WSU’s Brink, UI’s Vobora picked in 7th round call

Until roughly 15 minutes before it happened, former Idaho Vandal David Vobora had never heard of “Mr. Irrelevant,” the nickname given annually to the last player selected in the NFL draft.

“I honestly had no idea,” Vobora said. “Someone was talking about it at the house so we ‘Googled’ it and sure enough. I was outside on the phone, talking with my agent about free agency when coach (Scott) Linehan popped up on my phone.”

Linehan, a former Vandal quarterback and assistant coach who is entering his third season as St. Louis’ head coach, told Vobora that the Rams were using the last pick of the two-day draft (No. 252 overall) on the linebacker, setting off a celebration in Moscow that might rival some of the events that surround Irrelevant week in Newport Beach, Calif., in late June.

“He said, ‘Don’t worry about all that Mr. Irrelevant stuff, just be ready to go,’ ” Vobora said. “After the pick, if they had a sound meter here it would have been in the red. There was a lot of screaming and people jumping up and down, champagne bottle popping.

“I’m pretty fired up. It’s a really good situation for me. They only have six or seven linebackers on their roster.”

Ex-Washington State quarterback Alex Brink also had his name called in the seventh round. He went to Houston as the 223rd overall pick. Brink and Vobora were the only players selected from their respective schools. Brink’s selection means the Cougars have had at least one player drafted every year since 1994.

Brink had already fielded several calls from teams interested in signing him to a free-agent contract when the Texans dialed his number.

“I wasn’t really getting worried because I had some opportunities,” Brink said. “When the call came I was so excited. Getting drafted gives you a little validation as a player and a competitor.”

Brink, the 13th quarterback drafted, joins a somewhat crowded position in Houston. Matt Schaub is the starter. Other quarterbacks on the roster include Sage Rosenfels, Quinn Gray and Shane Boyd.

“Rick Smith (Texans general manager) and I had this conversation the other day,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “I just said if you’re fortunate to move back and we pick up a couple of extra picks and this young man sticks around until late in the draft, this would be a great opportunity, a great try.”

Brink is eager to report to mini-camp in less than two weeks.

“Anytime you get taken in the later rounds or as a free agent you’re going to have to compete,” he said. “I knew I was going to have to compete, but the team seems pretty excited that they drafted me.”

Vobora worked out at Idaho’s pro day for Rams assistant defensive backs coach Mike Cox, a former Vandal linebacker and assistant coach.

Vobora’s phone was ringing non-stop after his named popped up on the television screen. Paul Salata, a former USC receiver and founder of Irrelevant week, announces the pick that closes the draft, but he fumbled on Vobora, calling him a defensive back instead of a linebacker. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Jeff Gordon blogged that the Rams selected “David Voboro.”

Vobora and his family will be the guests of honor for Irrelevant week, which includes gifts, a press conference, VIP guest pass to Disneyland, a banquet/roast, barbecue and regatta. According to ESPN, two of the last six Mr. Irrelevants are still on NFL rosters. Irrelevant week is a celebration of the underdog, according to irrelevantweek.com.

Previous Mr. Irrelevants include fullback Jim Finn (1999), who has been in the NFL for eight years, and center Matt Elliott (1992), who played for the Redskins and Carolina in the mid-1990s.

“People have been calling me, explaining it to me,” Vobora said. “I’m along for the ride. I’m excited about all that, but I’m really excited to have an opportunity to go to mini-camp.”