Many years ago when I was a teacher, one of the school’s football coaches announced to the lunch table that he was taking the next day off to watch the NFL draft.
You could have heard a pin drop as English, history and maths teachers looked at him like he’d just arrived on the 12:35 from Jupiter. Fast forward 20 or so years and even people in Australia are doing the same thing without anyone looking askance.
With the draft shown live on both ESPN and 7Mate, there was plenty of incentive to chuck a sickie, which I more than happily did.
Here are 10 of my thoughts on this year’s circus:
1. No one really knows anything
There’s no doubt the NFL has done wonderful things with the draft. It’s gone from a perfunctory ‘let’s restock the rosters’ event into a made-for-TV, can’t-miss day on the calendar for sports fans.
Reams of paper and stacks of bandwidth are chewed up in the days prior as ‘experts’ play modern day Nostradamus, creating mock drafts and offering their suggestions about who will go where and how well it will all work out.
And the bottom line is that it’s a bit of a crapshoot. E.g: Jamarcus Russell, pick #1 overall, Tom Brady, pick #199.
2. Winston is as Winston does
I don’t know Jameis Winston, I haven’t put him through workouts and I haven’t talked to anyone who can vouch for his character. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, obviously, had and felt comfortable enough to make the ex-Florida State quarterback their #1 draft pick.
No argument with his on-field skills: he’s a super player who could be a star at the next level. But amidst all the off-field concerns – which included the alleged theft of crab legs – who thought it was a good idea to allow Winston to pose in front of some crab legs and post it on his Twitter feed?
3. The Mariota fizz
In the lead-up to the draft, the rumours were flying: “Sources tell me the Eagles are working on a deal with the Browns”, “I’m told Mariota may fall out of the top 10.”
In the end, nothing happened other than the Bucs taking Winston at #1 and the Titans taking Mariota at #2. Now it’s up to Ken Whisenhunt to figure out how to fit Mariota into his normally boring offensive scheme and it’s up to Mariota to get up to speed quick enough to beat out Zach ‘Mr Twitter’ Mettenberger.
4. Goodell chokes part 1
It’s not astonishing that Roger Goodell mispronounced a name. Although he spends a lot of time in the spotlight, he’s not actually what you’d call a ‘media professional’ – he’s not Mike Tirico or Rich Eisen, guys who are paid to pronounce names correctly.
What is astonishing is that Goodell got Marcus Mariota’s name wrong. This was one of the most talked-about players leading up to the draft, the Heisman Trophy winner, whose name has been uttered about as many times as President Obama’s in the past few weeks.
That is simply choking under pressure.
5. Goodell chokes part 2
Speaking of Goodell, I always find it funny when one of the whitest guys in the world, a real Wall Street-style power broker, gives cool handshakes and man hugs to gigantic draftees often decked out in serious bling. This year things went a bit further, when Danny Shelton gave the Commish a bear hug.
At least Goodell is a solidly built guy – NBA boss Adam Silver would have been laid up in the hospital for a few weeks.
6. What’s in the water (or should I say in the air) in Missouri?
A year ago, one of the draft’s biggest stories was whether or not anyone would select Missouri pass rusher Michael Sam, who had announced publicly that he was gay. Sam was taken in the seventh round by the Rams, but didn’t make the team.
This year, Missouri was in the news again. First it was Shane Ray, who got caught with weed the one week you don’t want to get caught with weed. But that didn’t stop Denver from making a deal and grabbing Ray with the 23rd pick. On day two, Tennessee selected Dorial Green-Beckham, who was kicked out of school following two marijuana arrests and a domestic violence accusation.
The NFL may or may not be homophobic, but it certainly isn’t chronic-phobic.
7. The West is the best
In a first round usually dominated by schools from east of the Mississippi River, the Pac 12 conference did remarkably well, with nine players taken in the first round, including Mariota at #2 and USC defensive end Leonard Williams at #6.
Interestingly, three of the first 25 picks were defensive players from Washington, which finished the season with an 8-6 record and gave up 52 points to Eastern Washington.
8. “Hey honey, where’s my Kyle Orton jersey?”
I have nothing against grown men wearing sports uniform tops. I myself have been known to throw on a Baltimore Bullets throwback singlet or an Arsenal shirt once in awhile. But grown men flying or driving to Chicago, wearing shirts with ‘Revis’ or ‘Manziel’ on the back and screaming like maniacs or booing loudly when their team makes a pick? That’s a scary demographic… but one the NFL covets.
9. Hog butcher to the world, yes, draft HQ, no
While we’re on Chicago, while it’s a great sports town, I’m not sure it’s the right city for the NFL draft.
