Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 22, 1991 TAG: 9104220089
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Moore, who passed up his final year of eligibility to apply for the NFL draft, had an inkling he might go to Detroit, but he wasn't sure until Commissioner Paul Tagliabue read his name.
"It came Detroit's turn," said Moore, who was at home in Danville with his family and girlfriend, "and five minutes passed before the phone rang.
"Finally, I got a call and they said to stay on the phone because there were some issues they still had to discuss. It was another eight minutes before they came on the phone."
It was reported later that director of player personnel Ron Hughes had favored Mississippi defensive tackle Kelvin Pritchett, but that coach Wayne Fontes wanted Moore. That seemed to make sense to Moore, who worked out for Fontes on Thursday in Charlottesville.
"That's when I started to get the vibes," Moore said. "He had called me earlier in the week and said he wanted to meet me. We hit it off right away. He's funny. He likes to tell jokes, but he's serious about his football."
As it turned out, Detroit got Moore and Pritchett, who was available when the Lions made a trade with Dallas for the 20th overall pick. Hughes didn't sound too upset to have Moore, either.
"We think he's a special player," Hughes said. "That's why he's so enticing. He's a determined kid. We compare him with Al Toon [of the New York Jets]. He'll catch a ball with people hanging all over him."
Moore was a consensus All-American in 1990, when he had 54 receptions for 1,190 yards and 13 touchdowns - all school records. He becomes the third Virginia player to be drafted in the first round in five years, joining offensive tackle Jim Dombrowski, the sixth pick by New Orleans in 1986, and Jeff Lageman, drafted 14th by the New York Jets in 1989.
The only other state player drafted Sunday was Virginia cornerback Tony Covington in the fourth round by Tampa Bay. The completion of the 12-round draft will take place today.
Draft analyst Mel Kiper, who was outraged by the Lageman choice, praised Detroit's pick of Moore.
"An obvious choice," Kiper said. "It's a fine choice for a team that's never made a commit to what direction they wanted to go."
Chris Berman, host of ESPN's draft coverage, called it "a great value getting him at No. 10."
Ex-Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann said of Moore: "He doesn't play like a big, lanky, slow wide receiver. He's got a cocky flair about him. I like him."
"At least so far, I'm not under a whole lot of scrutiny," Moore said. "At that time, I felt they might try and compare me and Alvin Harper [of Tennessee]. I thought it would be between Harper and me for the first wide receiver taken."
Harper went to Dallas on the 12th pick, reportedly after the Cowboys made preliminary inquiries into his contract demands. Moore said he took part in no contract discussions Sunday.
"The Detroit writers kept mentioning, did I have any knowledge of Detroit's contract problems?" Moore said. "That wasn't very promising."
Moore estimated he talked with 20 agents before deciding on Boston-based Brad Blank, who also represents Lageman and three other ex-UVa players. However, Moore has taken great pains to familiarize himself with the salary structure.
Moore noted that the No. 10 pick in 1990, North Carolina State defensive tackle Ray Agnew, received a $1-million bonus and signed a four-year contract starting at $300,000, with an increase to $400,000 for the second year.
"I think we'll concentrate on that pick and negotiate a little higher," Moore said. "I intend to be active in the negotiations."
Moore said he is "not a big spender," but admitted he has had his eye on an all-black 1992 Lexus.
He was the only ACC player drafted in the first round, not counting Eric Swann, who signed with N.C. State, but never went to college. He was also the first underclassmen - again, not counting Swann - and the first "skill" player.
"Maybe I'll throw that in when I start negotiating," said Moore in a conference call. "Hold on, let me get a pencil."
Perhaps forgetting that he will soon become a millionaire, Moore placed a collect call to the UVa sports information office in order to get on the conference call.
Moore, who expects to graduate in May, said he will travel to Detroit for the first time next week for a three-day mini-camp. He does not anticipate a lengthy holdout and isn't interested in Canada, the destination of projected No. 1 pick Raghib "Rocket" Ismail.
"I don't want to go there," he said. "I look forward to the social life and the TV coverage that comes with playing in the NFL. Money can't buy all that. I don't think I could have done what he did."
by CNB