Miller reaps benefits as ‘Mr. Irrelevant’

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, June 18, 2002 | 9:27 a.m.

Ahmad Miller admits he really didn't know what to expect when he earned the tag of "Mr. Irrelevant" as the 261st and final pick of the NFL Draft last April.

But after being bestowed with gifts and the keys to two cities on Monday night in Newport Beach, Calif., the former UNLV defensive tackle has grown to like the moniker.

"This was fun," Miller said following a ceremony signifying the start of Mr. Irrelevant Week at Newport Dunes water park. "It was great. I met a lot of nice people and I got a lot of nice gifts. If you're going to be picked in the seventh round, it definitely pays to go last."

Miller, who was picked by the expansion Houston Texans, received a gift from every NFL team as well as a gold NFL watch from NFL commissioner Paul Taglibue.

"I got a lot of T-shirts, jerseys, hats and a couple of autographed team balls," the 6-foot-3, 306-pound Miller said. "I've got a pretty nice collection going."

He also got a black Labrador retriever with a cape to signify his underdog role in making it into the NFL. He entered the ceremony on the Madden Cruiser and also got the keys to the cities of Newport Beach and Houston.

And the fun is just beginning for Miller. Tonight he will be the guest of honor at a banquet that will be attended by 500 people, including UNLV head coach John Robinson and NFL Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson, Jackie Slater and Mike Haynes. There he will receive the "Lowsman Trophy" as the last pick of the NFL draft.

On Wednesday, Miller will be honored during a cermony at Disneyland's California Adventure theme park. He will take part in a sailing regatta on Thursday, while his week of fame comes to an end with a beach party in Newport Beach the next day.

That's not bad for an honorable mention all-Mountain West Conference pick who was considered somewhat of a long shot to get drafted.

This is the 27th year that the last pick of the NFL draft has been honored as Mr. Irrelevant. The event, started by Orange County, Calif., businessman Paul Salata, has grown in stature each year and has turned out to be a major charity fund-raiser.

Miller is being joined for this week's festivities by his mother, Sheryle Johnson, stepfather Mack Johnson and girlfriend Kristie Santiago.

"I really didn't know what a big deal this was when I first heard about it," Miller said. "But there's no doubt that it's best to go last in the draft if you don't go the first couple of rounds."

Miller believes he has a good shot at making the expansion Texans when he reports to camp on July 20. This despite the fact he suffered sprained knee ligaments in a Houston mini-camp three weeks ago.

"I thought I was doing pretty good my first couple of weeks there," Miller said. "Then I sprained my knee. But I'm thankful the injury wasn't any worse. I've been rehabbing it for about three weeks now. I'm running again and everything seems to be fine. I think I have a real good shot of making the team."