The draft – with its media hype, rags to riches stories, and over-the-top fashion – belongs in the Big Apple. It’s where the league is headquartered, it’s the biggest city in the USA, and the biggest market in the NFL.
As for Chicago, I’ll give Randy Newman the last word: “Let’s leave Chicago to the Eskimos/that town’s a little too rugged for you and me…”
10. Mel Kiper Jr’s day in the sun
The big hair, the glasses the Baltimore accent – Mel Kiper Jr has been doing NFL draft analysis on ESPN since 1984.
He’s part of that wonderful group of ESPN analysts – John Clayton, Dick Vitale, the late Beano Cook – who aren’t necessarily pretty faces, but really know their stuff.
Kiper’s a self-made guy who started researching players while he was in high school and turned it into a business when he got to college. I won’t hear a bad word against him.
Status_27
Guest
I wouldn't necessarily call it a crapshoot. 1st round draft picks generally have longer and more successful years, especially for QBs. If you were to draw up a list of the top 10-12 QBs in the game at the moment, I'd guess half or more would be first round picks. Aaron Rodgers was actually a 1st round pick, but you're right there are definitely some diamonds in the rough such as Brady and Romo (not even drafted).
kevin dustby
Guest
theres more to the USA than New york, chicago is a huge city and really promoted the draft - 95% of americans dont live in New York
tigranes
Guest
draft would not work in NRL as clubs are imvolved in junior development...NFL sides have not role in junior development.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Aussie, I have to assume Baalke didn't take a CB because he drafted 3 last year and thinks there is a starter amongst them. Dontae Johnson looks a solid prospect and could be the guy to team up with Brock on the other side. Alternatively they could look at developing Ward as a CB. I would have drafted Danny Shelton as a replacement for Justin Smith, reckon Shelton could have contributed right away. Armstead is a project, the Niners need help straight away so this pick is very puzzling. I would have taken a WR in the 2nd or 3rd Rd, with such a talented receiver class they could have nabbed a quality player such as Green-Beckham or Devins Funchess or Smith. Otherwise a middle linebacker such as Kendricks from UCLA would have made sense. Agree regarding Harold, he could be a real value pick if he can get game time, the Niners have no shortage of edge rushers. Bell could develop into a good player however the guy has only played 1 year at TE and the Niners took him with a 4th. They could well have got him with the 5th pick instead of inexplicably wasting it on a punter. That 4th on Bell could have been used on Taart to add depth at safety. Let's hope Smelters gets back fit and can contribute, he joins fellow 4th rd receivers in Patton and Ellington in the stable. The other 4th Rd pick I would have used on a better OL prospect. Mike Davis looks a handy player but how many RB's do the Niners want and need ?? I just think Baalke didn't properly address the real needs - Pure DT, MLB, WR, CB and OL. His track record in the draft isn't great and this edition doesn't give me much confidence. Anyhoo !
AussieBokkie
Guest
I have to agree with you World's Biggest. I cannot believe we didn't take a CB like Peters as our first pick. Armstead might end up being a gun in a year or two but we desperately need a cornerback that's ready to go this season! I do like the picks of Harold, Davis and Bell though. Just watching Bell's highlights tape you can see he could easily become a great NFL tightend. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Lachlan Bickley
Roar Guru
The very best part about Goodell prounouncing Mariota's name incorrectly is that Darren Rovell actually tweeted a photo of the card he was given when he walked out to do it and it actually had the pronunciation sounded out. For his sake I hope it wasn't Goodell still announcing the picks by the time they got to Giants third round selection Owa Odighizuwa...
Ed Wyatt
Expert
The NFL has been able to turn itself into close to a 365 day a year sport, which as you allude to is amazing. Drafts, announcements of schedules, the Combine, have all become "events." The NFL Network has been very important for the league and of course, ESPN loves the year round content. Thanks for commenting!
