Dolphins Pick Griese; 49ers Land Spurrier
By BILL BRAUCHER
Herald Sports Writer
The Dolphins
picked collegians from such widely disparate points as Purdue, Oklahoma, Yale
and Chattanooga in opening sessions of the combined American-National Football
League draft Tuesday.
University of
Miami defensive tackle Gene Trosch was the top selection of the AFL’s champion
Kansas City Chiefs as only five rounds were selected under the new 25-team
system.
Miami's pros
first claimed Purdue quarterback Bob Griese, who ranked second last fall only
to Florida's Steve Spurrier. The Gator great was chosen by Atlanta and immediately
traded to San Francisco, current residence of ex-Miami quarterback George
Mira.
The Dolphins
chose Oklahoma offensive tackle Jim Riley on their second round. They had
no third round, having previously giving over that choice to Denver in the
Cookie Gilchrist deal. On the fourth round they added “tone” to the club by
tabbing defensive tackle Bob Greenlee of Yale. Their fifth-round candidate
was offensive halfback Gary Tucker of Chattanooga.
Among stars from
Florida colleges drafted early were Jimmy Jordan, Florida halfback, by Atlanta
in the third round; Del Williams, Florida State offensive guard, by New Orleans
in the third round; and Bill Carr, Florida center, by New Orleans in the fourth
round.
There were few
surprises in the first round.
Baltimore used
New Orleans' first choice to land Michigan State end Bubba Smith. Minnesota
used the New York Giants’ top number to draft Michigan State runner Clint
Jones.
Two other Michigan
Staters —linebacker George Webster, (Houston) and tight end Gene Washington
(Minnesota) -- went in the first round. That gave the Spartans four of the
top eight choices and established the pros’ opinions of that 10- 10 game between
Michigan State and Notre Dame last fall.
Other notable
first choices were Syracuse halfback Floyd Little, by Denver; UCLA halfback
Mel Farr, by Detroit; Arkansas defensive end Loyd Phillips, by Chicago; Idaho
fullback Ray McDonald, by Washington; and Alabama fullback Les Kelley, by
New Orleans.
For those sectionally
inclined, the Big Ten had eight men drafted on the first two rounds while
the Southeastern Conference had only two.
Spurrier, the
Gators' Heisman Trophy winner, was dealt from Atlanta to San Francisco for
three veterans — flanker Bernie Casey, defensive guard Jim Wilson and defensive
end Don Norton.
The Dolphins
seemed elated to get Griese. “I know we need help other places,” Head Coach
George Wilson admitted. “But it's also true that you can't afford to let that
good a quarterback go by. The quarterback is the No. 1 man in this game. We've
got to check his potential.”
Griese is the
sixth quarterback who will report to the Dolphins' Boca Raton training camp
in July. Wilson said he intends to carry four active signal-callers. He mentioned
the possibility of switching Jon Brittenum, redshirt choice from Arkansas,
to the defensive backfield “should conditions warrant the change.” But he
added, “Brittenum will get his chance on offense like all the others.”
Dolphin personnel
director Joe Thomas said, "Griese is an all-round man who can pass, run
and kick. There's hardly any difference between the versatility of Griese
and Spurrier, and Griese is much quicker.”
Thomas conceded,
however, that the Dolphins would have taken Spurrier if he were available,
“for his drawing potential if nothing else.”
When the first
round had elapsed and Riley remained available, the Dolphins wasted no time
tabbing the 6-4, 250-pound Sooner co-captain.
Drafting resumes
today starting with the sixth round. A total of 17 rounds will be conducted.
The hope is it will be concluded by tonight.