maivia
Many Browns fans were upset that the team didn’t pick USC LB Rey Maualuga Saturday in the draft when they had the chance. Sunday in the 4th round they did pick a linebacker, and one that knows Maualuga very well – his teammate – Kaluka Maiava.

With the 4th pick of the round, and 104th overall, the Browns chose Maiava, who is 5-11, 229 pounds. Scouts Inc. stated that he’s “undersized and there’s concern regarding his potential to hold up in the NFL. A fluid athlete but his timed-speed at the Combine was disappointing.”

Another question could be how durable he is, as he missed the season opener against Idaho in 07 with a hamstring injury, and had thumb and wrist surgery during the off-season prior to the 2008 season. Yahoo Sports! seems to like the pick: “Maiava is the unsung linebacker on the USC defense, but is a very good prospect in his own right. He is tough as nails and will compete inside for astarting MLB spot in the Browns’ 3-4 defense.”

If nothing else, Maiava has a cool uncle. Yes, he’s the nephew of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, former WWE Champion and actor.
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