The Draft isn't what it use to be (1 Viewer)

I remember the 12 rounds. The second day was really uneventful. But the draft back then didn't get all the hype like it does now. The combine, mock drafts, predraft work outs, and coverage were not extensive back then. Honestly as a kid reading the papers anything after the second round was just a bunch of players I never heard of. The last 12th rounder that made an impact was a center name Chris Port. He was solid for us during the Mora era. Really the draft wasn't as interesting back then as it is now.
Actually, the draft used to be 17 rounds. There was no radio or TV broadcast, because it wasn’t the event that it is now. Also, because newspapers had early deadlines, you might only learn of a few players the next day. It could take a couple of days before they would finally print the complete list.
I couldn't imagine watching 17 rounds on Tv now. I guess it's safe to say this where the UDFA list comes from.
 
I remember when the draft wasn't a thing to watch. I watched something that told the story. ESPN approached Rozelle about broadcasting the draft. They stated he was surprise they wanted to.

I always sort watched the draft with amusement. You have these experts talking endlessly about what teams should do and if they do anything else, they either explain it away to save face or they try to validate their own opinion. It gets monotonous to listen to. Moreover, I feel like teams are told to hold their pick to drag it out. Sometimes, they pretty much admit to this.

Living on the other side of the world, i rarely could just sit there and listen to it. I actually enjoy watching the NFL youtube channel rap up. No BS, just the picks, some basic comments and some highlights. Short and sweet.


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Personally, I found all of the fluff and tragedy porn to be highly cringe-worthy. I HATE what the NFL has become under Goodell. Sure, the owners make more $, but I (mistakenly?) used to think that most football owners used to have some kind of dignity and respect about themselves. These days they are viewed as a kind of clown.
 
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Actually, the draft used to be 17 rounds. There was no radio or TV broadcast, because it wasn’t the event that it is now. Also, because newspapers had early deadlines, you might only learn of a few players the next day. It could take a couple of days before they would finally print the complete list.
I remember those days. To me, the 1981 draft Bum had, still goes down as the greatest draft class of all time for a Saints draft! And to boot, Bum drafted arguably the best name for a Saints player that year. TOUSSAINT TYLER.
 

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I agree with the move it to Friday night maybe and make it more about football, but it's not going to happen. It used to be you could make a weekend of it . . this year I fell asleep waiting for our pick, because it isn't announced until past 11pm my time. Since the Saints have been one of the top teams for the past decade kind of ruins the excitement too. Drafting in the late part can be quite anti climatic.
 
I agree with the move it to Friday night maybe and make it more about football, but it's not going to happen. It used to be you could make a weekend of it . . this year I fell asleep waiting for our pick, because it isn't announced until past 11pm my time. Since the Saints have been one of the top teams for the past decade kind of ruins the excitement too. Drafting in the late part can be quite anti climatic.
I rather we draft at the bottom because we earn it, if you know what I mean.
 
Personally, I found all of the fluff and tragedy porn to be highly cringe-worthy. I ?HATE what the NFL has become under Goodell. S ure, the owners make more $, but I (mistakenly?) used to think that most football owners used to have some kind of dignity and respect about themselves. These days they are viewed as a kind of clown.
When I first heard the tragic story of the first 2 players, I thought it was a great story. Then ESPN went with it throughout the first round. Gosh it gotten so cringy and unbearable to listen. I don't know what espn was thinking doing that.
 
I use to look forward to the Draft like a kid looks forward to Christmas morning. I recall my family and I use to have draft parties, crawfish boils, etc just to celebrate and see how the draft will play out.
Even if there wasn't a party going on, I would sit in front the TV (on mute), while listening to Mike Detillier, his draft guide or on NFL.com's draft profile page looking at prospects.
Of course this is before the draft was changed to the format that it is now. The NFL has milked and water down the draft experience for the sake of money, but I am not a fan of the draft being held over 3 days. However I do like the shortened rounds, but I miss the 2-day drafts.

From a Saints fan perspective, these past few drafts have been a little tough to predict. Also the lack of picks can minimize the attention to the draft program itself. I recall after we draft a player, I would watch highlights and imagine that player making the same exact plays with the Saints, etc. However as i've gotten older, it's been tough to view the draft the same.

Is it just me or has others experienced this?

I haven't watched a full draft in a while. Part of it is me getting older... Part of it is my disdain with the NFL in general. So now with the age of social media I just wait to get a notification on who the Saints picked. I could care less about the rest of the picks.
 
I use to look forward to the Draft like a kid looks forward to Christmas morning. I recall my family and I use to have draft parties, crawfish boils, etc just to celebrate and see how the draft will play out.
Even if there wasn't a party going on, I would sit in front the TV (on mute), while listening to Mike Detillier, his draft guide or on NFL.com's draft profile page looking at prospects.
Of course this is before the draft was changed to the format that it is now. The NFL has milked and water down the draft experience for the sake of money, but I am not a fan of the draft being held over 3 days. However I do like the shortened rounds, but I miss the 2-day drafts.

From a Saints fan perspective, these past few drafts have been a little tough to predict. Also the lack of picks can minimize the attention to the draft program itself. I recall after we draft a player, I would watch highlights and imagine that player making the same exact plays with the Saints, etc. However as i've gotten older, it's been tough to view the draft the same.

Is it just me or has others experienced this?
That's one way of looking at it. However as the Buddha says life is suffering. Suffering however is an imperfect translation from the ancient Sanskrit. It's more akin to saying life is continuous change and our resistance to that change is the source of great angst and pain for us. You were comfortable and enjoyed it as it was. It's now different. You are not adapting well to the change in finding things you like about the new format.

I've never really been a huge fan of the draft. This year I watched more than ever before. It felt a bit better to me. I enjoyed getting a small glimpse inside players and coaches lives and homes. That was more insightful than a sterile draft room and theater full of a select few hard core fans going nuts.

But hey, you do you and I'll do me. Even if your appreciation for the draft has been lost, you can find something new to enjoy either with it, or outside of it.
 
Actually, the draft used to be 17 rounds. There was no radio or TV broadcast, because it wasn’t the event that it is now. Also, because newspapers had early deadlines, you might only learn of a few players the next day. It could take a couple of days before they would finally print the complete list.

I remember being a kid in Mexico reading the draft picks on the sports section on Monday after the draft. That was all the coverage I got.

Later in my life when I moved I loved the draft weekend, specially Saturdays. It was so cool not being able to sleep, get up early and patiently wait for the draft to start.

Indeed it is not the same now, we get distracted by work, do house chores and then watch the draft at night. Curiously, normally there is a school event on draft evenings. So not the same level of anxiety and excitement.

But ratings are king, so we are stock now with the current format.
 
I would also add that now since it's gone on the road it's become more of a travel infomercial. Last weekends draft was actually one of the better ones I have watched in recent years, it was more about football.
 
I agree that the new format has taken away from it a bit and not paying for ESPN I’ve been using SR to follow it of late.

but it’s also not as shiny when you are a team that doesn’t have one of the early picks. Which is actually a good thing...
 

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