After proving the “quest for perfection” really does look better in red, four former Utes will try to beat the odds once again.
After last month’s NFL Draft, in which four Utes were selected, four more kept their dreams alive by signing with various teams as free agents.
Brian Johnson, Louie Sakoda, Bradon Godfrey and Brent Casteel refused to let their football careers end after they were not selected in last month’s draft.
Although many might think that you need to be selected in the NFL Draft to have a long, meaningful career, several of the game’s present stars were not drafted but have shown it doesn’t matter how you get to the league, just as long as you get there.
Kurt Warner, Tony Romo, Jeff Garcia, Jake Delhomme, Willie Parker, James Harrison, Wes Welker and Adam Vinatieri all were not drafted, but each has become a household name and Pro-Bowler. Several Utah players will look to do the same.
Brian Johnson, the 2008 Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year, 2008 Sugar Bowl MVP and winningest quarterback in school history, was given a tryout with the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay invited Johnson to its offseason rookie mini-camp in early May, where Johnson said he performed well.
“It’s like a crash course in Chinese and I think the (coaches) wanted to see if you’re mentally tough enough,” Johnson said, noting the difficulty of learning a full playbook and being ready for the tryout in only a few days.
However, with a full crop of quarterbacks already signed, Johnson’s chances of making the team are slim.
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said in a statement, “We went with three quarterbacks in last year’s training camp with Brian Brohm and Matt (Flynn) both being rookies; we wanted to make sure we maximized their opportunities. Plus with Aaron (Rodgers) being a first-year starter. We talked about possibly going with just three this year because of the youth of those three guys.”
Shortly after the mini-camp, Johnson was waived by the Packers. He knows he gave it his all and hopes to be invited back for the Packers’ mini-camp in June and team training camp in July.
“I feel I had a great showing,” Johnson said. “I just need to stay in shape and be ready if they call me. Hopefully they liked me enough to bring me back.” In the meantime, Johnson plans to stay and work out in Salt Lake City.
Sakoda, the highly decorated All-American placekicker and punter, was considered by many to be the best kicking prospect in the draft. After he went undrafted, the California native tried out for the San Diego Chargers.
“In my mind, the ultimate spot would be to make the practice squad and hopefully be there for some team, somewhere, if someone gets hurt,” Sakoda said in a statement, before his workout. “I plan to show I’m somewhat of a commodity here, and hopefully after this weekend I can sign a free-agent deal.”
Sakoda faces a large task in making the Chargers’ roster because of the caliber of players already on the team, including Nate Kaeding and Mike Scifres.
Sakoda’s spokesman, Dan Vanwoerkom, said the Chargers are “still reviewing Louie and have yet to decide to invite him back for training camp this summer.”
Godfrey, a walk-on who became a standout wide receiver and integral part of the Utes’ perfect season in 2008, was invited to participate with the Buffalo Bills in their rookie mini-camp.
Godfrey was among 30 free agents invited to work out with the Bills. After the tryout, Godfrey was not signed but left a lasting impression on the coaching staff.
According to Godfrey’s agent, Josh Arnold, “Buffalo’s wide receiver’s coach (Tyke Tolbert) was very impressed by Bradon and he outshined most of the rookies.” Arnold went on to say that the Bills are interested in giving Godfrey another look in upcoming organized team activities and that the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots are also interested in the receiver.
“We may also look into Canadian football for Bradon,” Arnold said.
Casteel was signed as a free agent by the Cleveland Browns and invited to participate in their mini-camp.
Casteel, one of Utah’s most prolific wide receivers during his four-year career, was one of 14 undrafted rookies signed by the Browns. After the tryout at the rookie mini-camp, Casteel was one of four players cut by the team.
Casteel and his agent were unavailable for comment about his future plans.
m.sanchez@chronicle.utah.edu
