Bengals pick Ga. linebacker Pollack at No. 17

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

The Bengals selected Georgia defensive end David Pollack with the 17th overall pick in the NFL draft this afternoon. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said the team planned to play him as an outside linebacker.

Pollack is regarded as an energetic, quick and disruptive pass rusher who also is solid against the run at the point of attack. He is 6-feet-2, 265 pounds. Pollack had 12.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss as a senior for the Bulldogs.

Pollack won multiple post-season awards for his play.

"Good instincts, plays hard, try to make the most of what I have," is how Pollack described himself as a player on a phone interview.

He was leaving his parents' home in Snellville, Ga., not far from Atlanta, for a Saturday evening flight to Cincinnati, where he would meet with coaches at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals had scheduled a Sunday press conference at the stadium with Pollack.

Lewis recalled meeting Pollack three years ago when he went to Georgia to meet former Bulldogs linebacker Boss Bailey.

"(Pollack) was the leader of that team, even then," Lewis said. "He's the type of player you can put on a billboard and be proud of. He's not afraid to bring people along with him."

Lewis said he envisioned Pollack playing outside linebacker but also playing defensive end on third down. Lewis also said the Bengals had phone calls from teams, offering to trade up, but none of the calls were "appealing enough to move."

The Bengals had their choice of several players they liked: Oklahoma wide receiver Mark Clayton, LSU defensive lineman Marcus Spears and Wisconsin defensive end Erasmus James.
James went with the 18th overall pick to Minnesota. Clayton went No. 22 to Baltimore.

Several players the Bengals liked were drafted ahead of them, including Georgia strong safety Thomas Davis (who went to Carolina at No. 14) and defensive end-outside linebacker Demarcus Ware (No. 11 to Dallas).

In the second round, the Bengals have the 48th overall pick. Barring a trade, they also will finish the day with a third-round pick, the 83rd overall.

Rounds 4-7 will be held Sunday.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com