Second Day of Raffle Isn’t Always a Yawner

It was sleeper day in the draft. The second day. The day when everyone shoots for another Richard Dent, the All-Pro who in 1983 was plucked by the Chicago Bears in the eighth round.

And in Denver Monday, the Broncos may have struck it richest. Almost certainly, no defensive ends in Dent’s class were found anywhere--but the Broncos, who need a running back, may have discovered one in the seventh round when they drafted Melvin Bratton.

Two years ago, Bratton, a Miami (Fla.) sprinter, was headed for the first round when he injured a knee in a postseason game.

Picked by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round last year, he declined to sign and was returned to the draft pool, where Denver Coach Dan Reeves went for him.

Bratton may never be heard from again, but he had all-pro potential when hurt, and if he gets it back, he will be doing it twice a year against the Raiders.

On sleeper day, everyone looks for Brattons. Or Dents. Most of the talent went Sunday in the first five rounds, leaving less than there used to be in the late rounds.

Dick Steinberg, chief scout of the New England Patriots, came up with five explanations Monday.

“First, the college-age population is getting smaller all the time,” Steinberg said. “Second, more guys are going into basketball if they’re big enough.

“Third, the NCAA keeps tightening up its rules, meaning that more good college players are sitting out every year, getting less experience.

“The last two reasons are fast foods and drugs. Too many guys are getting weaker eating fast foods, and too many get hooked on drugs as kids, before they find out how well they can play football.”

Who won this year’s draft?

“The co-champions are the Rams and the Bears,” said Gil Brandt, who scouts the country for the Dallas Cowboys. “We really liked the Rams’ first two, (Bill) Hawkins and (Cleveland) Gary.”

The last roundup:

RAIDERS’ MONDAY DRAFT

(Round 6)--Jeff Francis, Tennessee quarterback, 6-4, 215. Four-year completion record: 62%.

(6) Doug Lloyd, North Dakota State running back, 6-1, 215. Career yardage average: 7.1 per play.

(8) Derrick Gainer, Florida A&M; running back, 5-10, 215. Led league in touchdowns.

(9) Gary Gooden, Indiana cornerback, 6-0, 170. Holds 11 New York prep track records.

(10) Charles Jackson, Jackson State defensive lineman, 6-4, 285. Aggressive.

RAMS’ MONDAY DRAFT

(Round 6) Thom Kaumeyer, Oregon free safety, 5-11, 187. Fourteen tackles against UCLA.

(6) Mark Messner, Michigan linebacker, 6-2, 256. All-American holds school record for most tackles for losses, 25.

(7) George Bethune, Alabama defensive end, 6-5, 225. Six sacks against Mississippi State.

(8) Warren Wheat, BYU tackle, 6-6, 266. At BYU, Wheat succeeded Bart Oates.

(9) Vernon Kirk, Pitt tight end, 6-2, 250. Scored twice as ballcarrier.

(10) Mike Williams, Northeastern wide receiver, 5-10, 177. Led team in catches.

THE RAMS’ PICKS

The Rams’ selections in the 1989 NFL draft:

Rn. Player Pos. School 1 Bill Hawkins DE Miami (Fla.) 1 Cleveland Gary FB Miami (Fla.) 2 Frank Stams LB Notre Dame 2 Brian Smith LB Auburn 2 Darryl Henley DB UCLA 3 Kevin Robbins OT Michigan St. 4 Jeff Carlson QB Weber St. 5 Alfred Jackson WR San Diego St. 6 Thom Kaumeyer DB Oregon 6 Mark Messner LB Michigan 7 George Bethune LB Alabama 8 Warren Wheat OT BYU 9 Vernon Kirk TE Pittsburgh 10 Mike Williams WR Northeastern

THE RAIDERS’ PICKS

The Raiders’ selections in the 1989 NFL draft:

Rn. Player Pos. School 6 Jeff Francis QB Tennessee 6 Doug Lloyd RB N. Dakota St. 8 Derrick Gainer RB Florida A&M; 9 Gary Gooden DB Indiana 10 Charles Jackson DT Jackson St.