NFL Draft to Expand to Three Days; First Round in Prime Time
by Christopher Gates on Jul 24, 2009 11:19 AM CDT
in NFL
Email
PrintYesterday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell notified the 32 NFL teams that the 2010 NFL Draft would be a three-day affair rather than the standard two days that we've come to get used to.
Not only will it be a three-day affair, but the first round will take place on Thursday night, 22 April, starting at 7:30 PM Eastern/6:30 Central. Rounds 2 and 3 will take place on Friday, 23 April, beginning at 6:30 PM Eastern/5:30 Central. The fourth through seventh rounds will be held starting at 10:00 AM Eastern/9:00 Central on Saturday, 24 April. There won't be anything relating to the draft on Sunday because, hey, who wants to watch something relating to the NFL on a Sunday?
From a personal standpoint, I really, really hate this idea and can't understand why on Earth the NFL would go this route. Yes, having the first round in "prime time" might bring in extra money and that sort of thing, but let's take a look at this. If you're starting the first round of the draft at 7:30 PM Eastern time. . .figure five or ten minutes for yapping between the NFL Network/ESPN guys before the Commissioner officially kicks off the proceedings. Then, you've got 32 first round selections, each of which can take up to 10 minutes. . .and that's if there aren't any trades or any other shenanigans taking place.
That's 320 minutes. . .which, if my math is correct, is right around five hours and twenty minutes. This means you're looking at Round One concluding right around 1:00 AM Friday morning on the East Coast. And this is going to sound weird and everything, but there are lots of football fans that have to. . .get this. . .WORK on Friday. If you've got to get to work on Friday, who the heck is going to stay up until one in the morning watching the first round of the Draft? Nobody that has any desire to keep their job, that's who.
I don't get why they feel the need to make this a three day event in the first place, but if you're going to go that route, why not make it Friday/Saturday/Sunday? Is it entirely because the prime time viewership on Thursday night is, presumably, that much higher than it is on Friday night?
What do you folks think of this move? Do you like the NFL going to three days, or is the NFL just totally screwing with a good thing here?
16 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
all about the $$
thursday prime time viewership is a lot more than friday. a LOT. friday prime time is the worst prime time of the week.
i’ll stay up and watch it though. i’ll want to see who the vikings pick at 1:00am.
by iseepurplepeople on Jul 24, 2009 12:16 PM CDT reply actions
Yeah, I figured as much
But, yes. . .I’ll be up as well, waiting to see who the Vikings select with the 32nd pick in Round 1.
The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!
by Christopher Gates on Jul 24, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes, I'm going there.
Grammar police! “their” should be “they’re.” Yeah, I went there.
Visit:
http://www.vikingvigil.com
Skol Vikings!
Woot Woot!
Nah
You see, in the modern NFL Draft, with there being 32 teams, the Super Bowl Champs receive the 32nd pick in the draft.
It’s simple, really. (-:
The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!
by Christopher Gates on Jul 25, 2009 7:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Stupid
They’re going to string the draft out over 3 days, instead of 2, yet still only hold 7 draft rounds? If I understood that correct, and that’s the deal… that’s really stupid.
I won’t watch more than the first day. The rest I can wait and pick up on when it’s done, I’m not going to devote the time across 3 days to 7 draft rounds.
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
SKOL!
I agree DC
I watch all the draft I can. It is a holiday for me and I’ll sit and munch while taking it all in. But 3 days! Is it going to be dragged out interviews and highlights. No thanks.
If they go with this mess at least add an 8th round pick.
Anyway, I thought it worked great this year. Just leave it as is.
by CitrusFLViking on Jul 24, 2009 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions
This actually makes me mad. I am a huge of the draft (the name is future for a reason) and haven’t missed watching the entire two days of the draft in years. Now the draft starts at 4:30pm my time on a Thursday. So now us west coasters might catch the last few picks of the first if we hurry home, maybe. Same with the Friday start. I for one, always looked forward to draft weekend. It was basically a free pass. I would tell the girlfriend and other family members weeks ahead of time that I wouldn’t be available, while some friends and I would spend the weekend around the couch, drinking beer, and trying to predict the next pick for our favorite teams, and basically goof off. No work, no family functions, no honey-do list, just a free weekend in front of the TV. Now that’s all gone.
Office, 30 Rock > NFL Draft
Bad idea. Is the draft actually going to start at 7:30 or is it going to be 30 minutes of pre-draft coverage? In which case the actual start time is 8:00pm EST.
by Timothy De Block on Jul 24, 2009 1:56 PM CDT reply actions
Slightly modified:
Just listen, I forgot to tell you the plan for this Sunday. You, me, bars, beers, buzzed. Wings. Shots. Drunk. Waitresses, hot. Football – Vikings/Packers. Slaughter. Then a quick nap at my place and we’ll hit the tiz-own.
Visit:
http://www.vikingvigil.com
Skol Vikings!
Woot Woot!
if it works dont fudge with it
Leave it the way it was. Same with the timing of the pro bowl,
by koooolaid1087 on Jul 24, 2009 2:41 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
It's all about the benjamins...
‘extra money’ kind of understates it. Lets be honest, they could do the draft via email and post a list for all the regular sports shows to talk about, but that wouldn’t generate millions of ‘extra’ dollars…
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
