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One-on-One SI's King: Smoot may signal Sanders' end with Skins
Updated: Thursday May 17, 2001 4:07 PM
CNN/Sports Illustrated's Mike Galanos spoke with SI writer Peter King about some of the highlights in the 2001 NFL Draft. Mike Galanos: Peter, let's get right to it. Let's talk about teams that made astute moves on draft day to really help themselves. Peter King: Mike, I think without any question I love Baltimore's pick up of Todd Heap. To me, he's got a chance to be this generation's Todd Christensen -- an 80-, 90-catch guy, if Brian Billick chooses to feature him like that. I think the Bucs did a great job in picking Kenyatta Walker where they picked him. You don't get franchise left tackles with the 14th pick in the draft, but Tony Dungy did this year. And, I think Buffalo did a great job getting Nate Clements where they got him at No. 21. Great value pick. He should start opening day for the Bills. Galanos: Peter, those are some good moves. How about some moves maybe a little questionable, that might cause some trouble with a few teams. King: Well, I think Ricky Williams has sort of felt a cold slap in the face from his head coach, Jim Haslett, who picked Deuce McAllister so high. I can't help but wonder if there's an undercurrent of bad feeling between the two guys. I mean, clearly Ricky can't stay healthy for a full year. but to use a first-round draft pick on [McAllister], I think this poses danger in the relationship between those two guys. I think Pittsburgh reaching for Casey Hampton at No. 19 is also very questionable. Galanos: Alright Peter, how about one team that made the moves to get back among the elite and really transforming themselves. King: Well, I think St. Louis not only did something in the draft Saturday that was very good in sort of rebuilding their defense with the young guys, but they also got an excellent cover corner whose still got a couple of good years left -- restricted free agent Aeneas Williams from the Arizona Cardinals -- in exchange for second- and fourth-round draft picks. In addition, I think when you get Damione Lewis, who I think is going to be an opening day starter for the Rams on the defensive line, as well as Adam Archuleta, who I think is this year's Brian Urlacher. ... [Archuleta] is a real tackle machine whose going to come in and really add a vitality to that defense that really wasn’t there. Galanos: OK, Peter, maybe the message was sent to Ricky Williams. Any other messages sent out there with some draft-day moves? King: Well, to me, last month Marty Schottenheimer told me he still hasn't talked to Deion Sanders since he took the Washington coaching job. Now, he may never speak to him. In taking Fred Smoot in the middle of the second round, what you've done is basically said to Deion, 'Hey, you’re going your own way with the Cincinnati Reds … we're going to replace you here at the Washington Redskins.'
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