NFL Draft Changes

**camdenyard** · 10-23-2007, 01:43 PM

Trust the NFL to screw with a good thing. This is bad news for those who like to party on draft day at the stadium. This is the first step to shoving the first round to Prime Time.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3075663

PHILADELPHIA -- The NFL on Tuesday cut from 15 minutes to 10 the time between picks in the first round of its draft after a 2007 record round of 6 hours and 8 minutes.

It also moved the starting time of the draft from noon ET to 3 p.m. and limited the first day to two rounds instead of three.

"We believe this will make for a more streamlined and efficient draft," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement issued during the league owners meetings.

**highwater** · 10-23-2007, 01:48 PM

I'm all for cutting the first round selection time from 15 minutes to 10, because 15 minutes is just way too long (unless you're the Vikings). But why move the starting time back? And why only two rounds on Saturday? If they're cutting the first round selection time to ten minutes per team, they surely can keep the third round on Saturday. I don't get it.

**Bez513** · 10-23-2007, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by highwater

I'm all for cutting the first round selection time from 15 minutes to 10, because 15 minutes is just way too long (unless you're the Vikings). But why move the starting time back? And why only two rounds on Saturday? If they're cutting the first round selection time to ten minutes per team, they surely can keep the third round on Saturday. I don't get it.

Agreed....1 step forward.....2 steps back.

**deuce** · 10-23-2007, 02:05 PM

10 minutes is good IMO. Hate the 3pm start though.

**UKRavenStockers** · 10-23-2007, 02:14 PM

10 minutes per selection = good
3pm EDT start = 8pm GMT = Bad

Cutting down from 15 minutes is very very good, it was way too long and all anyone ever did was sit on their pick for their full allotment of time waiting for some block buster draft even if they know who they want! Heck the Texans took five minutes to pick Mario Williams last year even though he'd already signed a contract.

Cutting a round from day one doesn't make much sense to me, but then is anyone still paying attention by round 3? I honestly don't know the answer to that because I'm usually well asleep, honest question is round 3 a great loss? Surely if you're partying your well gone caring and being able to talk about the draft by that point?

**JimBone** · 10-23-2007, 03:28 PM

I like the changes. The first round was way too long and now day two has a little more quality of picks w/ the third round. I do enjoy going to the stadium but, w/ the draft taking so long u never got to see the Ravens pick unless it was a bad year.Like camdenyard said this moves the draft into primetime which is fine by me as long as ESPN doesn't ruin like they have Monday Night Football. I'm sure they will.

**pyite32** · 10-23-2007, 03:30 PM

what the hell am I going to do from 12 to 3 now?

**festivus** · 10-23-2007, 03:35 PM

Is it too early in the year to mow the lawn?

**ravensfan1996** · 10-23-2007, 03:37 PM

I like the 10mins time as well, always takes forever to get thru round one. Most people only watch the first 2 rounds anyway....i dont see this effecting the stadium thing though, if all teams took 10 mins to pick thats still 10hrs of time! If the draft starts at 3pm, they could go from 1-6pm and people can still ahve fun and see the first round pick.

**pyite32** · 10-23-2007, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by festivus

Is it too early in the year to mow the lawn?

Either way, I live in the City... No lawn! Man this ruins my whole draft day, I had it all planned out.

**pyite32** · 10-23-2007, 03:43 PM

To be serious.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to remember that after the first two rounds they stop even showing the picks on TV. All you see it the talking heads repeating the same crap over and over again and you have to watch the bottom line to see who was picked.

**ravenwoman** · 10-24-2007, 06:34 AM

I like the changes. Fifteen minutes in the first 2 rounds is ridiculous. As far as the spring festival goes, I have only been there one or two times where our team has made the first round selection. Maybe now, the draft day coverage will be more interesting, more fast moving.

**Mista T** · 10-24-2007, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by camdenyard

Trust the NFL to screw with a good thing. This is bad news for those who like to party on draft day at the stadium.

Typical of the NFL -- out of touch with its Joe Six-pack fan base. Maybe this will help spur Draft Day events on the West Coast, but I believe it will wind up killing them off elsewhere. Many/most fans aren't going to wait around the stadium until 5 pm for the Ravens pick. Look at the low attendance when they held "Spring Festival" events as opposed to Draft Days.

**gusbus52** · 10-24-2007, 10:24 AM

Stadium Event 10-2
Leave
Get to Draft Party on time at 3

With it starting at 3, I think more people will be inclined to go to the stadium then before the Draft Starts, so you get the best of both worlds. Having the 3rd Round on Sunday at least will make that Day more interesting.