By Tom Layberger | National Desk Being irrelevant has its advantages. Imagine being feted for a week in Newport Beach, Calif. because you were chosen last. A banquet and golf tournament are among the, ahem, relevant activities that take place in a week-long celebration. Why all the fuss? The player who will be selected with the 254th and final...
By Tom Layberger | National Desk
Former NFL fullback Jim Finn, seen here playing for the New York Giants, was Mr. Irrelevant in 1999. (AP File Photo/Elaine Thompson) Being irrelevant has its advantages.
Imagine being feted for a week in Newport Beach, Calif. because you were chosen last. A banquet and golf tournament are among the, ahem, relevant activities that take place in a week-long celebration.
Why all the fuss?
The player who will be selected with the 254th and final pick of the 2013 NFL draft today will immediately join a fraternity. That player will be forever known as Mr. Irrelevant and his popularity, at least among a small cult following, will soar way above those selected well ahead him.
Paul Salata, who founded the award in 1976, will be at Radio City, as is custom, to announce the final pick. The 86-year-old played at USC before spending three seasons on the professional gridiron.
The initial Mr. Irrelevant was Kelvin Kirk, who was selected by the Steelers in 1976 out of Dayton with the 487th pick of what was then a 17-round draft. Cut by Pittsburgh following training camp, Kirk never played in an NFL game.
While Kirk and several others never played a down, here's a look at the five Mr. Irrelevant Award winners who had the most success in the NFL:
1. Bill Kenney, QB, Miami Dolphins
1978, No. 333
Kenney comes with an asterisk in that he was not the last player chosen. That distinction went to Lee Washburn, a guard out of Montana State who was selected by the Cowboys. Washburn, however, suffered an injury and never so much as reported to training camp. Hence, the honor was later bestowed upon the signal caller out of Northern Colorado. Kenney never played for the Dolphins and did not make his NFL debut until 1980 with the Chiefs. He became Kansas City’s starting quarterback in 1981 and threw for 17,277 yards and 105 touchdowns (86 INTs) in a career that lasted through 1988. Kenney earned a trip to the Pro Bowl after throwing for a team-record 4,387 yards passing in 1983. The mark stood until Trent Green eclipsed it in 2004.
2. Jim Finn, RB, Chicago Bears
1999, No. 255
After enjoying a career at Penn that included rushing for a school-record 1,450 yards as a senior, an Ivy League title and several Ancient Eight accolades, Finn’s path to the NFL was briefly diverted when he was cut by the Bears. He surfaced with the Colts in 2000 and a solid career as a fullback was underway. Though he carried the ball only 11 times in his career with the Colts and Giants, Finn lasted seven seasons and played 101 games paving the way for the likes of Tiki Barber. Finn, who was also be a reliable safety valve in the passing game as his 60 career receptions would attest, missed the 2007 season with a shoulder injury and was cut by the Giants in the ’08 preseason when he attempted to revive his career.
3. Ryan Succop, K, Kansas City Chiefs
2009, No. 256
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop (6) celebrates after kicking a 54-yard field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011 in Kansas City, Mo. The field goal was one of five Succop hit for the day to lead the Chiefs to a 22-17 win. (AP File Photo/Charlie Riedel) Only two kickers were selected in ’09, with the Cowboys taking USC’s David Buehler toward the end of the fifth round. It looked like he would be the only one until Kansas City selected South Carolina’s Succop to close the draft. It was a selection that paid immediate dividends as Succop earned a spot on the all-rookie team. He has continued to be effective and earned a five-year, $14 million contract extension following the 2011 season. Last year, obviously not feeling any burden from the deal, he drilled 28-of-34 field goal attempts, including 12-of-14 from 40-plus yards.
4. Michael Green, DB, Chicago Bears
2000, No. 254
Selected out of Northwestern State in his native Louisiana, Green twice started all 16 games with the Bears. He totaled a career-high 129 tackles in 2002, which was second only to Brian Urlacher. Green was again second in tackles (106) during the 2004 season, this time trailing Lance Briggs. Green played one more season in the Windy City before moving on to Seattle and Washington, where he played his last season in 2008. All told, he had 426 tackles and four interceptions in 104 games.
5. Marty Moore, LB, New England Patriots
1994, No. 222
Moore’s hard work and dedication in preseason camp paid off as he earned a spot on special teams. It was the beginning of an eight-year career that included two stints with the Patriots. He started 20 of his 112 games, including four as a rookie under Bill Parcells. In so doing, Moore became the first Mr. Irrelevant to start a game during his rookie campaign. He would also become the initial Mr. Irrelevant to play in a Super Bowl when he did so in the Patriots' SBXXXI loss to Green Bay.