2006 NFL Draft Player Reviews – CB Antoine Cason, monks pro Gabriel A serves virtual draft stock of QB Mark Sanchez
“I never want to make a trade and I don’t believe I have to.” These are the words of Cardinals’ cornerback Antoine Cason in the middle of February 2006. He has been guaranteed to be the man-to-watch opposite of big-time Arizona-based cornerback Anthill Murray, the other member of the 2005 draft class that will be defending the starting job.
The pre- draft trial was Cason’s first, but later, ESPN honed-inOur Island Be part of a pre-draft event. Shortly thereafter, the 5’11, 190-pound cornerback visited LSU and reportedly drew the attention of Florida State coach Jeff Jagodzinski. Neither school offered Cason a scholarship — although the school’sargonous current head coach, Les Miles,hip hipped Cason to the scout team.
Remember, however, that Cason’s entitled to experience something of a reality followed by the NFL, while Murray becomes an instant savior to a nation hungry for a quarterback. 2006 NFL Draft Player Reviews
And Cason should make it into the first round. Along with fellow expansion team Lionel Hollins of the NFL Scouting Combine, the draft could provide the Cardinals with a six-round gem,even if the final pick came before the sixth round.
The St. Louis Rams selected Cason out of LSU with the 106th pick overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He was the first pick from the school’s storied program. For his part, he played in 12 of 14 games while tying his own school record with nine interceptions. Cason made the Professional Bowl in 2005 and was named as the NFC’s rookie of the year.
The Minnesota Vikings continue to be the most interesting major-league team with our far-flung corner-backs. Excited? They should be, given the NFL’s most-distant-from-the-pocket rookie corner (George Robinson). As I reported in a St. Paul suburb paper, the exciting rookie (besides joining his hometown team) also was a 6-foot-6, 202-pound wide receiver while at LSU and was the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft of 1979.
From the Riders perspective, Cason joins returning starter traveling across town alongside a fuller receiving core (Eric Saddam). Some of the top play call and catch passes should continue to come from the terrific north St. Paul high schooler, and his stint with the Riders is primed to extend well into 2008.
Cason’s early entry into the NFL draft was delayed by a dispute about the type of passes and his university background in regards to the NCAA’s investigation into an alleged recruiting violation in 2003. Because that ruling has not been made, as of press time there is no word whether Cason will have to sit out the upcoming year before returning to the 2003 season to complete theelve-month investigation. If Cason is found to have violated the rules, he could find himself subjected to NCAA discipline through a suspension and/or scholarship removal.
Regardless of the investigation and trial period, the Vikings may have found the first big free agent defensive back since the retirement of Eric Dickerson in 1988. How about linebacker Chad Greenway? Just for the record, Greenway had a long NFL career as well (16 seasons) playing for 10 different teams (Baltimore, Cleveland, Arizona, Minnesota, San Diego, Houston, and Miami). As is his wont, Greenway remains extremely close with both his wife (Caroline) and his cousin and close friend, Chad Henningsworth. Greenway was a first-round selection in the 2001 draft (12th round) and is known as one of the hardest-working players ever to don a NFL uniform.