'86 Chronology-Trivial Pursuit?

Event Date: January 16th, 1986

Event Description: USFL Completes Draft

Source: UPI

The U.S. Football League completed its draft of players Tuesday and now must turn its attention to convincing the available pool of athletes that they should consider signing with the spring circuit.

The Orlando Renegades started the first of 163 picks in the open draft by picking Iowa tackle Mike Haight. Two weeks ago, the teams held their territorial draft and secured the rights to 20 players each.

After the Renegades took Haight, Arizona selected Oklahoma nose tackle Tony Casillas second -- the same spot he went to Atlanta in the NFL draft.

The Outlaws brought Casillas and his agent, John Maloney, to Arizona for the draft and submitted an offer Tuesday. No specific figure was given, but Outlaws president Bill Tatham Jr. said the contract was for “at least” $1 million guaranteed over two years.

“We came with an offer comparable to that of other first, second, and third picks (in the draft), based on length of contract,” Tatham said. “He could have taken the money this morning, and it was substantial. It was substantial enough that we thought he may take it.”

Maloney said: “Until we came here, I didn't know whether (the Outlaws) were serious. I think it's legitimate and we will pursue it further.”

New Jersey brought territorial pick Tim Green, also a first-round pick by Atlanta, to its offices Tuesday.

Haight, selected first by the Jets at last week's NFL draft, was one of four opening-round NFL picks who were taken in the early rounds of the USFL draft.

Following the opening round, the only other NFL No. 1 choice taken was Chuck Long by Baltimore in the 9th round. The majority of the picks were either grabbed in the latter half of the NFL draft or not at all.

“I think teams decided to go with the players they had seen,” Houston coach Jack Pardee said. “Most teams had only one scout so they narrowed their choices down. Most teams didn't use borrowed information or care where the NFL picked a guy.”

This is the first time the USFL and NFL held their college drafts in January. The NFL moved its draft so as to be able to have a competitive advantage when it comes to signing college players.

Story-(UPI Modified)