COMBINE MADNESS
There is such a thirst for football that the NFL has missed a great opportunity. It could commission production of a beer called NFL Draft.
The draft was once a dreary and boring day-long affair held in a New York City hotel. No TV coverage. All 12 rounds conducted on a Tuesday, starting at 8:30 a.m.
The draft is now shorter and longer. It has fewer rounds, but as a TV product is a stunning attraction that extends over three days. This year it leaves NYC for Chicago (April 30-May 2).
As a prelude to the restocking of rosters through the draft, the NFL holds a scouting combine in Indianapolis. It concludes on Monday after roughly a week of medical exams, physical testing and psychological probing by the teams of the collegians hopeful of turning pro.
This event also was once a quiet and closed affair. The NFL claimed admittance of media or fans would be a distraction and the confidential information obtained by outsiders would compromise life as we know it.
Hah. The NFL found a way to make money on the combine and opened it up when it formed the NFL Network in 2004. Now the league issues credentials to roughly 2,000 media types and televises the workouts. Want to see a large fellow bench-press 225 pounds 22 times? Want to see a lean and hungry receiver run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds? The combine is the place for you.
The show now moves on, to private workouts and campus ‘Pro Day’ extravaganzas, giving players another chance to show their skills and the teams more time to overthink them.
Me? I would like a nice, cold glass of NFL Draft.
Iggy Azalea Is Quitting?!
-
Correa joined the Mets with a $315 million contract. Recently, baseball player Carlos Correa announced that he had cut...
-
Oklahoma and Texas will depart from the college sports conference at the end of the season. The Big 12...
-
Robert Kraft wants to re-sign Brady just long enough that he can retire as a Patriot. Earlier this week,...
-
The skilled third-baseman will be enshrined in Cooperstown. Scott Rolen is one of the most skilled and recognized third-basemen...
-
Brady’s 23rd football season has ended. On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys went head-to-head for...
-
Smith has been fired after one season with the team. Over the weekend, the owners of the Houston Texans...
-
Pelé passed due to complications related to colon cancer. On Thursday night, the sporting world received unfortunate news: Pelé,...
-
His return heralded a victory over the Phoenix Suns. On Sunday, Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas needed to take...
-
Mayfield will be available on waiver to other NFL teams. After an underwhelming performance in his current role as...
-
Mike White led the team to a decisive victory over the Bears over the weekend. On Saturday, the New...
-
The game has been moved out of New York due to an encroaching snowstorm. This weekend, the Buffalo Bills...
-
Negative pushback prompted the team to give the role to someone else. Recently, the Brooklyn Nets have been in...