61. Nick Hardwick, C, San Diego Chargers
Worth mentioning: Bronson Arroyo, RHP, Cincinnati Reds.

62. Jeremy Perry, G, Oregon State football

63. Jeff Saturday, C, Indianapolis Colts
Saturday does his best work on Sundays, when he's snapping the ball to Peyton Manning.

64. Edwin Mulitalo, G, Detroit Lions
When the best guy at a number plays for the Lions and his name is not Roy Williams, it is not a strong number.

65. Andre Gurode, C, Dallas Cowboys

66. Alan Faneca, G, Pittsburgh Steelers

67. Kareem McKenzie, OT, New York Giants

68. Kris Dielman, G, San Diego Chargers
Worth mentioning: Mike Wahle, G, Carolina Panthers.

69. Jon Runyan, OT, Philadelphia Eagles

70. Jammal Brown, OT, New Orleans Saints

71. Walter Jones, OT, Seattle Seahawks
Worth mentioning: Larry Allen, G, San Francisco 49ers; Willie Anderson, OT, Cincinnati Bengals.

Jones is the best offensive lineman in the NFL.

72. Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin football
Worth mentioning: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU football; Matt Light, OT, New England Patriots.

When an offensive lineman goes in the top three in the NFL draft, you know he's good.

73. Marcus McNeill, OT, San Diego Chargers
Worth mentioning: Shawn Andrews, G, Philadelphia Eagles.

74. Aaron Kampman, DE, Green Bay Packers
Worth mentioning: Steve Justice, C, Wake Forest football.

75. Barry Zito, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Worth mentioning: Jonathan Ogden, OT, Baltimore Ravens.

Zito's number seems more suited to a spring training invitee than a guy in the first year of a seven-year deal worth $126 million. But he doesn't want to change it. "It seems like a good symmetrical number," he told reporters. "It just looks good on the back."

76. Orlando Pace, OT, St. Louis Rams
Contender: Steve Hutchinson, G, Minnesota Vikings.

77. Kris Jenkins, DT, Carolina Panthers
Contender: Jake Long, OT, Michigan football.

78. Tarik Glenn, OT, Indianapolis Colts
Worth mentioning: Matt Birk, C, Minnesota Vikings; Jared Gaither, OT, Maryland football.

79. Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State football

80. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans
Worth mentioning: Isaac Bruce, WR, St. Louis Rams; Donald Driver, WR, Green Bay Packers; Jeremy Shockey, TE, New York Giants; Kellen Winslow, TE, Cleveland Browns.

What, if anything, does it say about the NFL that virtually every team has a No. 80 and that Jerry Rice, who made the 80 great, is widely considered the best wide receiver ever, yet no NHL player will ever wear No. 99 after Wayne Gretzky (it has been retired leaguewide)? Perhaps Gretzky was that much better than Rice. More likely, hockey better lends itself to reverence than football does.

But don't tell Johnson about the lack of reverence for Rice. He grew up idolizing the 49ers legend and chose No. 80 as a tribute. After two years in the NFL, he was still so nervous about meeting Rice that he wouldn't approach him after a joint practice between the Texans and Broncos. (Rice was in camp with the Broncos. Ugh.) Friends shoved Johnson toward Rice. "I can't believe I got to meet him," Johnson told reporters.

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