April 25, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo.- Three former Missouri Tigers signed NFL contracts this week while one other was invited to an NFL camp. Recent Tigers Justin Bland, Zain Gilmore and Aaron Crittendon will be first-time NFL campers in the next couple weeks as NFL rookie camps begin to take place. Another former Tiger, Jeff Marriott, was signed yesterday, and will be reporting to his third different team.

Bland, a two-time honorable mention All-Big 12 offensive tackle, signed a two-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Chillicothe, Mo. native will join former teammate Justin Smith with the Bengals. Smith was the fourth player chosen in the 2001 NFL Draft and a starter along the Bengals' defensive line.

Running back Zain Gilmore signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gilmore, the 10th leading rusher in school history, is a Tampa Bay native.

Marriott signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday. Marriott, originally a draft choice by the New England Patroits, has been out of football for the last nine months since being released by the St. Louis Rams after a back injury. Marriott was the defensive MVP of the 1998 Insight.com Bowl.

Former MU tight end Dwayne Blakley, who signed a two-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the week, will have a familiar face joining him in camp. Second team All-Big 12 offensive tackle Aaron Crittendon has been invited as a non-roster player to Chiefs' camp. Crittendon and Blakley were high school teammates at St. Joseph Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo. before they both signed to play at Mizzou.