Wednesday, February 10, 1999

Cleveland passes
on Aleaga

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Former Pac-Five linebacker Ink Aleaga of the New Orleans Saints, the only Hawaii NFL player left unprotected by his club, was not taken in the draft. But Aleaga said he wasn't surprised.

"I had talked to my agent, and he said he was pretty confident I wasn't going to get picked," said Aleaga.

Aleaga said he's been told the Saints have an interest in his future. He said he expects New Orleans to make a tender fairly soon.

Former Punahou quarterback Mike Maciszewski, a scouting administrator with the Browns, said he personally wished Aleaga had been picked. "But there was more emphasis on the offensive and defensive lines," he said.

Maciszewski said he would've enjoyed having another islander in town. "If I was the guy pulling the trigger, he would be with us," he said. "But it'll be some time before I have that kind of influence."