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Giants surprise with OT Luke Petitgout
Posted: Saturday April 17, 1999 10:25 PM
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Not only was the quickness of the New York Giants' pick in the first round of the NFL Draft on Saturday surprising, so was the choice of Notre Dame offensive tackle Luke Petitgout. Thirty-four seconds after the clock started on the Giants' pick, the 19th overall, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue read Petitgout's name, stunning the usually boisterous Giants fans into silence. Taking an offensive lineman wasn't the shock. The Giants came into draft in desperate need of help in the line and most experts felt there was a chance New York would get one of the three top-rated linemen -- John Tait of Brigham Young, L.J. Shelton of Eastern Michigan or Aaron Gibson of Wisconsin. When it came time for New York to pick, Shelton and Gibson were both available. The Giants had other ideas, though, and they didn't hesitate. In fact, New York wanted Petitgout so much, they wrote out a card with his name on it and they were ready to hand it in if the Oakland Raiders failed to make the 18th pick overall on time. The Raiders eventually selected Georgia offensive tackle Matt Stinchcomb with 25 seconds left on their 15-minute limit. "Our feeling was we had a conviction on the player, just pick him," Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi said, adding he was not surprised that the choice shocked people. The Giants also filled needs on the second and third rounds, taking Ohio State halfback Joe Montgomery and Texas A&M tight end Dan Campbell, respectively. Accorsi said that Petitgout was both the highest-rated offensive lineman and the highest rated player overall left on the Giants' draft board. Petitgout, 6-foot-51/2 and 315 pounds, played both left and right tackle this past season. He probably will be used at left guard to replace Greg Bishop, who signed with Atlanta as a free agent. He also will be taught to back up at both tackle positions. "This guy [Petitgout] has total versatility, run and pass," Giants coach Jim Fassel said. "He can play left tackle, right tackle. They flipped their whole line and not many people do that. He played the open side, so in their mind he has to be the best athlete. I just like the whole package this guy brought to the table." Fassel described Petitgout as a consistent performer who was tough, tenacious and smart. The coach said his footwork is as good as any big man in the draft. "He has to come in here and prove himself," Fassel said. "He's got to prove that he is ready to play and help us win. Ability-wise, potential-wise, he has the ability to help us win and be everything we want to be." Speaking from his home in Georgetown, Del., Petitgout said he knew the Giants were interested in him, so he wasn't surprised when he was taken. "It has been my lifetime dream to be a professional football player, so I feel like I'm dreaming right now," he said. The selection also gives the Giants insurance for next year in case left tackle Roman Oben is lost to free agency. He will be an unrestricted free agent after next season. The Giants also surprised the fans in the second round, taking Montgomery, a backup who had major reconstructive surgery on his right knee in 1996. He had 216 carries for 766 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Saying Montgomery's knee was sound, Fassel insisted that the Giants weren't reaching to find a backup for Gary Brown. He described the Robbins, Ill. resident as a hard runner who knocks people down. Montgomery agreed. "I think the reason I'm at the point I am is I don't take a backseat to no one, but I respect everyone," Montgomery said. On the surface, Campbell appears to be another Howard Cross, a good blocker who doesn't catch many passes. He had seven catches for 68 yards and one touchdown in 13 games last season. He had 27 catches for 314 yards and three TDs in his career.
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