Patrick one of two set for the NFL Supplemental Draft
Chris Patrick won’t be holding a jersey or wearing a cap for the cameras. ESPN won’t be providing hours worth of ticker updates.
In fact, this draft of college football players will likely take no more than 10 minutes.
It’s the NFL Supplemental Draft on July 13, and Patrick, the former Nebraska offensive lineman, is one of two players on the board. The other is Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver.
No sizzle. No glamour. Just a chance for Patrick to continue his football career.
“It’s definitely a different way, but I’m hoping for the best and working hard,” said Patrick, in Lincoln on Monday to test for some 20 NFL scouts.
Patrick, a native of Ithaca, Mich., announced in March he was bypassing his senior season at Nebraska and entering the supplemental draft. He’d missed the Jan. 15 deadline for underclassmen to declare for the regular NFL Draft in April.
“It’s unique,” Patrick said. “If you get into it, I think you get some more attention from scouts, because not very many people go through the process.”
Only 34 players have been chosen in the supplemental draft since it was instituted by the NFL in 1977. No Nebraska player has yet been taken; Turner Gill, Mike Rozier and Mark Schellen were chosen in a supplemental phase in 1984, but for the United States Football League.
Why did Patrick choose this unusual path?
“There were some things going on with my family, and with the way things ended up, I think it was the best route for me,” said Patrick, who started 14 of 16 games at left tackle last season for the Huskers.
Many players who opt for the NFL Supplemental Draft have encountered academic or off-the-field problems. Oliver, for instance, was declared academically ineligible for next season. Patrick, though, has said he was in good standing at Nebraska, and that his decision was for personal reasons.
Last year, seven players entered the supplemental draft, including troubled Iowa State defensive end Jason Berryman and two Texas players, fullback Ahmard Hall and defensive tackle Marco Martin. Only one of the seven was drafted — Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the third round by Cincinnati.
In 2005, USC defensive tackle Manuel Wright was chosen in the fifth round. Eight others were eligible but not selected.
Patrick has been training with TEST Sports Clubs in New Jersey — the same place former Husker Daniel Bullocks trained. Patrick has been working individually with Billy Ard, the former New York Giants offensive lineman, according to Brian Martin, owner of TEST Sports Clubs.
“He’s a great fit for any team,” Martin said of Patrick. “With the supplemental draft, it depends on the teams’ needs at this point.”
Martin said he’s never worked with a player training for the supplemental draft. He acknowledged the risk involved for NFL teams; those that choose a player in this draft forfeit a pick in next April’s NFL Draft.
That means it’s unlikely a team will choose either Patrick or Oliver in the first round. However, first-round supplemental picks aren’t unprecedented; eight have been selected since 1977, including Bernie Kosar by Cleveland in 1985 and Steve Walsh by Dallas in 1989.
Patrick, listed at 6-foot-4½ and 305 pounds, said he wasn’t allowed to share results of Monday’s testing, per an agreement with his agent, Joel Linta. Among Patrick’s activities were offensive line drills and a written personality test. (Patrick, by the way, prefers dogs over cats).
“Hopefully, I impressed some people today,” Patrick said. “I’m not going to be big on numbers, but I think when people watch film, they’ll be impressed. I just want to get a good opportunity. I just hope for the best and pray.
“Everybody always thinks it’s about measurables, but it’s not. A lot of it is hard work and technique.”
Patrick said he’s been talking with New England, Atlanta and Kansas City. He’d prefer the Patriots.
“I’m kind of a sleeper guy, and New England’s kind of known for getting sleepers and late-round draft picks and having them do well and getting some success,” Patrick said. “Maybe they see something in me they like. I’d love to go there.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
How it works* The NFL Supplemental Draft is July 13.
* Any team that selects a player forfeits that same-round selection in next year’s NFL Draft. For example, if the Patriots chose NU’s Chris Patrick in the third round of the Supplemental Draft, they give up their third-round pick in next April’s draft.
* The draft is done via e-mail and lasts seven rounds, or as long as players are available. Each round lasts just a short time period, long enough for teams to respond. If two teams want the same player in the same round, the team with the higher pick in the most recent NFL Draft gets the player.
* Players who go undrafted are eligible to sign as free agents.
* Nebraska’s Chris Patrick and Georgia’s Paul Oliver are the only players, thus far, in this year’s Supplemental Draft.
