The Black Ages of the Saints: 1996 Draft

Hamp Cook of Hattiesburg was the New Orleans Saints’ scout for the southeastern part of the country when he spotted a “can’t miss” linebacker at the University of Miami prior to the 1996 draft. It was Ray Lewis, who goes for his second Super Bowl ring Sunday with the Baltimore Ravens.

“He had great instincts, could read and react,” Cook recalls. “A guard would come out and try to block him, and (Lewis) would just go right past him he was so quick.

“I put a big-time grade on him. And when we were discussing who we should draft in the first round, I stood up and told them they were making a huge mistake if they didn’t take Ray Lewis. The defensive coordinator* was worried that he was a little undersized, and he was. But I’d say he’s made up for that.”

Lewis, who is 6-foot-1, 240 pounds, is a first-ballot lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Instead of taking Lewis with the 11th pick, the Saints chose cornerback Alex Molden of Oregon. All together now: Who dat?
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*Jim fluckin Haslett! The ex All Pro LB had some kinda dysfunctional ability to grade LBs. He drafted Sedrick Hodge, James Allen, Cie Grant, Colby Bockwoldt, Courtney Watson, and Alfred Fincher. MF that is a whole lotta major fail.