Thursday, January 21, 1999
McNown puts classes on hold, attempts to impress NFL scouts
NFL: Quarterback’s focus on practice, improving chances of being
chosen earlier in draft
By Jeff Kmiotek and Evan Lovett
Daily Bruin Staff
In an effort to improve his NFL draft status, quarterback Cade
McNown has decided to forego the winter quarter at UCLA. McNown
will concentrate entirely on football and the task of impressing
NFL scouts.
For the two weeks following the Rose Bowl, McNown had been
training full-time at the International Performance Institute in
Florida. McNown left the Institute last weekend to begin
preparations for Saturday’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
Following that game, the only all-star contest McNown chose to
play in due to the NFL support it receives, he is expected to
return to Florida to prepare for the NFL combine, which will be in
Indianapolis from Feb. 18-22.
The NFL draft will take place on April 17 and 18. Although
McNown finished third in voting for the Heisman trophy, he isn’t
even considered a definite first-round pick, due to his supposed
lack of size, arm strength and mechanics.
"We want to get Cade as ready as possible for the combine, then
spring training," Chris Ciassio of the Performance Institute told
the Los Angeles Times.
McNown is not enrolled in classes for the winter quarter, but
there remains a possibility that he will return for the spring
quarter, according to UCLA sports information director Marc
Dellins.
For now, he will completely devote his time to football,
training six days a week. McNown’s agent, Tom Condon of
International Management Group, hired longtime NFL assistant coach
Larry Kennan to be McNown’s private quarterback coach in
Florida.
McNown’s decision is not uncommon among potential draft picks,
as the difference between a couple positions in the draft may be
the difference between a couple million dollars.AARON MICHAEL
TOUT
Cade McNown has not enrolled for the winter quarter because of
his efforts to improve his NFL draft status.
Comments, feedback, problems?
© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]