Alabama Football 2010 NFL Draft Picks: Where Are They Now? (Part 2)

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) Finishing up the list of 2009 Alabama players who tried to make it in the NFL in 2010, let's start with two of the first-round picks.

Rolando McClain - Went to Oakland in the first round with the eighth overall pick in the draft. He was expected to come in and be productive immediately and he did start and play in all the games this season. He signed a $40 million contract for five years to anchor the middle linebacker spot.

McClain still watches film as he did at Alabama and is still a leader on the field, even though he just finished his rookie season.

He will be not only a star for years to come, but a fan favorite.

Season	Team			Tackles					Interceptions						Fumbles
		G	GS	Comb	Total	Ast	Sck	SFTY	PDef	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TDs	FF
2010	Oakland Raiders	15	15	85	59	26	0.5	--	6	1	10	10.0	10	0	0
TOTAL				85	59	26	0.5	0	6	1	10	--	10	0	0

Some highlights was Rolando's body slam of Danny Amendola, which drew an "unnecessary roughness" call, and a $5,000 fine and his interception against the Dolphins.

Kareem Jackson - What a difference in pay 10 picks can make. Jackson's five-year deal was only a $13.1 million deal. Compared to McClain's five-year, $40 million deal is easy to see why it's good to be a top 10 pick.

Like McClain, he started all 16 games in his first year and had two interceptions and 71 tackles. He is considered a solid starter and a star for many years to come. His coach feels they haven't seen his best work yet and are looking forward to this season.

Season	Team			Tackles					Interceptions						Fumbles
		G	GS	Comb	Total	Ast	Sck	SFTY	PDef	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TDs	FF
2010	Houston Texans	16	16	71	58	13	0.0	--	10	2	23	11.5	23	0	0
TOTAL				71	58	13	0.0	0	10	2	23	--	23	0	0

Justin Woodall - Now here's a strange tale. As a safety at Alabama, he started for two years and many thought he'd get a shot in the NFL. But after going undrafted by the NFL, he was drafted instead by Major League Baseball.

Though he never played baseball at Alabama, he was a natural in High School and the scouts remembered this. He has a fastball in the high 90s and is a natural athlete.

"He was something special," said Richy Harrelson, Woodall's former high school baseball coach in his hometown of Oxford, Miss. "He was by far the best player that I've ever had the privilege to coach, athletically. ... He's a good football player, don't get me wrong.

"But he's not as gifted in football as he is baseball. When I say gifted, he could walk out there right now and pick up a ball and there's no telling what he could do with it." (as told to Al.com)

He was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays. Their scout said he remembered that in 2006 he was rated at the best pure athlete by Baseball America.

Lorenzo Washington - Went undrafted, but secured a walk-on contract from the Dallas Cowboys. However, things didn't work out in Dallas and he was waived.

But he did sign a free-agent contract with the New England Patriots for their practice squad and he hopes to show what he can do from there and eventually make the team.  I think the big 6'5'' man's heart will show through and he will make it.

Marquis Johnson - Barely made it in the draft, coming in with pick No. 211 to the St. Louis Rams. He had thought he would go higher, but that didn't work out so well for him.

He only played in two games with the Rams and only one with any time to speak of. It was garbage time in a blowout loss, where he had one tackle and one assist.

He hurt his knee in October and was placed on injured reserve. It was not the result of game time play. He was put on the practice squad.

The jury is out on Johnson, and he may or may not make it as a starter. Right now things don't look too well.

Mike Johnson - Offensive guard, signed with the Atlanta Falcons in the third round. "Big Mike" was a big part of the Alabama line and everyone knew he'd do well in the NFL.

Right now he is backing up Justin Blalock at guard, and the Falcons are grooming him for the future. He has not gotten a lot of playing time, and for a man who went through his prep career without missing a game or a practice, that is tough.

But there is no doubt that he'll be a star of the future. His four-year, $2.4 million contract attests to that. So does the fact that the Falcons have three linemen coming up as free agents. Mike is the right man at the right spot at the right time.

And lastly, the Alabama specialists, punter P. J. Fitzgerald and Leigh Tiffin - Neither man made it to playing time in the NFL. P.J. was rated as the 10th best punter coming out of college, but with punters staying in the NFL so long, there was just no chance to make it.

Leigh did sign a contract with the Cleveland Browns, only to be waived about two weeks later. He was said to be injured and has since received an injury settlement.

Neither will probably ever see the field again.

So with the draft coming up for this year's players, it's interesting to look back at the names that we all rooted for not so long ago.

Some made their dreams come true and some didn't. Only time will tell how this year's class will do.

If you missed part one, just click here.