Lee signs free agent contract with Cleveland
By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports WriterMonday, April 28, 2008
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While Idaho linebacker David Vobora was being recognized on ESPN as this year’s "Mr. Irrelevant" - the final player selected Sunday in the NFL Draft - James Lee was on the telephone.

It was the Cleveland Browns who were anxious to offer the South Carolina State All-American offensive guard a free agent deal.

One hour later, Lee and his agent reached a two-year agreement with the Browns, sending the 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year from one "Dawg Pound" in Orangeburg to another in the Midwest.

“Everybody wants to get drafted, but I’m just glad that it’s all over and I know where I’ll be spending my next two years at,” Lee said in a telephone interview.

In signing the 6-5,305-pound Lee and reuniting him with former University of Georgia teammate defensive back Sean Jones, the Browns get a mainstay on the Bulldogs’ offensive line the past three seasons. As a senior, Lee helped the SCSU offense lead the MEAC in averaging 401.1 yards per game and second in points scored at 26.7 per game and was a four-time MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week recipient.

One of Lee’s best performances came against Hampton when he graded 84 percent, allowed no sacks and no pressures, seven cut blocks, five domination blocks and two knockdown blocks. Lee accomplished this mostly lining up against preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Kendall Langford, who was drafted in the third round by the Miami Dolphins.

Another defensive lineman Lee faced during the regular season, defensive end William Hayes of Winston-Salem State, was drafted in the fourth round by Tennessee. The Titans and Browns are slated to meet Dec. 7 in Nashville, Tenn.

“I’m actually proud of both of them,” Lee said. “There’s no hard feelings about it.”

It initially appeared as though Chicago and Jacksonville would draft Lee after inviting him for a visit earlier this week. Both teams instead went other directions, while the Browns did not select a single offensive lineman.

Although the Browns’ Web site indicated the offensive line was one of team’s deepest and strongest positions, Lee said Cleveland was very interested in getting even younger in that area and see him as a player with a promising future as a tackle.

“They had contacted me all through the week to let me know that I was one of their top players, but they only had four picks,” Lee said. “They called me during the draft to let me know that I was one of their top prospects.”

Lee had initially expressed his desire to play guard in the NFL, but said his experience playing tackle this season will make it an easy transition. He reports to rookie camp this Thursday to start what Lee hopes is a career which will be as successful in Cleveland as another former Bulldog - Hall of Fame fullback Marion Motley.

“Right now, I plan to just go in and work as hard as I can and let it be,” he said. “I would love to be a Hall of Famer and my plans are to work to be the best.”

http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2008/04....85937458742.txt

Did Cleveland get picked up?

McCoy working on CFL contract
By BRIAN LINDER, T&D Sports EditorMonday, April 28, 2008

CHARLOTTE — Cleve McCoy made the trek from Ravenel to Charlotte Sunday in hopes his agent would get the call and that his boyhood dream of playing in the NFL would become a reality.

No calls, no NFL — for now — and McCoy started the trek back without the one thing he wanted most. But, he won’t come home empty handed. The former South Carolina State quarterback is in the final stages of working out a contract with the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“The contract is in,” McCoy said. “We are just looking over it, doing a little negotiating, but once that goes through the signing is over.

“It’s going to be a good salary with a lot of incentives,” he added. “It’s good money. I can make a living off this.”

McCoy said he was disappointed that he didn’t receive an NFL offer. There was the possibility that one would have come along in the days following the end of Sunday’s draft, but he said he wanted to take what was on the table — a deal that he said could likely end up being for two years.

“Who knows,” he said. “I could go there, and in a few years I could come back to the NFL and be a quarterback. Maybe that was how it was supposed to be.

“(Not going to the NFL) is disappointing in a way,” he added. “But, it is not an empty feeling because I knew I had the offer to go to Canada. I’m going over there to make a football career. This is still professional football.”

Winnipeg was 10-7 a season ago, and the Blue Bombers’ roster boasts a quarterback, Kevin Glenn, who was 388 of 621 passing for 5,114 yards. Glenn was the CFL’s East Division nominee for the Rogers CFL Most Outstanding Player Award. Former Boise State quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie as well as former Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor are listed on the team’s roster. McCoy was being looked at by NFL scouts as a receiver, but said the Blue Bombers want him to play quarterback.

“The type of offense they have in Canada fits me perfectly,” he said. “I’m going to go over there, and I’m going to start. I’m going to make an impact over in that league.

“It’s the CFL,” he continued. “Professional football is professional football. I’m going to take it, go over there and give it 100 percent.”

I'm glad that BOTH of those brothers are getting a chance.

Cleveland is going to ENJOY Canada. The CFL has been good for HBCU ballers over the years.

Man, I think it is better sometimes to sign as a free agent than get drafted real late. Just think, how many people drafted at Mr. Irrelevant have ever made it in the league? Probably none. On the flipside, how many people who were not even drafted have made it? Plenty.

quote:

Originally posted by shine3000:
Man, I think it is better sometimes to sign as a free agent than get drafted real late. Just think, how many people drafted at Mr. Irrelevant have ever made it in the league? Probably none. On the flipside, how many people who were not even drafted have made it? Plenty.

Good point...

quote:

Originally posted by shine3000:
Man, I think it is better sometimes to sign as a free agent than get drafted real late. Just think, how many people drafted at Mr. Irrelevant have ever made it in the league? Probably none. On the flipside, how many people who were not even drafted have made it? Plenty.