September 18, 1998
PULLMAN, Wash. - Ten-year veteran James Hasty of Kansas City leads a delegation of 16 Cougars currently on active National Football League rosters.
The list includes two rookies, Ryan Leaf at San Diego and Dorian Boose with the New York Jets. While Hasty is in his tenth professional season after finishing up at WSU in 1987, Steve Broussard, who completed his WSU career in 1989, is in his eighth season. Currently with the Seattle Seahawks, Broussard started with Atlanta and also was with Cincinnati for one season. Hasty spent his first seven years with the Jets.
Although known for its high scoring offenses, the Cougars currently have 10 players in the NFL who are on the defensive side of the ball. Six are on offense, including quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe and Leaf. Four WSU players are listed as defensive backs, while three each are at linebacker or defensive line positions.
The New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers each have two Cougars on their rosters. Bledsoe and Chad Eaton start for the Patriots, while Lewis Bush and Leaf are starters for the Chargers.
In addition to the 16 on active rosters, several Cougars have been assigned to practice squads, including Jason McEndoo and Michael Black with Seattle and Chris Jackson at Tampa Bay. Jackson originally signed with Seattle, but was picked up by Tampa Bay after being released early in fall camp by the Seahawks.
The following are the 16 WSU players on active NFL rosters:
Drew Bledsoe, qb, New England
Dorian Boose, dl, New York Jets
Steve Broussard, rb, Seattle
Lewis Bush, lb, San Diego
James Darling, lb, Philadelphia
Chad Eaton, dl, New England
Mark Fields, lb, New Orleans
Jason Hanson, pk, Detroit
James Hasty, db, Kansas City
Chris Hayes, lb, Green Bay
Ryan Leaf, qb, San Diego
Singor Mobley db, Dallas
Scott Sanderson, ol, Tennessee
Don Sasa, dl, Carolina
Robbie Tobeck, ol, Atlanta
Brian Walker, db, Miami
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