Why the Ravens Drafted Josh Harris at #187

[SB-50]

I'm reading "Next Man Up" by John Feinstein. It's a good book for NFL fans, even if you're not a Ravens fan and/or hate Art Modell. The following appears on page 93:

In the sixth round, picking at #187, (GM Ozzie) Newsome wanted to take Clarence Moore, a rangy six foot six wide receiver from Northern Arizona, considered a project with potential, probably someone that would spend the season on the developmental squad. He called Moore and a woman answered the phone. When he asked for Clarence Moore, the woman said he wasn't there and didn't know where he was. Newsome tried a second number and got no answer. Time was running out. Newsome sighed, took out the card for Josh Harris, a quarterback from Bowling Green, and dialed the number. He answered on the first ring. "Put the card in for Josh Harris," he instructed New York. He had planned to draft his young backup quarterback later, but not reaching Moore, he had to change his plans on the fly.

It turns out the Ravens had the wrong number for Moore, and ending up drafting him anyway at #199.

[1987alum]

I love stories like this. It's why some of my favorite sports books are the behind-the-scenes stories. Things like The Breaks of the Game, Hornets Never Lie, The Bronx Zoo, Loose Balls. It's amazing how little things make big things happen. And don't you love how there were probably a dozen draftniks who had intricate theories about why Harris went there instead of someone else when the truth of the matter is, the Ravens simply had a wrong phone number?

As Miracle Max said, "Oooooo, look who knows so much!"

[BGSU Falconz]

That's an interesting tidbit about Harris.

John Feinstein is always interesting to listen to whenever he's on Bob & Tom (and he seems to be on there fairly often, lately).

[tiznow]

That's an interesting tidbit about Harris.

John Feinstein is always interesting to listen to whenever he's on Bob & Tom (and he seems to be on there fairly often, lately).

Morning radio must be bad where you live if Bob and Tom are your option.