NFL DRAFT : D-Mac in silver and black
Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2008
NEW YORK — Even the bright lights of Radio City Music Hall couldn’t compare to the megawatt smile Darren McFadden flashed after being selected by the Oakland Raiders as the No. 4 overall pick at Saturday’s NFL Draft.
From Razorback to Raiders Nation. From a “501 Boy” to the 510... McFadden is officially a pro. McFadden walked onto the stage and shook Commissioner Roger Goodell’s hand, accepting a Raiders jersey, with about 20 family members peeking past the curtain. For that one moment at approximately 3: 30 p. m. Eastern, when McFadden’s name was announced as the fourth overall pick and his proud family crowded around him for photos, questions about the Arkansas running back’s character ceased.
All week, McFadden graciously fielded reporters’ questions about his character, trying to prove that he has matured and learned from his past experiences.
On Saturday, those questions stopped. There wasn’t anything about growing up in a house on South Schiller Street, a gang-infested part of Little Rock. Nothing about his mother, Mini Muhammad, being an admitted former crack addict, who’s now recovered. Nothing about the two incidents outside Little Rock nightclubs, both of which McFadden describe as him merely protecting and coming to the aid of his brother. Nothing about paternity suits. It was nothing but football and McFadden’s future in it.
This is what McFadden wanted all along.
Saturday was a day of joy for McFadden and his family, a lifechanging day that they’ll never forget.
The Raiders didn’t need Mc-Fadden, with four able running backs already under contract, but they wanted the two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up and got to him before the New York Jets, not being able to pass on the flashy rusher even if it means adding to an alreadycrowded backfield.
“If it would have been New York, I would have been very happy to be here, but Oakland decided to go ahead and grab me,” McFadden said, grinning. “I’m very happy to be there. It’s not disappointing. I’m happy to be going No. 4.”
The McFadden clan was happy, too. A tot nephew of McFadden’s took liberty to shake hands with members of the media, while Muhammad expressed her happiness as her son stepped down from the interview podium in the media room.
“I’m glad he’s going with Oakland,” said Muhammad, who voiced her dislike for New York on Friday and was hopeful that her son would be picked by a team closer to Arkansas. “I really am. I’m fine with that.”
“I’m going to take care of my family,” McFadden said. “Buy my mom a house, buy my dad a house.”
McFadden also reaffirmed plans for his sister Gaylon Muhammad to move in with him to ease the transition from being a college student to life as a multimillionaire professional football player.
Speculation during the week had centered on whether Mc-Fadden would take his dynamic skills to New York or Oakland.
Many Jets fans littered the stage with boos and disappointment when they realized that their shot at securing instant offense and home-run drives had slipped.
McFadden says he’s confident after meeting with Raiders staff and team owner Al Davis that his playmaking ability will make him a good fit in Oakland, despite the presence of four running backs under contract: Justin Fargas, Dominic Rhodes, LaMont Jordan and Michael Bush.
Plus, McFadden said he’s looking forward to teaming with last season’s No. 1 draft pick, former LSU quarterback Jamarcus Russell.
“Jamarcus is a great player,” McFadden said. “It will be great to play together. It will be a great joy.”
McFadden made a similar impression on the other top selections he spent time with in New York.
“I get along with him really well,” said Jake Long, who had the comfort of already being signed by the Miami Dolphins as the No. 1 overall pick Tuesday. “I totally believe that Darren can be a breakout player. “ Darren’s a great player,” said Vernon Gholston, who wound up being selected by the Jets as the sixth overall pick. “We were joking about who would be picked first.” McFadden said hearing his name announced by Goodell capped a week he will never forget. “I’ve been enjoying it all,” McFadden said. “Got out here Monday, spent some time with some [New York school ] kids, seen the city. I wanted to come out here early. It’s been a whirlwind. It got to the point where I just wanted to sit back and find out where I’m going and get it over with. “ I’m glad it’s finally over.” No, it’s really just beginning.
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