NFL Invites 9 Players to NYC for Draft

Last year, everything worked out. The NFL invited six players to Radio City Music Hall for the NFL Draft, and all were chosen with the first six selections. It hasn't always been that way; in 2007, a forlorn Brady Quinn spent six excruciating hours -- the last few out of camera shot in Roger Goodell's private viewing room -- waiting to hear his name called.

Two years before that, Aaron Rodgers sat uncomfortably through 23 picks before the Packers finally ended the misery and drafted him 24th.

And in two weeks, a record nine players will be in New York for the draft. Via FoxSports.com's Alex Marvez:

The list includes three tackles (Baylor's Jason Smith, Virginia's Eugene Monroe and Mississippi's Michael Oher), two quarterbacks (Georgia's Matthew Stafford and Kansas State's Josh Freeman), two linebackers (Wake Forest's Aaron Curry and Southern Cal's Brian Cushing), Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree and Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo.

My first thought: somebody's definitely getting stuck in the Aaron Rodgers Memorial Green Room. The draft is such an unpredictable proposition; between the trades and not really knowing what NFL head coaches, scouts and front office-types are thinking, just about anything can happen.

Two recent examples: the Vikings drafted wideout Troy Williamson seventh overall in 2005 with disastrous results. The following April, the Raiders selected safety Michael Huff No. 7, and the Bills took safety Donte Whitner a pick later. All surprising picks at the time. (Williamson is now in Jacksonville, Huff has been underwhelming, and Whitner has been solid but not spectacular ... among other things.)

But Marvez writes that adding drama to the draft might be part of the plan:

The expanded field will bring more star power to Draft Central at Radio City Music Hall. It also may provide a more compelling telecast if one of the invitees slides into the later part of the first round a la quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Aaron Rodgers in recent years.

Yes, because nothing makes for compelling television like having Suzy Kolber or Adam Schefter interview a dejected 22-year-old on national television. Here's a thought: If everyone's so bored with the never-ending spectacle that the draft has become, shorten the time between picks. Hardly original, but certainly preferable to hoping that one of the poor saps stuck in the green room doesn't hear his name called till the second round.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-11-2009 @ 11:46AM

BlueStarDude said...

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I absolutely do not like watching some poor kid sit there waiting to here his name called for an hour. In fact, I just assume they don't invite anybody. They don't need to be there in person to do post-pick interviews.

I watch to see good analysis and breaking news (thank you Mike Mayock and Adam Schefter -- can the NFL Network please kick everyone else off the set?). Please, only hardcore football fans watch the draft. We want real football talk, along with the occasional interview. We don't want "more star power".

You mentioned the word "underwhelming," you might as well have said Goodell-like.

4-11-2009 @ 11:53AM

ryan said...

BSD,

Couldn't agree more. Presumably, people don't tune in for the green room story lines. I want Mayock to regale me with insane minutiae about each player, that's it.

What I don't want is to have to look at some poor kid's face after every pick as his agent realizes that maybe he should've declined the NYC invite.

4-11-2009 @ 12:04PM

Adam said...

Freeman but not Sanchez?

Before I'd change who gets invited, I'd change the audience. I don't see why the need to have all those people there cheering or booing. Why not just have it as a press conference sort of thing, and skip Radio City?

4-11-2009 @ 1:47PM

brett said...

I think they invited Sanchez but he turned them down, but there hoping to change his mind and announce it next week.

4-11-2009 @ 2:56PM

Mr.G said...

Yeah,Freeman over Sanchez does not make any sense.Sanchez is a top 10 pick for sure,Freeman may sit til early 2nd round.

4-11-2009 @ 3:05PM

Phillip said...

Not all of the 9 invitees will be high first round picks, so they will be definitely sitting for a few hours. If they don't want the cameras to look upon them in the Green room, do what Sanchez is doing...stay at home with your family. Sanchez is probably doing the smart thing because right now, any number of teams could take him (Sea at #4, SF at #10, Den at #12, Was at #13). But these teams greatest need right now is at QB. Sea and SF could use another WR or OT. Den needs help everywhere on defense, and Was needs an OT, a DE, and a LB. Barring any trades, guys like Josh Freeman and Michael Oher could fall to the mid to late first round area. However, the NFL likes the storylines, otherwise why invite more draftees?

4-11-2009 @ 3:07PM

I meant to write...But NONE of these teams greatest need right now is at QB.

4-11-2009 @ 6:16PM

Chris Burke said...

Sanchez turned down an invite. I'm not sure if Freeman was then offered a spot or if they were all invited to begin with, but Sanchez didn't want to go.

4-11-2009 @ 3:46PM

broncosfan24 said...

the whole idea to me is very stupid!!

4-11-2009 @ 8:47PM

becarefulangel said...

The time between picks is in dire need of a shortening. Seriously, I'm a hardcore NFL fan and I don't watch the draft because I just don't have the attention span.