It Must Be Cool Being Drafted in the NFL

During our watching of the draft, blogging the draft and critiquing the draft ... we tend to forget that 255 young men have one of the greatest experiences in life. That's how many guys were selected in the 2007 NFL Draft. And whether you are JaMarcus Russell [pick #1] or Ramzee Robinson [pick #255], seeing your name up on the draft board had to be exciting.

We all know of the guys who were whisked around New York this week, sitting in the green room knowing they were going to be drafted early. Even Brady Quinn, who dropped to #22, knew he was going somewhere. But many guys not only didn't know where or when they'd be drafted ... but if they'd be drafted at all. Many of those guys sat in front of a television watching the same ESPN or NFL Network coverage that you or I was watching.

One of those guys was Kenny Irons, the Auburn running back who the Bengals selected with the 49th pick. Now, Irons knew someone would draft him, but had no idea where he'd go. Irons was holding a family draft party in the endzone of his high school football stadium when he saw his name appear at the bottom of ESPN's running draft graphic. The Gwinnett Daily Post was there.

The friends and family were milling around, talking and eating snacks when right there at the bottom of the screen the name appeared: Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn. The crowd immediately erupted in applause and cheers. There was lots of shouting and high-fives, and even a few tears. And it was fitting that the celebration was taking place in the Dacula end zone considering how much time Kenny spent there during his playing days with the Falcons.

Most of us usually pick our employment. We fill out an application, turn in a resume and interview for a job. Eventually, we get a phone call or letter telling us we got the gig. In the NFL, you do the same kind of thing ... except theirs is a sorta job fair where employers just start picking up the applicants, on live TV no less. Imagine sitting there wondering not only what job you'll get, but what city it will be in. What weather you'll perform in. At that moment, seeing your name flash on the screen, everything in your life changes. Somebody wanted you. Of all the people left out there, they wanted you.

Irons was sitting in that endzone in a small Georgia town ... seeing that he will be moving to Cincinnati. Not only that, but he will be on a team that has sights set on a Super Bowl and involved in one of the NFL's best offenses. He will be receiving hand-offs from Carson Palmer, an All-Pro and Heisman winner. Of course, Irons is one of the lucky ones who is pretty sure he'll make the team.

There will be plenty that saw their name appear on ESPN that know they have a fight ahead of them. They'll report to their teams and start fighting for one of limited roster spots. They'll be the guys with the weird numbers during those "meaningless" preseason games this August. To some of them, that will be the highlight of their NFL career. Well, besides today.