By Matt Celebreeze
This report filed June 6,2001:

Two days of anticipation and speculation came to an end for the Browns in the 7th and final round of April’s NFL Draft with the selection of wide receiver Andre King from the University of Miami.

King was the second player drafted from Miami, along with running back James Jackson. Butch Davis was excited to reunite with King.

“He started for us in our 3-wide receiver set for last three years,” Davis said. “It was tough for him because we had so much other talent at wide receiver. He had seven catches in the East West game. Andre played an awful lot, and he brings something that gives him a good chance to make this football team. He adds a dimension of leadership and character to this football team.”

King was excited for the reunion as well, more than excited.

“It was getting near the end of the draft,” King said. “It was crunch time and I didn’t know that Cleveland had another pick. I was really relieved when my name was called. I was holding my daughter and tears started coming down my face. I knew I could get a free agent tryout with some team, but I wanted my name to get called. You know, this can only happen in a finite time.”

There is something innate in nature that makes you pull for a guy like this. Confidence is appealing, but how can you not root for a guy who is the second last pick in the draft. Two very long days have come and gone and so many names that you may never again have flashed across the T.V. screen.

Andre King will be 28 years old in November. He had a minor league baseball career that he retired from to join coach Butch Davis. He is married with a daughter. As he spoke by conference call he began to get choked up.

“I’m just so thrilled to be a Brown with Coach Davis again,” King said. “I’m so ready to contribute with (Tim) Couch and the rest of the guys there. Hopefully I’ll get a good chance to compete at this level. My age won’t effect me. I have a wife and a newborn so I won’t get sidetracked. The browns are getting a seasoned veteran. Coach Davis is a master motivator. He will get his team ready week in and week out.

King finished his college career with 64 receptions for 834 yards with three touchdowns.

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