Bucs/NFL

Bloom finally trades mogul skis for cleats

By TIMES WIRES
Published May 1, 2006

Jeremy Bloom is bringing his game-breaking skills to Philadelphia. He's leaving his skis in Colorado.

The Eagles selected the two-time Olympic skier with the first of their two picks in the fifth round Sunday.

Bloom played receiver and kick returner at Colorado, but he's best known as a world-class skier. He has two World Cup championships and two trips to the Olympics on his resume.

"I went into this thing thinking I wasn't going to get drafted and doing the free-agent deal," Bloom said. "I try to lower expectations when things are out of my control."

Bloom, picked No.147 overall, had 24 receptions for a 19.1-yard average in two years at Colorado.

A speedy but undersized player - he's listed at 5 feet 9, 172 pounds - Bloom had his football career put on hold when the NCAA ruled he accepted ski endorsements and made him ineligible to play for the Buffaloes.

Michael Robinson , QB/RB; Brad Smith , QB/WR; Marques Hagans , QB/WR/kick returner; and Reggie McNeal , QB/WR, were among the "slash" players picked.

Robinson, who quarterbacked Penn State to the Big Ten title, went to San Francisco, which designated him as a running back. Three picks later, the Jets took Smith, a quarterback at Missouri projected as a wide receiver. In the fifth round, Hagans, Virginia's QB, was taken by St. Louis two picks before Bloom. Texas A&M quarterback McNeal went in the sixth round to Cincinnati and projected as a wide receiver.

Meanwhile, Michael Vick 's brother Marcus was not chosen. The younger Vick was kicked off the Virginia Tech team after off-field problems.

MCNAIR MOVING? Steve McNair 's tenure with Tennessee could end soon, his agent says. Team officials don't agree, though they gave permission for McNair's agent to talk with the Ravens.

Agent Bus Cook said the team is considering releasing McNair or trading him to the Ravens, perhaps by today. Titans general manager Floyd Reese said a few hours later the Ravens had discussed a trade but the offer was insufficient, and Reese said the talks died.

Reese also denied that McNair would be released.

AREA FLAVOR: Three Chamberlain High graduates signed free-agent contracts: N.C. State linebacker Oliver Hoyte with the Cowboys, Pittsburgh receiver Greg Lee with the Cardinals and N.C. State receiver Brian Clark with the Broncos.

DOLPHINS: Miami had four picks Sunday and added a receiver and three linemen. The most intriguing addition was Texas defensive tackle Rodrique Wright , who was mystified as to why he slipped to the seventh round until the Dolphins told him that a medical exam at the NFL combine revealed damage to his right shoulder that might require surgery. Miami's fourth-round choice was offensive tackle Joe Toledo , and the seventh-rounders were Miami native Devin Aromashodu , an Auburn receiver, and Texas State defensive tackle Fred Evans .

EAGLES: The team made three trades to move up in the fourth round and select guard Max Jean-Gilles and receiver Jason Avant . Philadelphia sent veteran defensive tackle Hollis Thomas to New Orleans and dealt starting left guard Artis Hicks to Minnesota.

RAMS: General manager Charley Armey was back in the draft room a day after being hospitalized with chest pains. Armey said he became dizzy with accompanying chest pains and high blood pressure Saturday and spent the night at Missouri Baptist Hospital as a precaution.

[Last modified May 1, 2006, 02:25:35]