Banning cell phones at the draft

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Originally Posted by jmcdon00

The players have no say, they are just pawns.
This is an NFL event. Goodell has done a good job of making the draft a television event, even rolling out the red carpet, and moving it to prime time.
Ever see anyone at the Oscars talking on their cell phone when their name is called?

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Ever see a last minute trade happen at the Oscars?

Completely different type of event, my friend. Virtually no commonality. If players were talking on phones or texting during an award ceremony, I'd be right there with you....

But they aren't.

This is a draft. A smorgasbord of soon-to-be overpaid, over pampered prima-donnas who are waiting to see which of the 32 franchises are going to over pay for their dubious services, and thereby grant them, their friends, and their families a windfall of cash and prizes. Who cares if they are on the phone. They have agents, team GMs, family, and friends to keep up to date on their status. They have important questions to answer, like, "What is the square root of 16"...to which they will answer, "Guatemala".

This isn't a solemn occasion like a funeral or a religious event. This isn't an award ceremony. It's not even the previews to upcoming movies. It's just the draft. And if the phones bother you that much, turn around and just listen to the draft...that way you can feign surprise when the announcement is made.

As for me, I couldn't care less. There are far bigger issues to get upset about than the players cell phones.

Caine

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Originally Posted by Webby

How did they do all the negotiations before cell phones i wonder?

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Telegram for Mongo!

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Originally Posted by Caine

Who cares if they are on the phone. They have agents, team GMs, family, and friends to keep up to date on their status. They have important questions to answer, like, "What is the square root of 16"...to which they will answer, "Guatemala".

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Did they post Claiborne's Wonderlic answers somewhere that I missed?

I just get the feeling we're going to have to wait the full 10 minutes before the Colts state they'll take Luck & another full 10 minutes before the Skins state they'll take RGIII.

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Originally Posted by singersp

I just get the feeling we're going to have to wait the full 10 minutes before the Colts state they'll take Luck & another full 10 minutes before the Skins state they'll take RGIII.

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And then another full 10 minutes while the Vikings nations sweats it out, wondering what Spielman will do... :) I honestly don't know what will happen - makes it kind of exciting (terrifying)... ;)

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Originally Posted by NodakPaul

And then another full 10 minutes while the Vikings nations sweats it out, wondering what Spielman will do... :) I honestly don't know what will happen - makes it kind of exciting (terrifying)... ;)

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he'll wait till there is .02 left on the clock and announce we traded the pick with the new england patriots for a swap of this years and next year's #1... and then vikings nation will curse Spielman as we wait 5 hours to see the first pick... lol

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Originally Posted by bleedpurple

he'll wait till there is .02 left on the clock and announce we traded the pick with the new england patriots for a swap of this years and next year's #1... and then vikings nation will curse Spielman as we wait 5 hours to see the first pick... lol

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At least if we trade out of the first round we won't have wasted all of Thursday night for our pick to not get one like we did with the whole Chris Cook trade!

NFL, NFL Network, ESPN to clamp down on draft-day tip-offs | News | NFL.com

Let's fast forward to next Thursday, opening night of the NFL draft . With the Indianapolis Colts on the clock, time ticking away, the speakers crackle to life: "The pick ... is in."

Before we hear a peep from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the camera cuts to Andrew Luck, huddled over a phone, smiling from ear to ear.

In this case, nobody is surprised, but as we move through the first round, these tip-offs affect the drama of the event.

Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch first reported Wednesday that the NFL, NFL Network and ESPN are discussing ways to avoid revealing top draft picks to viewers before they're announced.

The NFL subsequently confirmed it won't show draftees on the phone in the green room before the announced pick on the first night of the draft.

"It's also in effect for NFL Network and ESPN, which may broadcast from other locations such as a player's house or an agent's office," league spokesman Brian McCarthy told NFL.com on Wednesday.

It's a start, but problems extend to the draft's later rounds as well.

"Every team, scout, GM, etc. has access to the NFL draft's pick database, which is updated once a card is turned in. Much earlier than on TV," tweeted Rotoworld's Josh Norris , who also served time as a scouting intern for the St. Louis Rams . "As soon as you read, 'The pick is in,' (teams) already know who is selected. Amazing how far behind TV gets on the 2nd and especially 3rd days."

Issues remain, but it's a start.

I am glad to hear this!