Wednesday, April 15, 1998
Olin Kreutz
"I could never play just for the money."
Kreutz the cream
of Hawaii’s crop
Of the four Hawaii players
By Pat Bigold
eligible for the NFL draft, he is the
only one expected to go in the
first three rounds
Star-BulletinWhat once looked like Olin Kreutz's big negative has turned into his most attractive quality for tomorrow's National Football League draft.
His mean streak.
The 6-foot-2, 298-pound University of Washington center is the only one of four Hawaii players eligible for the draft who is likely to go in the first three rounds.
The first round begins at 6 a.m. HST.
Last year, the top pick from Hawaii was former Kahuku and University of Colorado guard Chris Naeole, who was taken in the first round by the New Orleans Saints. There have been five first-rounders from the 50th state.
Other locals who could be drafted include Kreutz's former Prep Bowl teammates at St. Louis High School -- Utah running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and Colorado defensive tackle Viliami Maumau -- and Hawaii free safety Eddie Klaneski, a Damien alumnus.
Kreutz and Fuamatu-Ma'afala are among 32 underclassmen in this year's draft.
Kreutz, who punched teammate Sekou Wiggs in a locker room incident last spring, breaking Wiggs' jaw in two places, has been described in most published reports as a player with a mean streak.
But that could translate into mean money for the ex-Crusader, who won the Morris Trophy as the best lineman in the Pac-10 and was rated as the best center in the nation.
Percy Allen of the Seattle Times said he thinks scouts love Kreutz's game rage, even though he strongly doubts Kreutz will go in the first round.
According to the Sporting News, Kreutz is "a throwback type of player with an ornery attitude. He puts defenders on their backs and comes with strength, size and athleticism."
By George F. Lee Star-Bulletin
Former Damien Memorial High School and University of
Hawaii star Eddie Klaneski (21) could go in the late rounds
of this weekend's National Football League draft.
Pro Football Weekly said Kreutz, who benches 500 pounds, has "very good ability to muscle and maul defenders. Has a mean streak."No question that Kreutz is Mike Ditka's kind of player. And guess who's in the market for a center this weekend. The New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins and possibly Detroit also need help at center.
"That's just my style of play," Kreutz said. "I keep moving up and down the field hitting people."
But can he maintain that emotional drive once he's under contract in the NFL?
"I could never play just for the money," he said.
Criticisms of Kreutz? According to The Sporting News, "he plays a bit upright at times and needs refinement on his pass protection."
Pro Football Weekly said he is "a big, strong, physical, mean and nasty center who still needs a lot of development and refinement."
Fuamatu-Ma'afala might have the most difficult name to pronounce on draft day. But that's not his only concern.
The Sporting News called him "overrated" and Pro Football Weekly said he "lacks durability. Has missed a lot of time with injuries. Tends to get fat, and that affects his running, stamina and endurance."
But Fuamatu-Ma'afala got some support yesterday from former Ute teammate Juan Johnson. In a Salt Lake City Tribune article, Johnson said he has seen the big running back play in pain.
"He got a bad rap," Johnson said.
"I was a marked man since my freshman year and I took a pounding," Fuamatu-Ma'afala said.
According to an article by Len Pasquarelli of the Cox News Service, Fuamatu-Ma'afala's value is on the rise.
Players from Hawaii who are eligible for this weekend's NFL Draft: Island Hopefuls
Player College High school Height Weight Position Olin Kreutz Washington St. Louis 6-2 298 Center Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala Utah St. Louis 5-11 248 Running back Eddie Klaneski Hawaii Damien 5-9 190 Defensive back Viliami Maumau Colorado St. Louis 6-2 295 Defensive tackle
Pasquarelli noted that he has slimmed down from 280 to 248 pounds and clocked a "respectable" 4.56 in the 40-yard dash in a workout for scouts last week at the University of Utah.
He turned in a strong showing at the NFL combine in Indianapolis in February, but Fuamatu-Ma'afala said that losing 32 pounds was the most grueling task of his athletic career.
"I was going five days at first, jogging at UH and here at home (Mayor Wright Housing)," he said. "Then my body was getting tired and I needed to fit in some rest. That's what I'm doing now."
Tomorrow morning, Fuamatu-Ma'afala plans to sleep in as the first round gets under way.
Pasquarelli offers hope to Fuamatu-Ma'afala and other less celebrated backs.
"Only four of the dozen players who rushed for 1,000 yards as rookies during the 1990s were first-round selections," he wrote.
Of the 16 backs who rushed for 1,000 yards last season, he said five were drafted in the fourth round or lower.
Teams needing running backs include New England, Jacksonville, St. Louis and the Giants.
Klaneski, who led the Rainbows in tackles, interceptions and passes broken up, said yesterday that the Giants had contacted him and might draft him during the later rounds Sunday.
Klaneski said one of the Giants' coaches asked him to be near the telephone over the weekend. He told Klaneski he would be used as an extra defensive back and on special teams.
"I'm excited about it," Klaneski said. "I'm not sure what's going to happen, but it's good to know that teams are interested in you."
Maumau, a 6-2, 295-pound third-team All-Big 12 selection, is not being mentioned by draft prognosticators, so he's likely to wind up as a free agent.
Paul Arnett also contributed to this report.
