Field slim for teams in need of running backs

The University of Miami's Willis McGahee is the most celebrated prospect with a serious injury in the National Football League draft this year but he's more the rule than the exception among the often-hurt, often-maligned corps of running backs.

Some scouts think this could be the worst draft for running backs since 1984, the last time fewer than two were selected in the first round. But if not for an unbelievable rash of injuries, this would have been a representative if not strong position in the draft.

"It's an awful group," Tennessee Titans director of player personnel Rich Snead said. "There's injuries, injury histories and not good players."

McGahee worked out Tuesday afternoon for NFL clubs in Miami, a last-ditch attempt to prove that he has made a miraculous recovery from reconstructive knee surgery in early January. But even if he looked good, it's probably a longshot that a team would use a first-round pick knowing at least some, if not all, of his rookie season would be a washout.

"I've heard first round and I've heard second," Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said. "I don't think he'll go any lower than the second."

McGahee had a fabulous first season as a starter in 2002, rushing for 1,753 yards, a 6.2-yard average and 28 touchdowns. His opportunity came only after teammate Clinton Portis declared a year early, went to Denver as the 51st pick and proceeded to gain 1,508 yards.

As events unfolded, Portis easily would have been the first back taken if he had returned for a final season with the Hurricanes.

"Usually, there's like four or five guys who just stand out," Carolina Panthers director of college scouting Tony Softli said. "But there isn't any this year."

The big RB pick

Be that as it may, the Journal Sentinel still asked 17 general managers and scouts who is the best back in the draft. Despite having suffered multiple torn ligaments in the Fiesta Bowl, McGahee was an outright No. 1 pick by seven scouts and a reluctant No. 2 by five others who were deterred only by the injury.

"But I don't care about the injury," Buffalo Bills general manager Tom Donahoe said. "I still would take McGahee."

Next in line was Penn State's Larry Johnson, the only medically "clean" player among the top 10 backs. He had five votes, followed by Georgia's Musa Smith with four and Colorado's Chris Brown with one.

The 2002 pox first struck in late September when Georgia Tech junior Tony Hollings, the nation's leading rusher after four weeks with 633 yards, blew out his anterior cruciate ligament. He had been impressive.

Florida State's Greg Jones, a 248-pound junior, was looking more and more like a top-10 pick until he blew out his ACL Nov. 2 against Wake Forest.

Derrick Nix, a senior at Southern Mississippi, had 1,194 yards and was described as "special" by one scout before he suffered further kidney problems late in the season that jeopardize his career.

While teams and their coaches understand that the shelf life for running backs isn't long, but no team wants to draft a player with a body shot before its time.

"What history usually tells me is if they get hurt in college, they get hurt in the pros," Angelo said. "I think the backs are going to get pushed down."