European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 19, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 22 the stars and stripes thursday january 19, 1989 on an to pregame 9 . Sunday radio pregame 10 45 . Kickoff 11 10 . Central european time a Choice of super lbs by Dave Goldbe Gap football writer Miami on May 1,1979, representatives of the 28 nil teams assembled in a new York hotel ballroom for the draft. The san Francisco 49ers and Cincin Nati bengals needed quarterbacks an what they did that Day is one reason they re preparing to meet in sunday super bowl. The 49ers should have been in perfect position. They were coming off a 2-14 season and should have had the first pick but the previous regime under Joe Thomas had shuffled it off to Buffalo for a de Clining . Simpson. So Bill Walsh in his first year a coach cast his eyes on a Little known collegian from Morehead state name Phil Simms. He brought Simms out to the 49ers training facility worked him out then told him he would take him with the first pick of the second round. No you wont Simms told him. I lube gone before and so he was. The bengals used their pick the fifth of the draft to take the consensus Choice As the top quarterback available Jack Ethompson Washington state s thrown the new York giants used the seventh pick on Simms and Kansas City used the 17th Choice on Steve Fuller of Clemson. So Walsh had to Settle for Joe Montana Cincinnati quarterback Boomer Esiason Rose from the 37th player chosen in the 1984 draft to the most valuable player this season. Of notre Dame whom he took in the third round with the 82nd pick of the draft a Choice that originally was Seattle s and was sent to Dallas in the Deal that brought the cowboys Tony Dorsett. Some setting was t it while Simms has no excuses to make for his career which includes most valuable players awards in both the 1987 super bowl and 1986 pro bowl Montana has become the quarterback of the 80s, with two super bowl victories two super bowl map trophies three pfc and one nil passing titles and a variety of league records. But Fuller now out of football never was More than a backup and Thompson was a bust. He was finally traded to Tampa Bay in 1983, leaving the bengals again looking for a quarterback. A year later they found one with Little help from the Usel which was in its second year and spending Money like it was the monopoly variety. That draft came a year after the one i which five quarterbacks were taken in the first round from John Elway at no. 1 today Marino at no. 26. The Only potential first Rounder in 1984 was Norman Julius Boomer Esiason of Maryland who had separated his left throwing shoulder in College All Star game and whose vocal and sometimes egotistical manner alienated some scouts. They probably thought i was a headcase he said. They probably still Esiason was coveted by the Usel Washington federals perhaps the most rag tag of the Spring league s franchises. Asa local hero he might have Given the Feder als instant credibility and several of teams thought he already had worked out a secret Deal with the federals. But while the federals could t raise enough Money to sign Esiason that Mes Sage never reached the nil and he slipped through the first round. The bengals had three choices and too linebacker Ricky Hunley whom they were unable to sign and was eventually traded to Denver Esiason s Maryland teammate defensive end Pete Koch who was Cut in his second season and offensive tackle Brian Blados who will Start sunday Only because Joe Walter is out for the season after knee surgery. Thirty seven players were chosen be fore the bengals took Esiason with the 10th pick of the second round. By his second year Esiason was starter. By his third he was in the pro bowl. This season he led the league in passing and was named the nil s map As the bengals went from 4-11 in 1987 to 12-4. But when he and Montana take the Fiel sunday will either realize that what happened a decade earlier put them there 49ers. Mckyer might cover Bengas like a Blanket Miami a Tim Mckyer san Francisco s left cornerback does t Lack for humility. Not with the super bowl s swarm of reporters around to hear him. Standing on the Field wearing a White hat with there inscription the Blanket Mckyer told All and sundry that the 49ers secondary was Superior to Cincinnati a which Calls itself the swat those Guys Are Good but they re not in our class he said. In t that the kind of thing you re not supposed today he was asked. In t that the thing calculated to incite your opponent it s just the truth he replied. If you want Guys to say what you want to hear go talk to those other Guys Over As each team assembled for its hour of super bowl interviews there were Large clusters around the coaches the quarterbacks running backs and selected other stars. But it was t Only the interviewees who Drew Cam eras tape recorders and notebooks. Some of the inter viewers got larger crowds than the players. One Large group clustered around Harry Carson the recently retired new York giants linebacker who is Here for Abc to. Another surrounded Joe Theismann the former Washington redskins quarterback who is working for esp. Will Mcdonough of the Boston Globe and lbs Wasoff in another Corner talking to a microphone and another local television station grabbed Pete Axthelm the tout for esp to get his thoughts on the game. And one player turned interviewer when a Cincin Nativ reporter gave All pro offensive tackle Anthony Munoz a microphone and asked him to do his own inter immediately headed for mouse Mcnally the team s offensive line you made any changes in the game plan be cause of the limited capabilities of your offensive line Munoz asked. Yes replied Mcnally we be limited ourselves to one like Many players recently defensive end skip Mcclendon of the bengals brought a video camera to record the events at the super bowl. Mcclendon had it along tuesday at Joe Robbie stadium for the first of three Days of Media pictures and inter views. As he aimed it skyward at two blimps circling the stadium a horde of cameramen surrounded him. And shot Mcclendon shooting the blimps. Mike Singletary the Chicago bears Middle line Backer has been named the nil s most valuable player by the Gillette shaving division in a poll of fans who chose from a list of six nominees. Singletary voted by writers and broadcasters As the associated press defensive player of the year was chosen Over r9ger Craig of san Francisco Boomer Esiason of Cincinnati Randall Cunningham of Philadelphia John Elway of Denver and Jim Kelly of Buffalo. Esiason was the a s map player and Craig the offensive player of the year. Craig Munoz and Esiason were among the 10players honoured by the nil alumni As the top players at their positions. Craig was named the top running Back Esiason the top quarterback and Munoz the top offensive lineman. Others honoured were Singletary new Orleans place kicker Morten Anderson Minnesota safety Joe Browner and two Philadelphia eagles tight end Keith Jackson and defensive end Reggie White. Also Tim Brown of the los Angeles raiders was named Best kick returner and Miami s Jim Jensen was voted Best special teams player
