RockyMountainSaint

Some team execs not thrilled about delayed draft | ProFootballTalk

Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL needs to move the draft from late April to May because of potential scheduling conflict at Radio City Music Hall, where the draft has been held every year since 2006.

According to Don Banks of SI.com, multiple team execs are opposed to the move.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find any football-side person in the league in favor of it,” an unnamed AFC G.M. told Banks. “Unless you consider having more time for draft preparation a benefit, more time for paralysis by analysis, there’s nothing to like. I’ve tried to think of one [positive], but I haven’t yet.”

One unnamed NFC executive doesn’t buy the excuse for the move.

“The league coming out and saying this is because of the Easter Bunny and the [Radio City Spring Spectacular] is almost embarrassing,” the unnamed executive told Banks. “This is the NFL. You think we couldn’t get those dates or make something work if we really wanted to? This is about moving the draft into May for [TV network] sweeps month. I’d rather somebody be honest and come out and just admit that it’s about ratings and TV issues. But I get it. I suppose we all should be thankful in that everybody in the league benefits financially when the league has success from a TV perspective.”

The root of the consternation comes from the stubborn resistance to change demonstrated by coaches and football executives.

“We’re all creatures of habit in this league, and we like things the way they are,” the unnamed NFC club executive told Banks. “Anything new is not going to be popular. We already have too much time to do draft analysis as is, and now maybe we’re going to have another three weeks of it? Next week we actually start working on next year’s draft, but if the draft isn’t held until mid-May, that work doesn’t even begin until June. And then it’s only late June or early July when things finally slow down.”

An unnamed NFL executive knows the fight is coming.

“The football ops people will raise hell,” the unnamed NFL exec said. “There are bunch of issues in play here, so don’t think that it’s done. Coaches and front office executives aren’t going to like not having their hands on their new players for another two or three weeks.

“They’ll say, ‘Hey, we need to get our hands on them and we need to coach them.’ So this could wind up having an effect on some integrity of the game issues, and we need to listen to that. There’s a lot of ground to cover on this and there’s a long way to go. This isn’t over at all.”

Still, it’s clear the NFL wants to nudge the draft into May. Next year, it will happen; the only question is whether the draft starts on May 8 or May 15. After the draft moves to May and the pro football world continues to spin, it’ll be easier for the league office to sell the teams on change moving forward.

Or, if need be, to force change upon them.

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TheOak

Here are the reasons for the move.

1. If you move the draft from April to May you close the gap between the Draft and OTAs. Thus keeping most of these newly drafted "ballers" out of trouble before camp starts. We have all seen the headlines when Drafted Rookies know about their payday and end up arrested for a few different reasons.

2. You add a few weeks to the nerve racking mock-draft scenario period.


3. You keep the fans interest by omitting the period between the Draft and OTAs. Interested fans spend more money.

This is not a schedule issue, it is a revenue and liability issue.

It will be a good thing for BlackandGold.com, the members that come for into on the draft will not vanish for a few weeks, they will stay to find out news from the OTAs.

Rugby Saint II

PFT calling out Goodhell is something I didn't see coming.

This is just another move by a bully to force the teams FO to roll over. The NFL is becoming a bully! They have an agenda and will do what ever it takes to achieve it. I agree with the article in that the teams will cave in closer to TC or just be forced. Which is just what will happen........the move has already been made under the cover of darkness and just now revealed to the world.

Goodhell makes me physically sick to look at him with his arrogant attitude.
I wonder what Karma has in store for him?

saintsfan1976

I thought Rookies didn't get paid until they played (game checks). Besides, players are arrested for dumb **** all year round. So should we shorten the entire offseason??

TheOak

Nothing has been shortened. The time from 0:00 on the Super Bowl clock until the start of OTAs is the same.

When rookies start getting paid and when they start spending that $ are two different discussions. LOL Some of them start spending before the draft.

Getting arrested after your drafted ties that arrest to the NFL and a team. Going from the draft to OTAs shortens that mischief/draft celebration period.

saintsfan1976

Yes, dumb starts about 3 seconds after rich happens. lol

If the NFL/Owners are so concerned, why not require mandatory financial advisers and legal counselling? I mean, if they're so hell-bent on protecting the players and all...?

TheOak

For a newly graduated athlete to show up at the draft with a solid gold watch full of diamonds, stupid has always been there.

The league and the owners change nothing unless it generates more revenue, reduces liability, or prevents a revenue loss. Everything is business driven.

The reason the owners are pushing back is probably because the GMs and coaches are raising hell that they will no longer have the few weeks between the draft and OTAs to plan for the talent they were able to draft. There is typically some cuts and contract renegotiations that go on in that time period if teams were able or not able to draft who they wanted.

homerj07

Screw this crap. Football 52 weeks out of the year. That will raise more money!!!