Springs Can Chatter Seahawks First-Round Pick Makes A Good Impression

Shawn Springs’ first NFL assignment might be covering New York Jets’ author/receiver Keyshawn Johnson in the 1997 season opener. Johnson might want to have his pen handy.

“I’ll make his book,” Springs joked.

Seattle drafted three more players on Sunday, but that faded into the background when the outgoing Springs, the Hawks’ top pick on Saturday, swept into town to meet his new employers and the media.

He isn’t a wallflower. He is personable, outspoken and smiles nearly as much as the perma-grin TV sportscaster he needled throughout a press conference. The Ohio State cornerback should get along swell with the Hawks’ No. 6 selection, offensive tackle Walter Jones from Florida State.

Springs is a chatterbox, Jones prefers listening. Both are expected to start immediately.

A Springs’ smorgasbord of quotes:

On pre-draft hype: “Mass media. I did so many interviews… . I did one at 39,000 feet (on an airplane).”

On Jones’ shyness: “He’s a big guy. All they want to do is eat donuts.”

On Ohio State’s popularity: “Now that the Browns are gone and the Bengals, who cares about the Bengals? Ohio State is like a pro team.”

On Ohio State/Seahawks receiver Joey Galloway: “He still calls me ‘Little Shawn’. I’ve got to break him of that.”

On comparisons to Michael Haynes and Deion Sanders: “I’ll take a little bit from everybody and make it my own game.”

The Hawks’ locker room may never be the same.

Springs is entertaining, but he also shows substance. He plans to complete his college degree and set up a postgraduate scholarship for minority student-athletes at Ohio State.

When he decided to pass up his senior season, he wrote Buckeyes fans a lengthy letter explaining his decision.

“People loved me (in Columbus),” Springs said. Why? “I did good in the classroom, on the field. I don’t cause any trouble. I don’t drink or smoke.”

Hawks coaches were impressed by what Springs did in a workout, and possibly more impressed by what he TRIED to do.

“He was at 39 inches (vertical jump) and he just kept going until he got 40,” defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said. “Same thing with 19 bench presses (of 225 pounds). He fought like a son-of-a-gun to get 20.”

Springs feels prepared for the NFL, having guarded Galloway, Terry Glenn and Chris Sanders at Ohio State.

“My first day in (OSU) camp, I checked Joey, Chris and Terry and they were blowing past me,” he said. “I was going, ‘I don’t know if I can play in college.’ But a couple of DBs sat me down and said, ‘Don’t worry about it, they do the same to us.’ They helped me out a lot. Games were much easier.”

Ohio State defensive backs coach Jon Tenuta said Howard might even be faster than Springs.

Springs, of course, disagreed. “Who said he’s faster?” he said, breaking into a grin. “We’re about the same.”

The Hawks masterfully masked their interest in Jones. None of the pre-draft speculation centered on Jones. But Hawks coaches were enamored after watching FSU game tapes and clocking the 300-pounder running 40 yards in an alarming 4.67 seconds.

“He’s probably the best pure athlete I’ve seen since Chris Hinton and Anthony Munoz,” offensive line coach Howard Mudd said. “When I was taking my notes, I put the name (of Denver all-Pro) Gary Zimmerman down. Zimmerman is a technique, athletic player that is really pretty to watch. I don’t mean any disrespect to Walter, but he’s real pretty to watch.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo