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Top pick has lofty goals Morris eyes Pro Bowl, Super Bowl berths
Posted: Sunday April 16, 2000 06:40 PM
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Rob Morris, the top pick of the Indianapolis Colts, set some high goals for himself Sunday -- including a Super Bowl ring at the end of the upcoming season. Team president Bill Polian couldn't hide his smile as he stood in the back of the room as the former Brigham Young star discussed his plans at his first news conference in the team's complex. "When you go to a team that's a perfect fit like this, that has Super Bowl capabilities ... when you're a great player, then everything is going to fall in place," Morris said during a quick visit to Indianapolis before returning to Utah. "When you go to a great team, you have an opportunity to get what I consider something that is worth more than any amount of money, which is a Super Bowl ring," Morris said. "My goal is not just to come in and contribute, I want to win a Super Bowl." The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Morris has been penciled in as the starting middle linebacker, an opening created when 1999 starter Michael Barber was cut in February. "I'm not in school now. My plan is to get ready for the mini-camp and then get down to Indianapolis as soon as I can to start training with the team," he said. Morris was the 28th pick overall. Indianapolis also went for defense with its other two picks Saturday, taking Auburn's Marcus Washington as the 59th overall selection in the second round and Penn State cornerback David Macklin as their pick in the third round -- the 91st overall pick. On Sunday, the Colts made a trade in the fifth round and selected a teammate of their top pick -- offensive guard Matt Johnson -- with the 138th selection. The two selections may give Idianapolis the distinction of having the two oldest rookies since both served two years as Mormon missionaries and redshirted one year. Morris is 25 and Johnson is 26. Johnson, 6-4 and 330 pounds, could give the Colts depth behind Waverly Jackson. Johnson started every game for the Cougars the last two seasons, providing pass protection to an offense that averaged 324.3 yards passing last year and 381.7 the previous year. To obtain the right to move up to take Johnson, the Colts sent their fifth and sixth-round picks to New Orleans. With their first pick Sunday, Indianapolis took Michigan's Josh Williams in the fourth round as the 122nd pick. The 6-3, 282-pound Williams played defensive tackle and end for the Wolverines after redshirting as a freshman. In four seasons, he started 34 games and played in 48 while recording 11 sacks for 79 yards and accumulating 96 solo tackles and assisting on 63 others. "He has good athletic ability, good skills, plays strong with good leverage," coach Jim Mora said of Williams. The Colts took another Michigan defensive standout with their first pick in the seventh round, nose tackle Rob Renes. An Academic All-American, the 6-1, 290-pound Renes played in 46 games for Michigan with 37 starts. He finished his career with 151 tackles, including 98 solo efforts. The Colts also made a late trade with New Orleans to get another pick and used the 238th selection to take Rodregis Brooks, a cornerback for Alabama-Birmingham who also returned 20 punts for 350 yards last season. All of the team's draft picks are expected to join the team when its weekend mini-camp begins April 28. The past two years Indianapolis took Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James as its top pick and both went to the Pro Bowl last year. Morris also said he is looking forward to a Pro Bowl trip in the near future and has no fear of pressure from his high expectations. "Just the nature of being picked that high puts some pressure. Being a guy that is going to come in and fill a need puts pressure on me. Good players strive under pressure," Morris said. "I am just going to work hard physically, mentally and come in prepared, then things will all fall into place." A Mormon who spent two years on a mission in Canada while in college, Morris tries to keep football in perspective. "In order to be successful playing this game you have to remember it's a game and have fun. The only difference at this level is you are getting paid a lot of money to play the game," he said. "You have to play the game, but you have to win the game."
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