Quotes about David Veikune being drafted by the Cleveland Browns

About his reaction when he got the call informing him that the Browns were drafting him, David Veikune said:
"I just smiled. My dad got all emotional. My girlfriend (Rachelle Pollack) gave me a kiss. ... It's a great feeling. It's such a relief." (HA)

HA Note: "Veikune was projected to be picked anywhere between the third and fifth rounds. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. did not have Veikune in his top 100. Neither did draft expert Gil Brandt."

About Veikune being drafted on the first day of the draft (which had 2 rounds), his agent Kenny Zuckerman said:
"I knew he had first-day potential, but that doesn't always mean a player will be picked early. There are a lot of variables." (HA)

HA Note: "On April 1, the day before UH's Pro Day in Carson, Calif., new Browns head coach Eric Mangini met with Veikune in Los Angeles. Mangini is implementing a 3-4 defense in Cleveland. The past Thursday, the Browns called, asking for all of Veikune's telephone numbers. They said they believed Veikune could fit in at both inside and outside linebacker."

About how his mother's family lives in Canton, Ohio, Veikune said:
"They'll be nearby." (HA)

HA Note: "Veikune was told he will compete at linebacker. He was ready. In January, he began training in Carson, where he worked on his footwork and hand-eye coordination. He already had the strength. He once benched 500 pounds. At the NFL Scouting Combine in February, he bench pressed 225 pounds 35 times, the fourth-highest total among the participants."

About the opportunity that Veikune has with the Browns, Zuckerman said:
"This is an amazing situation for David. We're really excited about him going that high. He had a great pre-draft process. He did everything he was asked, and he did it well. He's now reaping the rewards." (HA)

Happy that the draft process is over with for him, Veikune said:
"I'm excited that I'm going to be playing with Cleveland and relieved that this whole draft process is finally over." (HSB)

Happy that he was drafted on the first day so that he doesn't need to golf during the second day of the draft, Veikune said:
"I was thinking, 'Man, I'm going to have to golf two days in a row if I don't get picked." (HSB)

About how he spoke with Cleveland coach Eric Mangini before the draft, Veikune said:
"They definitely were one of the teams I thought where I'd go, but you never know until you get that phone call." (HSB)

HSB Note: "As the 52nd overall pick, Veikune is just the 10th former UH player to be selected in the first two rounds of the draft and the first to be chosen that early since Travis LaBoy was taken by the Tennessee Titans with the 42nd overall pick in 2004. Ashley Lelie remains the only UH player to be picked in the first round."

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090426/SPORTS04/904260378/1032/sportsfront

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090426_Veikune_Unger_get_the_call.html