Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling was one of the big questions marks heading into today because while other top prospects spent the last three months working out for NFL scouts, Merling spent the last three months recovering from a sports hernia.How much money did that sports hernia cost him? I don't think he would have been drafted ahead of Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey in any event, but I do think he would have gone ahead of USC defensive end Lawrence Jackson. Harvey went with the eighth pick and Jackson went 28th, so depending on how you look at it, Merling definitely dropped a few draft slots and may have dropped 20 or so.
Eventually, the Dolphins took Merling with the first pick in the second round, 32nd overall, and Miami is probably a good place for him. The Dolphins got the best offensive lineman on the board and one of the better defensive linemen, and Bill Parcells has to be happy with that.




