Comments on: A look back, before the NFL draft got big

By: wyrdawg

wyrdawg — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:29:29 +0000

Greatest post on this site…. ever.

By: nickp91

nickp91 — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:48:55 +0000

Howard Cosell is brought on to give his thoughts, and he blasts the draft as “the most overrated, over-propagandized annual event in American Sport

By: fish751

fish751 — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:37:42 +0000

I’d love to see the draft go back to Sat. & Sun. We used to have a big party and get all the hardcore football fans gathering for the event. I’d be curious to see if this move to 3 days has had that much of an effect on the amount of viewers that they capture.

By: TheWizard

TheWizard — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:06:06 +0000

You can see ashtrays on all of the various team tables. Times have changed (for the better in that regard)

Except that the do-gooders aren’t going to stop with cigarettes. They’ve already moved on to food and obesity, and there will be more after that.

Germany had a big anti smoking movement in the 30′s.

Just sayin.

By: jvibottomline

jvibottomline — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:35:53 +0000

1986 49ers, best complete draft ever, allowed the only two decade dynasty ever in the NFL

By: nycoccet

nycoccet — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:08:17 +0000

Espn should do a segment grading teams drafts since the first televised draft. I think it would be intresting not to mention all of us football junkies will watch anything to Do with football.

By: briang123

briang123 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:42:47 +0000

These videos were just awesome. I have no idea why ESPN Classic isn’t running an edited version of every draft they did this week. Some thoughts: loved seeing Greg Gumbel 30 years ago. They guy has aged well. Howard Cosell was indescribable. I was just a kid watching Cosell so I didn’t really get or appreciate him until much later. Love him or hate him, he was a damn compelling man. Talking about Pete Rozelle out kicking his coverage. Check out his wife, then take a good look at him again. Nice work by him. Loved hearing “who?” after the Raiders picked some tackle. Loved the interviews with random nobodies that acted like they knew something. I checked You Tube for similar draft videos but could not find any. If there are more out there, please commenters or PFT, share them!

By: irememberwhen1947

irememberwhen1947 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:30:44 +0000

Oldduke, I have been a Lions fan my entire life, thru thick and thin, yes there was a thick. The draft has become a made for TV/ESPN production. TV has way too much say over how and when the games are played and now the 3 day draft. We must bow to the advertising gods.

By: babyhorsemorgan

babyhorsemorgan — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:14:16 +0000

Howard Cosell derided the draft as being “Something only my witless 6 year old nephew might find interesting!”.

By: nickster31

nickster31 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:05:01 +0000

gweez76 says: Apr 22, 2012 11:04 AM

Skins got May, Manley Grimm, Didier and many more in this draft.

One of the single greatest draft classes by any team ever. This draft was responsible for 3 SBs

*****************************************

That was probably the second best draft by a team ever.

1974 Pittsburgh Steelers, responsible for 4 Super Bowls and 4 Hall of Fame players selected in first 5 rounds.

1st (21st) – Lynn Swann
2nd (46th) – Jack Lambert
4th (82nd) – John Stallworth
5th (125th) – Mike Webster

By: pleasantsurpriselefty

pleasantsurpriselefty — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:53:30 +0000

Best thing: Pre Mel Kiper!

By: Deb

Deb — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:40:05 +0000

I miss vegging out on the two-day draft. My brother always got Kiper’s draft guide and we’d sit glued to the thing like it was some thrilling movie festival. He always said opening day of the draft was his favorite day of the year. Opening day of preseason was mine. Ah … the joys of being a football fan!

By: maumontav5

maumontav5 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:34:51 +0000

That’s what she said

By: olduke

olduke — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:10:04 +0000

I too have followed the draft since 1957. Being an Eagles fan, we lost out on Jim Brown because the Browns who were going to draft Clarence Peaks, decided to take the next guy, Jim Brown, and the rest, as they say, is history. Brown is still regarded as the best NFL player of all time, while Peaks had a short, injury-filled career. Philly is still waiting for their 1st SB trophy.

