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Update: Seahawks make surprise pick in first round of draft

Fast, with a past: West Virginia defensive lineman Bruce Irvin runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Feb. 27, 2012. The Seahawks selected him in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday.
Dave Martin
/
AP
Fast, with a past: West Virginia defensive lineman Bruce Irvin runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Feb. 27, 2012. The Seahawks selected him in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday.

The Seahawks made a surprise choice for their first round pick in the NFL draft Thursday night.

They chose Bruce Irvin, a 6-3, 248-pound defensive end from West Virginia. He's fast - dazzling scouts with a 4.5-second time in the 40 yard dash. But he also has a troubled past.

Irvin was recently arrested for breaking a sign at a sandwich shop. And there have been other problems. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says Irvin is a tremendous athlete with some character issues.

Find out more of what Art has to say about this surprising pick tomorrow morning at 5:35 and 7:35 on 88.5 KPLU. Check back here tomorrow for a blog of our conversation.

Kirsten Kendrick hosts Morning Edition on KNKX and the sports interview series "Going Deep," talking with folks tied to sports in our region about what drives them — as professionals and people.
Art Thiel is a co-founder and writer for the rising sports website Sportspress Northwest. In 2003 Thiel wrote the definitive book about the Seattle Mariners, “Out of Left Field,” which became a regional bestseller. In 2009, along with Steve Rudman and KJR 950 afternoon host Mike Gastineau, Thiel authored “The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists,” a cross between historylink.org and Mad Magazine that has become mandatory reading for any sports fan who has an indoor bathroom.