This is Irrelevant Week.
It began in 1976 as an opportunity to "do something nice for someone for no reason." That someone is the last pick in the NFL draft.
When Paul Salata founded the Mr. Irrelevant 32 years ago the football player selected last was pretty much irrelevant. Not so today. 1999 Mr. Irrelevant winner Jim Finn is the starting fullback of the New York Giants. This year Mr. Irrevant is Ramzee Robinson, cornerback from Alabama, was selected by the Detroit Lions. Here's a look at the number of rounds through the years:
| Years | Rounds |
| 1950-59 | 30 |
| 1960-66 | 20 |
| 1967-76 | 17 |
| 1977-92 | 12 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1994-present | 7 |
Now that there are fewer rounds in the NFL draft, the Mr. Irrelevant Trophy is no longer something to mock.
T.J. Simers writes a nice (yes, glowingly nice) article on Paul Salata in today's LA Times.
Ramzee Robinson is being honored throughout the week, highlighted by a banquet on Wednesday where he will be presented with the Lowsman Trophy. Doubtful we'll ever see players striking the Lowsman pose, like we do the Heisman. The statue depicts a player dropping the ball.
Comments