joe
Guest
If you follow the NFL closely its fairly easy to know what a teams needs are come draft time. I pretty much know what positions all the teams need to focus on .Offensive line is usually a constant requirement for most teams no matter what year it is. Then its more about do you take the best player available (in the teams opinion) vs drafting for positional need when its that teams turn to select a player. I watch more college football than NFL so you get a good account of players during their 2 or 3 yrs in college & often try & project their NFL potential even while they're still in school. Its amazing some guys who are studs in college who for various reasons drop to 3rd-4th rounds. One that stood out to me was Sammie Coates from Auburn,he's a bigtime WR & he has the chance to make some noise in Pittsburgh in an offense where he will be the 3rd or 4th option on any play he is on the field. Same with Justin Hardy who was a standout in East Carolina,he is in a great situation going to Atlanta where he'll have a far better QB throwing to him than he did in college. A lot of its luck,just got to hope you get drafted by a stable franchise with a winning mentality. Ive seen great college players with legit NFL talent get drafted by crap teams with no discipline & a constant coaching carousel & the player isn't as focused as he would be in a solid,no-nonsense franchise with head coaching stability.Often times the player never realizes his potential in part because of playing for a chaotic,poorly run team (Browns,Bills,Raiders the obvious candidates of lousy franchises the past 10-15 yrs or so)
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Thats a good point Chop, I would have drafted a QB to put a rocket up Kap, or at least provide some competition. Kap needs a good season next year or they could cut him loose. Connor Cook or local boy Jared Goff could be QB options in next years draft. Whilst the Niners are rebuilding they may as well incorporate a new QB if Kap doesn't pan out.
Jimbo
Guest
You must be sweating on Jarryd Hayne making the final roster then!
Chop
Roar Guru
And they didn't draft a QB either !!!! San Fran have 8 RB's and 8 TE's on their current roster. They did make a good trade to get the extra picks but did nothing with them.
Chop
Roar Guru
The fact he's already signed a contract with San Francisco and wasn't eligible for the draft might have been an issue !
Worlds Biggest
Guest
As a Niners fan this was draft was an unmitigated disaster. Where do we start, Rd 1 - development player who likely wont contribute straight away, didn't make a lot of plays at Oregon Rd 2 - unknown safety who we could have got later, it wasn't a need anyway Rd 3 - OLB, the best value pick and could play early Rd 4 - 3 picks - RB from South Carolina, how did the last one work out, converted TE with one year experience and an injured WR Rd 5 - a punter ??? say no more Rd 6 & 7 - Two OL and another TE, the Niners now have 8 Tight ends on the roster ?? Jed York and Trent Baalke are doing a fine job of destroying the Club.
J73
Guest
As a Bronco fan I was pleased with their draft. This was my first time getting really into it, with NFL app, it's just a constant flow of great content, and I hope the NRL go down this line and not opt for a watered down external draft with multiple local junior concessions. It's really interesting the changing media landscape, my son and I were in an NFL tipping comp for the first time and whilst we are both keen NRL supporters, NFL is not far behind, this is despite us both being active in other sports. I first started following the NFL about a decade ago when I went to the Super Bowl, I parked my interest for a while, but the on and off field professionalism just has so much to it. It really is a game of chess.
AGO74
Guest
I find it amazing how the NFL with such a short season (roughly 20-21 weeks) can be such a constant year round discussion. The draft is incredible in the way it is played out for weeks in advance. For sure the top echelon of players - Winston, Mariota etc - reasonably command attention, but even with those guys there is still a fair amount of pot luck involved let alone for the blokes further down. And for the fans of say Baltimore or Carolina who picked at roughly 25, 26 - are there fans really going to have much of an idea of who it is they even pick in round 1?! And this is before you even get into the 2nd, 3rd and all the way down to 7th round. Maybe I'm underestimating the average NFL fans knowledge...! Some of the best quarterbacks in the game - Brady (almost Mr Irrelevant!), Rodgers, Wilson, Brees - weren't even taken in the 1st round,or if taken in 1st round nowhere near no 1 . Only Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck are your true no 1 elite QB'S. Don't get me wrong, its a great event and the NFL could seemingly sell ice to the eskimos, but as you say Ed, the draft is ultimately a crapshoot!
joe
Guest
The Missouri deal is more a coincidence than anything. It happens time to time with various schools where its off field issues with one player after another It wasnt too far back that Florida under Urban Meyer had a constant string of players with major runs-ins with off field crap.But they were winning National Titles a lot of it was swept under the rug.
Ed Wyatt
Expert
Thanks for the correction Nate. I've made a change to reflect the possession charge.
Ed Wyatt
Expert
As a Broncos fan myself, I don't disagree with the pick at all. And it certainly doesn't mean he's a "bad" guy. The Missouri thing did intrigue me though. Thanks for commenting!
joe
Guest
I agree with you Nate,Shane Ray dropping because of a minor infraction like smoking weed was a gift for Denver & was worth it to trade up a few spots to secure him. With him & Von Miller the primary pass rushers its gives Denver the ability to use an older player like Demarcus Ware more sparingly,keeping him fresh for later in the season. On paper the Broncos will have a potentially dominant defense this season. Their big question mark heading into the season is at QB.
Nate
Guest
Shane Ray was done for possession, not smoking weed. Glad the Broncos took the risk, I think with Ware and Von mentoring him he could become one of the steals of the draft. That pass rush is going to be scary.