St. Louis takes OT Saffold to start second round of NFL draft

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Rams take Saffold to start 2nd round

NEW YORK — Some big stars came out for the second round of the NFL draft, in front of a nearly full Radio City Music Hall.

Unfortunately, Jim Brown, Dan Marino, Ray Lewis and Floyd Little were announcing the selections, not being picked.

Instead of Heisman Trophy winners and All-Americans, the opening choices of Friday night’s second round were Indiana tackle Rodger Saffold, Virginia cornerback Chris Cook, and UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price. Yes, quality players, but hardly headline makers.

In fact, few of the early picks in the round drew much response from the surprisingly large audience. Then again, with the way the NFL has turned the first prime-time draft into an event, seeing the venerable theater packed makes sense.

So did the opening choices.

Needing a blocker for quarterback Sam Bradford, the first overall pick the previous night, the Rams ignored several trade offers to stay put. They went for an experienced player who started for four seasons with the Hoosiers.

Minnesota, which traded out of the first round, has had injury issues at cornerback, so Cook should be helpful. And Tampa Bay’s defensive line has been a sieve, which it addressed with the selections of Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy at No. 3 overall and then Price.

Kansas City got a prime kick returner and receiving threat in 5-foot-8, 165-pound Dexter McCluster of Mississippi, and Philadelphia, in need of safety help, took South Florida’s Nate Allen. Oregon safety T.J. Ward went to Cleveland, a selection announced by the Browns’ greatest player, Jim Brown. The Hall of Famer got the most cheers — in great part because few, if any, of the draftees had recognizable names.

Next on the applause meter were Lewis, Marino and Little. Marino introduced the Dolphins’ selection of linebacker Koa Misi of Utah, Lewis announced LB Sergio Kindle of Texas and Little revealed that Denver took tackle Zane Beadles, also of Utah.