PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan ) – President Trump has extended the time of social distancing until the end of April, that hasn’t, nor should it, affect the NFL Draft.
There is no reason the league year couldn’t continue, it doesn’t affect any of the new rules we must all adhere to.
There are no more fans at the event.
For years the draft has been a phone call from a guy at team headquarters to another guy in New York. Go back to that safe process.
For players who can’t walk across the stage to get their jersey from Roger Goddell, that sucks, but that tradition has only happened for a couple of decades and there likely will be a virtual substitute, so they will get their moment of fame.
I saw the subcommittee of general managers recommended to postpone the draft, citing lack of time for physicals, psychological testing, getting more information on the players and some teams having to work from home.
All understandable points, but all are at the same level. Let the best front office win.
Let us go back to the days where instinct and trust played a bigger role. The days of Bill Nunn scouting the teams no one else would and convincing management to believe his evaluations.
“What I’ve reminded our staff and our scouts from the very beginning of this whole process since the changes with the rules, I reminded them of the 1974 draft that the Steelers conducted and got 5 Hall of Famers,” Steelers GM Kevin Colbert told Steelers.com.
“They didn’t have pro days, they didn’t have combines. They relied on what they felt they were as football players.”
There is plenty of tape, plenty of relationships, for organizations to find this year’s talent pool. Maybe this will be a throwback year where scouts recommended football players, not just numbers on a sheet as it may be for some teams.
I’m excited to see the results of this draft and what teams can work through the adversity we are given. What teams thrive when the situation is tough and can build a class for the future, without many of the bells and whistles.
This is about football. Let us see out who can find football players.
And for the crowd who believes the NFL and commissioner are disobeying our leaders orders by holding this event—remember, not one of our leaders asked us to curl up in a ball in the fetal position, they asked us to continue to work and strive and believe, but with social distancing.
This may just be the event we need in late April to not only distract us, but show there will again be a day where games happen.