice player so that was my impression that he understands he probably made some mistakes, and [if] he wanted to continue to play football he had to do the right thing.”
Collins, chosen by Atlanta, was suspended for two games at LSU and confirmed he failed three drug tests.
“What I told the Falcons, what I’ve been telling everybody, that stuff is behind me,” Collins said. “I’ve been making smarter decisions all this past year, trying to become a better person and a better football player and I think it’s been helping me.”
Gregory, generally considered a surefire firstrounder when the season ended, tested positive for marijuana at the NFL combine in March. He slipped to No. 60, where Dallas took him.
How much did the drug test affect his status?
“Obviously a lot,” Gregory noted. “Like I said, it is in the past. Me and the Cowboys, we are going to take over this league.”
The Carolina Panthers added another big target in the passing game for Cam Newton.
The Panthers traded up to select Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess in the second round.
The Panthers surrendered their second-round (57th), third-round (89th) and sixth-round (201st) picks to move up 16 spots in the second round to take the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Funchess 41st overall.
Funchess gives the Panthers another tall, physical wide receiver to pair with Kelvin Benjamin, last year’s first-round draft pick.
“Like I’ve said before, you can’t coach size,” Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said, stealing a line from last year when the team selected the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Benjamin. “Devin plays fast and he’s a smooth, fluid big man. And he’s a very smart kid”