Arch Stanton
04-24-2005, 02:38 AM
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE — When the first round of the NFL Draft came and went yesterday without Kevin Burnett's name being called, he strayed as far away from a television set as possible.
''You learn to be patient, real patient,'' said the former Tennessee All-SEC linebacker.
Fortunately, he didn't have to wait much longer for the call he's been dreaming about since he first started playing football. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the second round with the 42nd pick overall.
Burnett was the fourth linebacker taken in this year's draft, and in vintage form, he doesn't mind saying that the Cowboys got a bargain.
''I'm just ready to play. That's all there is to it,'' Burnett said. ''I thought I would have probably gone earlier, but you take it how it comes. The Cowboys wanted me. They got me, and I'm happy. Now it's on me to show them what kind of football player I am.''
The intriguing part of the Cowboys picking Burnett is they plan to move to a 3-4 defense, which means Burnett could end up playing inside or outside. He played outside linebacker in Tennessee's 4-3 scheme.
But as Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis pointed out, the 6-foot-3, 234-pound Burnett has been the essence of versatility throughout his career.
Burnett becomes the ninth Tennessee linebacker to be drafted since Chavis took over as defensive coordinator in 1995.
''Kevin's the kind of athlete that can play at lot of different places,'' Chavis said. ''A good football player can adapt, and I don't think it will be a problem for Kevin whether they play him inside or outside.
''He's smart and competitive, and whatever they want him to do, he'll do. He never played linebacker until he got to Tennessee. He was a safety in high school, so that shows he's willing to adjust and do what you ask him to do.''
Burnett said he talked with both Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells and owner Jerry Jones by phone.
''(Parcells) said, 'Are you ready to be a Cowboy?' I picked you for a reason,' '' Burnett recalled. ''I told him, 'I've been ready.' ''
The false alarms yesterday were the toughest part for Burnett. Twice during the first round, he said teams called and indicated they were about to pick him.
Burnett said he heard virtually nothing from the Cowboys leading up to the draft, but he correctly predicted that he wouldn't land with any of the teams showing the most interest.
When the call finally came, Burnett said a million thoughts raced through his head. He was celebrating with what he estimated were 100 friends and family members at his mother Rhonda Hickman's house in Carson, Calif.
''My mom cried. A lot of people cried,'' Burnett said. ''I just thought about how hard I'd worked, everything I'd put into it and what I'm getting out of it.''
Burnett also thought about the irony of going back to Dallas after the Vols played there a few months ago in the Cotton Bowl. They practiced at Texas Stadium and used the Cowboys' facilities. Burnett will also be reuniting with his former UT teammate, tight end Jason Witten.
''It's crazy how things work out,'' Burnett said. ''I'm just ready to move on.''
http://www.tennessean.com/sports/titans/draft/archives/05/03/68633533.shtml?Element_ID=68633533
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE — When the first round of the NFL Draft came and went yesterday without Kevin Burnett's name being called, he strayed as far away from a television set as possible.
''You learn to be patient, real patient,'' said the former Tennessee All-SEC linebacker.
Fortunately, he didn't have to wait much longer for the call he's been dreaming about since he first started playing football. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the second round with the 42nd pick overall.
Burnett was the fourth linebacker taken in this year's draft, and in vintage form, he doesn't mind saying that the Cowboys got a bargain.
''I'm just ready to play. That's all there is to it,'' Burnett said. ''I thought I would have probably gone earlier, but you take it how it comes. The Cowboys wanted me. They got me, and I'm happy. Now it's on me to show them what kind of football player I am.''
The intriguing part of the Cowboys picking Burnett is they plan to move to a 3-4 defense, which means Burnett could end up playing inside or outside. He played outside linebacker in Tennessee's 4-3 scheme.
But as Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis pointed out, the 6-foot-3, 234-pound Burnett has been the essence of versatility throughout his career.
Burnett becomes the ninth Tennessee linebacker to be drafted since Chavis took over as defensive coordinator in 1995.
''Kevin's the kind of athlete that can play at lot of different places,'' Chavis said. ''A good football player can adapt, and I don't think it will be a problem for Kevin whether they play him inside or outside.
''He's smart and competitive, and whatever they want him to do, he'll do. He never played linebacker until he got to Tennessee. He was a safety in high school, so that shows he's willing to adjust and do what you ask him to do.''
Burnett said he talked with both Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells and owner Jerry Jones by phone.
''(Parcells) said, 'Are you ready to be a Cowboy?' I picked you for a reason,' '' Burnett recalled. ''I told him, 'I've been ready.' ''
The false alarms yesterday were the toughest part for Burnett. Twice during the first round, he said teams called and indicated they were about to pick him.
Burnett said he heard virtually nothing from the Cowboys leading up to the draft, but he correctly predicted that he wouldn't land with any of the teams showing the most interest.
When the call finally came, Burnett said a million thoughts raced through his head. He was celebrating with what he estimated were 100 friends and family members at his mother Rhonda Hickman's house in Carson, Calif.
''My mom cried. A lot of people cried,'' Burnett said. ''I just thought about how hard I'd worked, everything I'd put into it and what I'm getting out of it.''
Burnett also thought about the irony of going back to Dallas after the Vols played there a few months ago in the Cotton Bowl. They practiced at Texas Stadium and used the Cowboys' facilities. Burnett will also be reuniting with his former UT teammate, tight end Jason Witten.
''It's crazy how things work out,'' Burnett said. ''I'm just ready to move on.''
http://www.tennessean.com/sports/titans/draft/archives/05/03/68633533.shtml?Element_ID=68633533