A T-Bone and Lowsman for Bino

NEWPORT BEACH — An hour into the banquet honoring Mr. Irrelevant XXXII, Mr. Irrelevant’s fork was stuck in his T-bone steak.

Some lady working the All-Star Lowsman Sports Banquet at the Newport Beach Marriott Resort asked Robinson if he was done.

Not even close.

She came by again 10 minutes later and the last player chosen in the 2007 NFL Draft looked like the last person to eat Wednesday night.

He was hungry.

“Man, I haven’t had a chance to eat this big thing,” said Robinson before receiving the Lowsman Trophy, nothing like the coveted Heisman Trophy. “All the talking, all the greeting, not enough eating.”

There sure was a lot of laughing during a roast and toast to Robinson, a 23-year-old from Huntsville, Ala, who’s trying to make the Detroit Lions after being selected as the 255th pick.

Big-time names made an appearance during the two-hour plus event and the former University of Alabama defensive back loved every minute of it as he sat center stage with his uncle and Irrelevant Week date Majin Childress observing nearby.

Don’t worry about Robinson starving himself. He made sure to dig into his plate while hearing advice from former NFL coach Tom Flores, who won a Super Bowl with the Raiders.

Sports agent Leigh Steinberg, who’s signed athletes to mega contracts, put together a future contract for Robinson. The money sounded good.”Anything in the millions usually does,” said Robinson, adding that he’s strapped for cash at the moment.

Los Angeles Times sports columnist T.J. Simers provided the best comedy. He chimed in often. The best joke and the one making Robinson laugh the loudest involved Kobe Bryant, who recently has demanded to be traded from the Los Angeles Lakers.

“You’ve been fortunate to learn from the master,” said Simers, causing practically everyone to laugh when he said Robinson should pattern himself after the guard and learn from his humility. One thing Robinson wants to know is what will Bryant do with his Newport Coast home if he is dealt.

“They say Kobe has a nice house, so I’m just going to try and get his house,” said Robinson before the banquet. “I’m about to talk to him and see what he thinks about that. See if I can get some payments, probably pay about $200 a month.”

That amount can get you a night at the hotel he’s staying at. He’s been here since Sunday and today he’s bound for surfing lessons and hopping on a regatta out of the Balboa Yacht Club.

Robinson can’t swim. No worries. The crew will have special equipment, intended for kids, for him and his uncle to stay afloat.

Robinson said he’d accept whatever to save him. Anything offered will not be refused. The special guests during the banquet offered Robinson, whose nickname is “Bino” and stands for “Best Is Number One,” advice on how to stick in the NFL.

If Robinson longs to be No. 1, Matt Willig, a former NFL offensive lineman, told Robinson how to make it. It makes sense to listen to Willig, who as an undrafted rookie free agent that went on to play 14 years, with stints with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers.

“Coach’s daughters,” said Willig of dating one of the coach’s daughters if he plans to make the cut on Sept. 1, when the Lions will go with a 53-man roster before the season starts.

Willig turned serious a couple seconds later, telling Robinson to do what he did at Alabama in the tough Southeastern Conference. Then he wanted to toast Mr. Irrelevant and assumed Mr. Irrelevant didn’t drink.

“What’s going on?” Willig said. “He doesn’t drink?”

Robinson spoke up, answering with “occasionally.”

Well, drinking is better when you have something to wash down your throat. Robinson knew it was time to pick up that fork and tear into that T-bone steak before downing his drink.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].