 |
Ashley Lelie It's a good thing Ashley Lelie is used to double coverage.
touches down with
Denver in NFL Draft
The former star UH wide receiver
How much cash?
is ecstatic after he is selected
19th overall by the BroncosBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comAfter the Denver Broncos chose him yesterday with the 19th pick of the NFL Draft, the former University of Hawaii star wide receiver had phones over both ears.
Lelie performed telephone triage, juggling incoming calls at his parents' Beaufort, S.C., home from his new coaches, his agents, the media and well-wishing friends.
He handled it all with his usual soft-spoken calm. It was like he'd just gotten a job at a fast-food restaurant rather than an NFL franchise. Lelie, who became the first first-round pick in UH history, said he slept well the previous night. He also didn't get nervous when he wasn't selected as early as some prognosticators predicted.
But then one of the agents called and told Lelie to expect a call from Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. Shanahan called and told Lelie he would shortly be a Bronco. Then ESPN told the nation, around 3:30 p.m. on the East Coast and 9:30 a.m. here.
|
"I was just hoping to be picked in the first round," Lelie told the Star-Bulletin a few minutes later. "I didn't really know who it would be, so it would have been a surprise anyway."Lelie ended up being the second receiver picked, as most had predicted.
The Radford High School graduate joins former UH kicker Jason Elam on the Denver roster. Team owner Pat Bowlen is a part-time Hawaii resident and business owner here, and the Broncos have many fans in the islands.
"I'm happy about that since I consider Hawaii home and hope to retire there someday," Lelie said.
He said playing in cold weather won't bother him.
"I've lived in places where they have real winters before," said Lelie, who grew up all over the world as a military dependent.
Hawaii coach June Jones, a longtime NFL coach, said Denver is a good fit for Lelie.
"To get picked in the first round by any team is an honor," Jones said. "They were one of the teams very interested in him, and rightfully so. He's just what they're looking for."
While some say Lelie's gaudy receiving statistics -- including a school-record 19 touchdowns -- were a product of a weak conference, Shanahan said UH's wide-open run-and-shoot offense made Lelie more attractive.
"One of the things that he has going for him is how much they've thrown the ball at Hawaii with June Jones," Shanahan told the Rocky Mountain News. "I talked to June. He felt like he was probably the best wide receiver he's had since he's been coaching."
The Broncos have solid veteran receivers in Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith, but both are recovering from injuries. Free agent Rob Moore is also coming back from injuries.
The Atlanta Falcons -- a team many thought would pick Lelie -- are closer to his parents' home. But Lelie's father said he won't mind traveling to see his son play.
"I'm ecstatic for Ashley," Rene Lelie said. "The Broncos have a history of winning, and they're doing a little rebuilding now, so it's a great fit. It's all a blessing."
Ashley Lelie is in Denver today to meet his coaches and the area media.
"I've never been there before, but I hear it's a great city," he said.
He really begins work the first week of May, when the Broncos hold a minicamp.
First-round NFL draft picks become instant millionaires, assuming they come to financial terms quickly with their new employers. Lelie is no exception. The only question is how rich he will be, and how long it will take his agent and the Broncos to agree on figures.
"No, no, I don't expect it to take long at all," he said. "One of the things my agent (Ray Anderson) is known for is no holding out. I was the 19th pick. If I was the third or fourth pick, it might be different.
"I'm just happy I'm getting a chance to live my dream," he said.
So is Kahuku High School graduate Toniu Fonoti.
The Nebraska All-American guard was chosen by the San Diego Chargers in the second round, with the 39th pick of the draft.
Fonoti was projected by many to be a first-round pick. But the Outland Trophy finalist said he wasn't disappointed.
"Actually, I'm very excited about going to the Chargers," he said. "I've got lots of friends and family in San Diego."
Fonoti attended El Camino High School in San Diego the year before he graduated from Kahuku. He said playing for a team in California will also allow him to visit his brother, St. Louis School senior Taualai. Taualai enters Stanford in the fall on a football scholarship.
Toniu Fonoti is a devastating run blocker. The Chargers chose him partly because second-year running back LaDanian Tomlinson is the centerpiece of their offense.
"It's a good offense for me," he said. "All I can do now is try and improve on what I did in college. That basically starts right away. I leave for San Diego this evening."
Campbell High School graduate Clifford Russell was chosen in the third round by Washington. The Redskins picked the Utah wide receiver with the 87th overall selection.
The last four of seven rounds are today. Quarterback Nick Rolovich (UH), guard Manly Kanoa (Kamehameha/UH) and guard Ed Ta'amu (Iolani/Utah) are among those with local ties who might be selected.
BACK TO TOP
|
Here's a look at the contracts given to receivers drafted in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft: How much cash for Ashley?
Player (School), NFL Team Contract (bonus) 8. David Terrell (Mich.), Chicago 5 years, $11.3 million ($4 million) 9. Koren Robinson (N.C. St.), Seattle 6 years, $10.1 million ($4 million) 15. Rod Gardner (Clemson), Washington 5 years, $7.79 million ($3.3 million) 16. Santana Moss (Miami), New York Jets 5 years, $7.1 million ($3.43 million) 25. Freddie Mitchell (UCLA), Philadelphia 6 years, $6.1 million ($3.5 million) 30. Reggie Wayne (Miami), Indianapolis 5 years, $6.1 million ($2.4 million)