By: rooney24

rooney24 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:13:58 +0000

It is always interesting to go back and see who drafted well and who didn’t. The Vikings traded out of the 1st round to get 2 extra 2nd round picks. They then blew all three of the 2nd round picks.

I also found it strange that Rozelle just had a seat on the small stage and sat there smoking between picks. You can see ashtrays on all of the various team tables. Times have changed (for the better in that regard).

By: whatevnfl

whatevnfl — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:01:29 +0000

The phones they use at the team tables look the same as the ones in the video from 1981.

By: irememberwhen1947

irememberwhen1947 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:00:51 +0000

I have been a fan of the NFL since 1957. I remember seeing articles on the draft when a team would take a Street and Smith college football magazine and use it as a guide. Does anyone else remember the NFL and AFL hiding players for days before the draft? I believe Billy Cannon was hidden for 4 days so the NFL wouldn’t draft him.

By: wangoshiancoe

wangoshiancoe — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:59:50 +0000

It looks like the chaos of Woodstock – all that’s missing is Pete Townshend kicking Abby Hoffman off the stage…

By: nuclearwarfare

nuclearwarfare — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:55:32 +0000

The only draft I care about is my fantasy football draft. No Mel Kiper, no idiot “expert” analysis.

By: fafaflunky

fafaflunky — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:42:00 +0000

just like every thing else it turns into a media circus..all advertisements so the fat cats can get fatter..goodell wants to expand the nfl,b.s guy looking to expand the size of his wallet..

By: bigredscouting

bigredscouting — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:20:13 +0000

I am a draft nerd. I wish the NFL would sell old drafts on DVD. I love watching the drafts regardless of how relevant they are at the time. I already watched this 1981 draft. I still have the draft from last year to get my fix when I feel a draft kick coming on. The NFL draft is my favorite time of the year.

By: matthewcarlson1

matthewcarlson1 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:11:54 +0000

I hate the way they do the draft now. They need to go back to a two day thing.

By: malignantsociety

malignantsociety — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:07:58 +0000

I miss Dr. Z.

By: allseeingone

allseeingone — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:07:45 +0000

Howard Cosell was the most “the most overrated, over-propagandized” TV personality in American sporthistory!

Visionary??? His only talent was being annoying. People would watch MNF just to hear Meredith blast him and to throw foam rubber bricks at their TV sets whenever his face appeared.

But of course, there exists a certain segment in broadcasting who love to make him out to be more than he ever was.

By: packattack1967

packattack1967 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:06:27 +0000

The biggest hyped up overrated and costliest crap shoot in all of sports.

By: brtdud7

brtdud7 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:55:32 +0000

I miss the old days of staying home from school to watch the draft on a random weekday. Oh the carefree days of youth. How I miss thee!
___________________________________

Hmm, when I was a kid I stayed home watching The price is Right. Pardon my rudeness, but I believe being a kid and knowing the exact price of a trip to Morocco is more applicable than knowing the Bears 3rd round pick.

By: sjoyner59

sjoyner59 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:40:47 +0000

these weasels need to go back to the “weekend format”I miss putting that weekend aside to watch it,food and any other supplies-no need to leave the house it was all about the draft !

By: raidadon

raidadon — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:39:54 +0000

I havent watched the draft since it became the previously mentioned three day poop test. Feel like it makes the jobs of the GMs easier as they have more time to finagle trades. Three days starting on Thursday sucks. Used to have an all day draft party. Now I just read the USA today on Monday. N of course visit the PFT. Goodell continues to take football away from the masses.

By: stunzeed5

stunzeed5 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:39:29 +0000

This draft turned the Redskins into a 80′s/early 90′s POWERHOUSE.

By: jaggedmark

jaggedmark — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:37:16 +0000

There was one thing that was better about the draft back then. Viewers didn’t know the picks were going to be before they were announced. No cameras on players with telephones, no tweets by reporters, etc.