There's been a lot of positive buzz the past few weeks regarding the changes commissioner Roger Goodell and the league have made to the NFL Draft format. Fresh off last year's annual marathon weekend, the event should consume much less time this time around.
Yet, whereas I like the decision to shorten the time between first-round picks from 15 to 10 minutes, I'm not so sure about the 3 p.m. EST start time that comes with it. Call me a cynic, but I think this minor change could have major disaster written all over it.
Fans will be up early on Draft Day just like they always are they have the date circled for months. Those attending the event will be commuting into New York from who knows where, ready to relish in the biggest day of the football year outside of the Super Bowl. They'll be up at the crack of dawn regardless, raring to go. What's a 3 p.m. start time mean over the traditional noon one?
Well, three more hours to "pre-game" at a local bar or tavern down the road from Radio City Music Hall. Fans come into the draft excited, eager, and downright maniacal as is. Give them three more hours to "warm up" with the prospect of NBA and NHL weekend playoff games airing on flat screens in all the local pubs nearby? It could get interesting.
And if the Jets the hometown team with the sixth overall pick opt to somehow pass on Darren McFadden if he's still on the board? Well, then it could get downright ugly.
Either way, let's hope the Radio City Music Hall ushers get a good night's rest the evening before. I have a feeling they'll have their hands full on Saturday.
Though I commend the commissioner and his advisory committee on shortening the draft's overall length it was absolutely necessary there's one change to the event I'd still like to see be made in the near future:
The league needs to install an NFL Draft lottery system.
