The Minnesota Vikings drafted two 300-pounders. Double double whopper whopper. So what`s the big deal over the Bears` 318-pound William Perry?
Among their rivals in the National Football Conference Central Division, the Bears like the Vikings` draft best. But they don`t sound as though they would trade drafts with any of them to defend their title.
”As good a football player as Chris Doleman is, or any of those guys, I don`t know that they can be the impact players that the guy we got can,” said Bears` coach Mike Ditka.
Pitt linebacker Doleman was Minnesota`s No. 1 pick. The 300-pounders are third-round offensive tackle Tim Long of Memphis State and sixth-round nose tackle Tim Newton of Florida.
”Maybe they thought they had to beef up when they saw our
`Refrigerator,` ” said Bears` personnel director Bill Tobin. Perry`s nickname is ”Refrigerator.”
Both the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers used their first two picks to select offensive linemen.
The Packers even traded away their second-round choice to move up and take USC tackle Ken Ruettgers on the seventh pick. He is a player the Bears rated as a low second-round prospect.
The Packers made San Diego State guard Rich Moran their third-round choice.
”Green Bay drafted some fine football players, but the linemen they drafted are going to have to block our guys and that just tickles me because I know we have the strongest,” said Ditka.
The Packers made wide receiver Walter Stanley their fourth-round pick. Stanley is a Chicago South Shore High School product who hasn`t played football since 1981.
The Lions took Florida tackle Lomas Brown one player ahead of Ruettgers. They took Maryland center Kevin Glover in the second round. Glover`s stock rose in part because of an excellent game against Perry.
”It was probably when Perry weighed 380,” said Tobin.
”He`ll get a chance to have a lot more over the next 10 years,”
said Ditka.
The Lions later traded for Buffalo`s 35-year-old quarterback Joe Ferguson and traded 34-year-old quarterback Gary Danielson away to Cleveland. Tampa Bay had only four picks in the first seven rounds and used all of them to shore up a defense that has failed to live up to its reputation. Defensive end Ron Holmes of Washington should step in opposite Lee Roy Selmon. The Bears aren`t sure whether Baylor`s Ervin Randle is a nose tackle or a linebacker.
The Bears had Minnesota`s second-round pick, Alcorn cornerback Issaic Holt, rated even with their own second-round cornerback, SMU`s Reggie Phillips.
The Bears also liked Viking third-rounders center Kirk Lowdermilk of Ohio State and linebacker Tim Meamber of Washington. They see tremendous potential in risky fourth-round receiver Buster Rhymes of Oklahoma, who reminded them of former Bear Rickey Watts.