- Brian Rosenthal
In fact, this draft of college football players will likely take no more than 10 minutes.
It’s the NFL Supplemental Draft on July 13, and Patrick, the former Nebraska offensive lineman, is one of two players on the board. The other is Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver.
No sizzle. No glamour. Just a chance for Patrick to continue his football career.
“It’s definitely a different way, but I’m hoping for the best and working hard,” said Patrick, in Lincoln on Monday to test for some 20 NFL scouts.
Patrick, a native of Ithaca, Mich., announced in March he was bypassing his senior season at Nebraska and entering the supplemental draft. He’d missed the Jan. 15 deadline for underclassmen to declare for the regular NFL Draft in April.
“It’s unique,” Patrick said. “If you get into it, I think you get some more attention from scouts, because not very many people go through the process.”
Only 34 players have been chosen in the supplemental draft since it was instituted by the NFL in 1977. No Nebraska player has yet been taken; Turner Gill, Mike Rozier and Mark Schellen were chosen in a supplemental phase in 1984, but for the United States Football League.
Why did Patrick choose this unusual path?
“There were some things going on with my family, and with the way things ended up, I think it was the best route for me,” said Patrick, who started 14 of 16 games at left tackle last season for the Huskers.
Many players who opt for the NFL Supplemental Draft have encountered academic or off-the-field problems. Oliver, for instance, was declared academically ineligible for next season. Patrick, though, has said he was in good standing at Nebraska, and that his decision was for personal reasons.
Last year, seven players entered the supplemental draft, including troubled Iowa State defensive end Jason Berryman and two Texas players, fullback Ahmard Hall and defensive tackle Marco Martin. Only one of the seven was drafted — Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the third round by Cincinnati.
In 2005, USC defensive tackle Manuel Wright was chosen in the fifth round. Eight others were eligible but not selected.
Patrick has been training with TEST Sports Clubs in New Jersey — the same place former Husker Daniel Bullocks trained. Patrick has been working individually with Billy Ard, the former New York Giants offensive lineman, according to Brian Martin, owner of TEST Sports Clubs.
“He’s a great fit for any team,” Martin said of Patrick. “With the supplemental draft, it depends on the teams’ needs at this point.”
Martin said he’s never worked with a player training for the supplemental draft. He acknowledged the risk involved for NFL teams; those that choose a player in this draft forfeit a pick in next April’s NFL Draft.
That means it’s unlikely a team will choose either Patrick or Oliver in the first round. However, first-round supplemental picks aren’t unprecedented; eight have been selected since 1977, including Bernie Kosar by Cleveland in 1985 and Steve Walsh by Dallas in 1989.
Patrick, listed at 6-foot-4½ and 305 pounds, said he wasn’t allowed to share results of Monday’s testing, per an agreement with his agent, Joel Linta. Among Patrick’s activities were offensive line drills and a written personality test. (Patrick, by the way, prefers dogs over cats).
“Hopefully, I impressed some people today,” Patrick said. “I’m not going to be big on numbers, but I think when people watch film, they’ll be impressed. I just want to get a good opportunity. I just hope for the best and pray.
“Everybody always thinks it’s about measurables, but it’s not. A lot of it is hard work and technique.”
Patrick said he’s been talking with New England, Atlanta and Kansas City. He’d prefer the Patriots.
“I’m kind of a sleeper guy, and New England’s kind of known for getting sleepers and late-round draft picks and having them do well and getting some success,” Patrick said. “Maybe they see something in me they like. I’d love to go there.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
How it works* The NFL Supplemental Draft is July 13.
* Any team that selects a player forfeits that same-round selection in next year’s NFL Draft. For example, if the Patriots chose NU’s Chris Patrick in the third round of the Supplemental Draft, they give up their third-round pick in next April’s draft.
* The draft is done via e-mail and lasts seven rounds, or as long as players are available. Each round lasts just a short time period, long enough for teams to respond. If two teams want the same player in the same round, the team with the higher pick in the most recent NFL Draft gets the player.
* Players who go undrafted are eligible to sign as free agents.
* Nebraska’s Chris Patrick and Georgia’s Paul Oliver are the only players, thus far, in this year’s Supplemental Draft.
- Brian Rosenthal
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