Rams News

BARRING TRADE, BEARS EXPECTED TO DRAFT PENN STATE'S ENIS
By Don Pierson
Tribune Pro Football Writer
April 9, 1998


The Bears drew a happy face on their draft situation Wednesday and
appeared ready to take Penn State running back Curtis Enis provided
nobody else wants to trade up for him.

A trade down from the fifth spot remains the No. 1 priority because
quantity is important for a 4-12 team and no superstar awaits them
unless they trade up. The option of going up to the third spot with the
Arizona Cardinals dwindled considerably Tuesday when the Cardinals
traded a third-round pick to the New York Jets for running back Adrian
Murrell.

The Bears had slim hopes Enis might entice the Cardinals to slide down
and allow the Bears to grab Florida State defensive end Andre Wadsworth
at the third spot.

Bears personnel director Mark Hatley said he had not spoken with the
Cardinals since the Murrell trade, but didn't think it completely shut
the door on Chicago.

"You never know," he said. "You would think so, but you never know. You
could go nuts going through all the different scenarios."

At least three teams have expressed interest in trading up for Enis--the
New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars--all with
two No. 1 draft choices and a need for a running back.

Hatley said the Bears will not take controversial Marshall wide receiver
Randy Moss off their draft board as the Rams and Atlanta Falcons have
because of his checkered background.

"We feel good about Enis, Moss and a couple of linebackers," Hatley
said.

The linebackers are Georgia Tech's Keith Brooking and Auburn's Takeo
Spikes, both projected as top 15 prospects but not consensus top five.
They are the kind of players the Bears would love if they are able to
trade down.

Hatley scoffed at the well-publicized notion the Saturday and Sunday NFL
draft is limited to only four great prospects--quarterbacks Peyton
Manning and Ryan Leaf, Wadsworth and Heisman Trophy winning cornerback
Charles Woodson, leaving the Bears holding an empty fifth-spot bag.

"We feel it's a good solid five-player draft and there are eight we feel
good about," Hatley said. "We're excited about the fifth pick and feel
there will be an excellent player there if we stay at the pick."

Bill Rees, the Bears' director of college scouting, joined the Enis
bandwagon, saying he timed him at 4.57 seconds in the 40-yard dash even
though Enis pulled a muscle at 32 yards and limped to the finish. Most
timers caught Enis in the 4.6 range, marginal for a top back, but Rees
said the fact he legitimately pulled up helped him.

"What was really impressive is he vertical jumped 35 1/2 inches and
weighed 249," Rees said. "And he wasn't overweight. He has probably
overtrained."

Hatley and Rees said they are satisfied with their investigation of
Moss, who had aborted careers at Notre Dame and Florida State and spent
jail time for a fight and marijuana use before settling into a two-year
career at Marshall. But the Bears are unlikely to make Moss the first
choice of the Hatley era after unhappy experiences with trade
acquisitions Bryan Cox, Craig Heyward and Tim Worley and their recent
problems with Alonzo Spellman.

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