http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...cornerback-darius-slay-gets-draft-invitation/ Interesting. I've been thinking he could possibly go as high as the early 2nd round lately. Could he sneak into the 1st?
He is a replacement at the event for Trufant who dropped out due to his grandfather's illness. For Slay to go in the 1st means 3 corners already have. I'm more surprised that Watson is going to be there. Does that mean they will have to serve tea and crumpets in the blue room?
I read an article the other day about the NFL 'going global', so the people that are invited aren't necessarily first rounders, but trying to get different kinds of guys there on draft day. There could still be some guys in the blue room come day three.
Watson is there because of me. Quite literally. The idea of inviting all these players to the draft is nonsense. The top two or three should be there, the rest should have cameras in their homes like they used to have when picks were actually picks and not ruined by either ESPN or the NFL Network trying to outdo each other or idiots on Twitter
Watson is there bc of you, or with your help? That's a hell of a claim. And we need to remember that they was people there for the first 3 rounds, now that the draft is a 3 day process
Slay may not be present on the first day. Since they started the new format I thought they had a group of people there for the 2nd (and maybe 3rd?) day as well.
Curious, How do you feel about a NFL franchise in Europe? I know they are trying tp globalize the game but is it realistic considering distance and time?
I know from speaking to him when he was over in October that Shad Khan would like to have that franchise, but realistically I don't think it will happen. The fan base here is small but knowledgeable and they've generally been fans of their teams for a long time. So people go to Wembley once a season to see regular season NFL action regardless of the teams. But to ask fans to go and see 8 Jags games, a team that has a minimal fan base, is not going to happen. I think the NFL would soon find those 90,000 capacities down to about 30k very quickly.
I had a dream that Lane Johnson was available at 12 and they passed over him for Desmond Trufant. It was not a happy dream.
The Blind Side part II- Watson is the best draft story of the year. Exceedingly talented and hard working guy who found a way overseas to escape poverty and a very rough childhood/adolescence. When you take an almost uniquely physically talented OT with his size, reflexes, brute strength and coordination that have been bolstered with extensive boxing and basketball training and add a fanatical devotion to the game, you end up with a fantastic prospect. I love the story and I love the tape on this guy- I would also love to have him on the Dolphins but I don't see him making it out of the first round. Green Bay is a possibility, Baltimore has been sniffing as well- bookends Blind Sides I & II. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/luke_winn/02/01/Menelik.Watson/index.html http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130405/2013-nfl-draft-menelik-watson/
Odd I had a dream about a week ago we drafted Tavon Austin. I'm not as in love with him as others but I would be happy with the pick. I still think we end up stealing Brandon Albert for 3A either on draft day or right before it.
I'll agree with all that. The more they change the draft to supposedly improve it for fans, the more they make it worse IMO. If it were up to me, they'd go back to the Saturday noon eastern time start and do the whole thing in 2 days. I do not like this prime time setup they have now. My friend and I used to get together for the first day of the draft for years. Eat pizza and watch the coverage of the first 3 rounds. On the west coast now with the prime time start, people working have to often miss the first part of the first round because they are still getting home from work. For one round, it's not worth the effort to get together with friends to watch it when they live so far away. Also, the two networks announcing the pick before the commissioner reads it pisses me off too.
I think the shots of players celebrating at home with their family/friends are usually better than the draft room ones anyway, plus it usually takes them half an hour to get to the commish through all the congratulators, interviewers and hangers-on, lol. The most annoying shot I see of the draft room though, is when a player is taking a call from the team to say they've been drafted, spoils any sort of suspense about who will be announced.
I couldn't agree more! It's such a buzzkill the draft starting on a weeknight. What was wrong with the old way? I used to party, now it's ruined....
He genuinely is there because of us. He's possibly going to be the first British player to go in round one so we asked the NFL if he could be there and given that Hunt and Ansah are non American possible number ones, they agreed, mainly because we have radio and TV crew out there following him.
I know he has a chance to be a 1st rounder, but if you had to put money on it, do you really think he would be?
Iggie was a classic. So many good scenes, and I always associate the Stevie Wonder Song "You Are the Apple of MY Eye" with him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HvmtbZzA40 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtuIol9aYnw