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More Draft Improvements
Authored by Randolph Charlotin - 1st May, 2008 - 6:46 pm
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It was a simple move, but it was the best change to the NFL Draft in years, if not ever. And all it took was eight minutes.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reduced the time limit of each selection for the first two rounds. He lopped five minutes off the first round and trimmed three minutes from the second round.
It doesn’t sound like much until you do the math. This decision saved at least two hours and 35 minutes in the first round and possibly an hour and 36 minutes from the second. That’s a difference of just over four hours! So even though the draft started three hours later, the first two rounds finished ahead of last year’s marathon session.
Bravo, Goodell! But don’t get comfortable. Enjoy the pats on your back briefly, but those congratulatory taps are also encouragement to do more.
There is at least one idea on your mind, but here are some more suggestions:
Rookie Salary Cap: You will raise this issue with the Players Association, and it will be hard for them to reject the idea. The draft is meant to help the worst teams, but committing huge amounts of money to first round rookies prevents the bad teams from turning the franchise around if the kid doesn’t pan out. It handcuffs a team from making the necessary free agent signings of productive veterans to improve the roster. But also, the veterans probably don’t appreciate the fact that a player who hasn’t played a pro down will make more than guys that paid their dues. I’m sure there are a number of offensive linemen angered by the contract signed by Miami’s first pick overall Jake Long that makes him the highest paid lineman in the league.
Centralize: Annually the NFL takes over Radio City Music Hall for the draft, but it’s for more than just for the weekend. Days of preparation go into setting up the event, from location of every team table, assembling the blue room, testing all phone lines, microphones and radios, etc. Wouldn’t it just be easier for every team to assemble their HQ either within RCMH or at a nearby hotel? It shouldn’t be that hard to pack all draft value boards, charts, scouting reports, and whatever and transport them to New York City. It would be another step to streamline the draft process.
No Cell Phone Use: If all the teams’ scouts and coaches are all in one place, who needs cell phones? If people have something to say to each other, go down the hall, take the elevator up two floors and knock on the door. All teams will know where each other’s Draft Huddle is located. So if they want to offer a trade, either take a short walk or call from room to room. Usually at a hotel it’s a free service.
Trade Auctions: Instead of playing phone tag and engaging in mind games, how about some transparency? Whoever wants to make offers to move up or down in the draft get together and publicly make offers and counter-offers. When a team is on the clock, they will listen to the offers and select the preferred package of draft picks and/or players. The bidding adds excitement as teams go back and forth raising the stakes to see who backs down. And the animosity between franchises builds as the team on the clock accepts a lesser offer because they won’t help a divisional rival get better and their expense.
Turn the Tables: Two months ago at the NFL Combine players were subjected to Wonderlick tests, film breakdowns, and various tests of athletic ability. Prospects performed a second time at their alma mater during pro days. When they were invited for private visits, rookies were again poked, prodded, and tested. For all that they went through, they would love to see the tables turned. For every draft pick a team makes, someone is selected to run the pick from their table through a Battle of the Network Stars-like obstacle course and to the stage. Challenges change as there are multiple routes the HQ representative is directed to take. And unless there’s a medical reason, anyone within HQ is eligible. So if you’re a nosy owner who thinks buying a franchise bestowed upon you infinite football knowledge…yup, you too. The league picks the runner and informs the team who it is the moment they are on the clock. That’s important because the time to run the obstacle course is included in the total time limit. In the late rounds the obstacle course is taken down,and it becomes a sprint with the same rules. Bill Parcells, bring your track shoes.
Minnesota on the Clock: The first time the Vikings didn’t get their pick in before time expired, it was funny. But the second time was embarrassing. To prevent that, fix their first round clock to read 90 seconds less than the rest of the league. Second round, 75 seconds, third and fourth minus 60, and fifth through seventh a 45-second difference. Secrecy is of paramount importance because if they know their clocks are fixed, they might get lax.
On second thought, don’t bring up the last offer. I’m not saying scrap the ideal. The whole point is to make sure the Vikings don’t know about it.
