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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Idaho receiver makes Arizona’s roster as free agent

Max Komar figured good news was on the way when the Arizona Cardinals gathered for a team meeting 10 days ago. It was cut-down day across the NFL and Komar noticed team officials earlier pulling selected players from running and weight-lifting drills to inform them they were no longer on the team.

At 1 p.m., head coach Ken Whisenhunt entered and told the players that everyone in the meeting room had made the team. Komar, a rookie free agent and former Idaho Vandal, handled it with veteran aplomb. On the inside, however, he was doing back-flips.

“I was on pins and needles all day,” Komar said in a telephone interview earlier this week. “Surprisingly, nobody said anything. Deep down inside, I wanted to start yelling, but I knew that wouldn’t be the right thing to do when Coach Whisenhunt was talking about winning the NFC West for the third straight year.”

Komar carved out a spot on the 53-man roster with his work on special teams and a team-leading 12 catches for 200 yards in the preseason. He was one of four free agents, including fellow receiver Stephen Williams, to make the team.

“I thought I could make it from Day One,” Komar said. “The Cardinals were talking to me the most throughout the draft. I felt they were the best situation for me and they said they always give free agents a fair chance.

“I didn’t really surprise myself too much, just because of the way things were going in practice. I knew I was making some plays. We have some of the best defensive backs in the NFL and I was getting a lot of touches.”

Komar has made a habit of accomplishing things that might seem like a long shot to others. He was 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds when he finished up at Auburn (Wash.) Riverside High. He weighed 192 pounds by the time he arrived at Idaho as a walk-on and admitted he needed to rearrange some of the weight. He received a scholarship after his redshirt freshman year.

He quickly cracked the receiver rotation, finishing his career with 136 catches for 2,108 yards. In the midst of his senior season, when he racked up 1,052 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, Komar began to seriously believe he could play professionally.

His stats helped draw attention from the Cardinals. His fearless attitude helped him stick.

“He had a look like, ‘Hey, you have a problem?’ ” receivers coach John McNulty told azcardinals.com. “He’s a tough guy with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder and he plays that way.”

Komar keeps a close eye on teammate Larry Fitzgerald, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver.

“You see him on TV and in commercials,” Komar said, “but when you come onto the playing field, you see why he is the best because of how he works, the way he approaches everything and stays after practice to work on technique.”

Just a few years ago, Idaho only had a couple of players in the NFL. Now, three former Vandals are on NFC West Division teams. Komar will see ex-UI linebacker David Vobora today when the Cardinals take on St. Louis and he’ll face Mike Iupati and San Francisco twice during the regular season.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Komar said. “David and I have been talking all week. It’s crazy, both of us having played at the University of Idaho and we’ll be facing each other.”

Komar received a modest $3,000 signing bonus when he first joined the Cardinals, lowest of the four free agents that eventually made the squad.

“I didn’t really do much with it,” Komar said. “I bought some shoes and clothes. I was in Arizona living in a hotel. I bought some food, an Xbox, nothing really big.”

And now? Komar has a two-year deal worth nearly $800,000.

“It’s crazy to think about,” he said. “I’m thinking, they’re really going to pay me that much to play football.”

Notes

Cleveland’s Jerome Harrison (WSU) hit his stride late in the 2009 season. He rushed for a franchise-record 286 yards, third most in NFL history, against Kansas City in the Browns’ 14th game. Over the final three games, he ran for 561 yards, the eighth-best three-game total in league history. … Tennessee’s Michael Roos (EWU) has never missed a start in his five NFL seasons. Roos and Logan Mankins are the only players from the 2005 draft to start all 80 games since they were drafted. Titans linemate Jake Scott (Lewiston High/Idaho) also has started every game the last five years. … Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant (WSU) played in just 10 games last season because of injury, the first time he’s played in less than 15 games in his NFL career. Trufant, entering his eighth season, trails only quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (10th season) for tenure on the team. … With 1,835 points, Detroit kicker Jason Hanson (Mead/WSU) is fourth in scoring among active players and seventh all-time. The 40-year-old Hanson is signed through 2012. … Mike Iupati (Idaho) and fellow first-round draft choice Anthony Davis were named starters on the offensive line one week into 49ers training camp. … Eric Frampton (WSU) leads the Vikings with 53 special-teams tackles over the last three seasons.

Eastern Washington

Michael RoosOTTennessee6th year
*Nathan OverbayTEMiami1st

Idaho

Max KomarWRArizonarookie
Mike IupatiGSan Franciscorookie
David VoboraLBSt. Louis3rd
Jake Scott GTennessee7th
*Eddie WilliamsFBChicago2nd

Washington State

Husain AbdullahSMinnesota3rd
Hamza AbdullahSArizona6th
Tyron BrackenridgeSJacksonville3rd
Erik ColemanSAtlanta6th
Eric FramptonSMinnesota4th
Brandon GibsonWRSt. Louis2nd
Jason HansonKDetroit19th
Jerome HarrisonRBCleveland5th
Rian LindellKBuffalo11th
**Ropati PitoituaDENew York Jets2nd
Marcus TrufantCBSeattle8th
Area high schools
Scott is from Lewiston
Coleman is from Lewis and Clark
Hanson is from Mead
Levi Horn (Rogers) is on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad