Bill Whittemore is waiting.
Two hundred and fifty-five football players were selected during the weekend’s NFL draft, and dozens more signed free-agent contracts. Whittemore wasn’t one of them.
Whittemore passed for 2,385 yards and 18 touchdowns during his senior season at Kansas University, but he wasn’t among the 17 quarterbacks taken during the two-day draft.
Whittemore — a 6-foot quarterback with a history of injury problems — didn’t expect to be drafted, but he had hoped for a free-agent offer. He still does.
“We’re still waiting on that,” Tom Mills, Whittemore’s agent, said Monday. “We don’t have a contract offer at this point from an NFL team. We’re waiting to hear back from a few teams.”
Mills said there was interest in his client among Canadian Football League teams.
“Before we do that, we’re exhausting all NFL options,” he said.
The NFL rookie minimum is $230,000. CFL rookies are paid between $35,000 and $40,000 in Canadian dollars.
Whittemore was home in Brentwood, Tenn., and could not be reached for comment.
His father, Bill Whittemore Sr., said the quarterback was keeping things in perspective.
“He’s fine,” Whittemore said of his son. “He’s somewhat disappointed, but he’s not giving up on his dream to play somewhere. He’ll just have to take another avenue to get there.”
Mills said the Arena League likely would not be an option this year because its season already had started. NFL teams, meanwhile, have minicamps later this week. CFL players report to camp next month, and the season begins in June.
If Whittemore did get invited to an NFL camp, he likely would be battling for a job as a third-string quarterback. In Canada, he would expect to play.
“That certainly would be enticing to get some more playing experience,” Mills said. “It’s not 100 percent, but we sure feel he’s going to get a chance there.”
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Mangino on Jones: Kansas senior Adrian Jones was taken in the fourth round Sunday by the New York Jets. Jones was a tight end before moving to left tackle before his senior season.
“About 15 months ago, I asked Adrian to move from tight end to left tackle,” KU coach Mark Mangino said Monday. “I told him the move would make him a rich man someday. I’m not sure that he believed it then, but he certainly believes it now.”
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Mangino and Ansel: KU punter Curtis Ansel signed a free-agent contract with Detroit on Sunday. The third-team All-Big 12 Conference selection is a Lakin native who transferred from Garden City Community College.
“All along, the Detroit Lions told me they had a great interest in Curtis,” Mangino said. “I believe he has a chance to be their punter as a rookie. His ability to drop the ball inside the 10-yard line is a great asset to any team. After punting on the Great Plains for the last few years, kicking in the dome will be a cinch.”
