Suggestions to make the best day of the year even better
If you frequent this site you are obviously a fan of the NFL Draft. Aside from the regular season itself, there is nothing better than watching all the drama unfold in late April. But is it possible to make this blessed event even better? Oh I think so. Here are ten ways to improve our draft day experince.
10. Cut Down All the Extra Analysts on Days 2 and 3
Maybe Berman, Gruden, and Kiper need a break, but we surely don’t want to watch Bill Parcels, Suzy Kolber, Corey Chavous, and Tedi Bruschi sitting on a sofa in some fake living room type set, talking about a certain pick. It is pointless. Just let the guys who are there talk about the selections.
9. More JAWS
Nothing livens up the wee hours of the Draft then a sudden and unexpected Ron Jaworski outburst. This guy always seems to be hopped up on either 8 pots of coffe or two cases of Mt. Dew. There is nothing better to pull us out of that 6th round funk then when Jaws suddenly screams in the middle of an otherwise nondescript sentence.
8. In the Middle of the Draft Have a Pick Up For Grabs
To Keep things interesting maybe at the beginning of round 5 there could be a drawing for an extra pick. Each team gets to put their name in the hat once and the commissioner or someone assigned by the NFL draws the name of the team that gets the bonus pick. This would add some excitement and drama to the middle portions of the draft. Maybe even let the Pro Bowl winning conference each get their names in twice, and give a little meaning to that game.
7. Interview other G.M.s and Have Them Evaluate Other Team’s Picks
A lot of times on Draft Day it has been said by a G.M. or a fan, “If we wouldnt’ have taken him here, then so and so would have grabbed him there.” Is that really true? Maybe it’s time to encourage G.M.s or team spokesmen to come forth and be honest. Let them tear into another team’s pick, or commend it, and tell them where they really ranked that player. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see where other team’s had Christian Ponder ranked on their board, to see how much the Vikings actually reached for him?
6. Have Sunday be Undrafted Coverage
After Mr. Irrelevant is announced, it may be the official end of the Draft, but us die hards want more. There are always a number of talented players left and the signings begin to trickle in almost immediately after that lame Mr. Irrelevant ceremony commences. Why not have a broadcast first showing the top players avaiable and then announcing when and who they sign with as they come in. Afterwards, they could analyze who had the best undrafted class and so forth. It would be a great source for all of us who scrounge around various websites trying to find who is signing where, and it’d be a lot better than watching some pointless top 100 players of 2012 show.
5. Have Fan Cams Set Up
This has been done a little, where they have cameras set up at team sponsored Draft parties. Who can forget the boos from the Dolphins fans when they took Ted Ginn Jr.? But I’m talking about cameras at actual fan parties/houses or let fans submit web cam reactions to their teams picks as they’re made. We’ve all witnessed the jubilation of a popular pick or the outright rage and disgust at an unpopular one. Obviously these couldn’t be aired live due to profanity concerns, but they could be shown later after they’ve been properly censored. Maybe fans could enter a contest to have a “cam” at their draft party. I mean who wouldn’t want to witness a clip like the famous one shown here.
Great Example of Fan Reaction Below:
4. Allow Team War Room Cams
How sweet would it be to see the arguments that teams have before deciding on their pick? Or do they even have arguments? We don’t know because we’ve never been allowed behind those most reclusive doors. Why not let us fans in on the debates, and the power struggles that we only assume happen as a team goes on the clock? It would be sweet but it something that will likley never happen.
3. Announce EVERY Pick Via the Podium
There is nothing more dramatic then those few seconds when the commissioner walks from the side of the stage to the podium holding that card. So why do we only get this for round 1 and part of round 2? Do this for every pick! It would make the viewing process much more exciting then waiting for a little beep and see CURRENT SELECTION rolling across the bottom of the screen.
2. Don’t Show the Players on their Cell Phone Before the Pick is Announced
The NFL should make a rule that no team can contact a player until after the commissioner announces the pick. Nothing ruins the drama of Draft Day then when the camera cuts to the green room and we see a guy on his cell phone crying and talking to the team currently on the clock. I want to see shock or anguish on these players faces as they are just as surprised as we are when the pick gets announced.
1. And for Crying Out Loud Move the Draft back to the Weekend!
The NFL Draft deserves to be on a weekend like it used to be. Having round 1 on Thursday night sucks for various reasons. When we watch the Draft we want to have our favorite beverage on hand and you can’t fully indulge yourself or drink away the sorrow of your team’s pick, if you know you have to get up on Friday and go to work. Also for those of us with kids and wives, it’s a lot easier to get away for part of a weekend than it is for 2 nights and then a whole day. Please Mr. Goodell, move the draft back to the weekend where it belongs. You can keep the 10 minute first round, but let’s start the Draft 10 Am on a Saturday so we can all be good and buzzed by Noon. Fans will tune in no matter when it airs, and the advertisers will follow. We go without football for months and we need a whole weekend to immerse ourselves in football and the the glory of the Draft, not just a week night or two.
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