JOESAM2002

McPherson: from sinner to Saint
By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
Cox News Service
Monday, April 25, 2005
ATLANTA — Adrian McPherson's once promising football career is back on track.

The former Florida State quarterback, who ran into legal problems and was dismissed from the program, was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round (152nd overall) of the NFL draft Sunday.

"It's been a long journey, but today it all paid off," McPherson said from his home in Bradenton, Fla.

McPherson was Florida's Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football and backed up Chris Rix as a true freshman in 2001. McPherson was arrested in November 2002 on stolen check charges and was dismissed from the team. A few months later, he was charged with gambling on college and pro sports.

"I took a check," said McPherson, 21, who watched the draft with his parents, Floyd and Henrietta, and about 25 other family members. "As far as the gambling goes, I didn't gamble. I was with some guys who were gambling. It was kind of guilt by association.

"I told the Saints that I'm willing to put a clause in my contract that if the gambling ever came up, or if I was caught for gambling, that I would give back the money that I earned or whatever because that's not me."

Leigh Steinberg, McPherson's agent, went to great lengths to rehabilitate his client in the eyes of NFL teams. He had McPherson attend the Senior Bowl and Super Bowl to meet owners and team executives.

"We thought that the best way to deal with that was to be as absolutely forthright as possible," Steinberg said. "What happened, happened. It was an enormous hurdle to overcome."

After being dismissed from Florida State, McPherson went to Tennessee State but did not play. He eventually had to ply his wares in the Arena Football League for the now-defunct Indiana Firebirds under the tutelage of former NFL quarterback Steve DeBerg.

"He's got rare ability for the quarterback position," DeBerg said. "He's a special athlete."

DeBerg, who's currently an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Storm in the AFL, had followed McPherson's career since high school. He visited with McPherson's parents several times before speaking with McPherson about playing in the AFL.

"He comes from a very good family," DeBerg said.

In the end, the 6-foot-3, 218-pound McPherson's immense physical talent was too much for the Saints to pass up.

"When the story of this draft is told in retrospect, Adrian McPherson will be seen to be the most gifted quarterback in this draft," Steinberg said.