Smooth sailing in virtual NFL draft as LSU talent steals the show

NEW YORK -- The final rounds of the NFL Draft capped a smooth and generally glitch-free affair on Saturday, as the league pivoted to a virtual format for the first time ever due to the coronavirus outbreak, with coaches and prospects staying out of the spotlight and behind closed doors.

The widely heralded first pick Joe Burrow, a quarterback, led a charge of 14 selections out of Louisiana State University, tying Ohio State's 2004 record for the most players in a single draft class, as teams scrambled for a piece of the college championship-winning squad.

As franchises were filling out their rosters in the final rounds of the quarterback-rich draft, questions lingered over when the professional football calendar would return to normal, with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell maintaining that the upcoming season will move forward as scheduled.

Three quarterbacks, including Heisman Trophy-winning first pick Burrow who went to the Cincinnati Bengals, University of Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon's Justin Herbert, were among the first six selections for the first time since 1999.

The final day of the draft kicked off with a high-profile trade that saw the Washington Redskins seven-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Trent Williams go to the San Francisco 49ers for a fifth-round pick this year and a third round selection in 2021.

One of the rare few live sports events left on the calendar in the COVID-19 era, the first night of the draft drew a record-breaking average of more than 15.6 million viewers tuning in on Thursday. 

(Reporting By Amy Tennery Editing by Christian Radnedge and Diane Craft)

-reuters-

NFL issues fashion code for virtual draft

The novel coronavirus has forced the National Football League to take Thursday's draft online but players hoping to be picked will still have a dress code to adhere to -- hence lounging around in pajamas will definitely not be an option.

With 58 of the top college prospects connected virtually, the NFL issued a memo detailing what they expect to see online if or when commissioner Roger Goodell announces their name from the basement of his Bronxville, N.Y. home.

Traditionally, when Goodell steps up to the microphone to announce each franchise's first pick, he is joined on stage by sharply dressed players for a photograph while presenting them with team ball cap or jersey.

This year it will be a virtual handshake and while the NFL stopped short of telling players what exactly to wear, the league has issued a long list of what is not acceptable, including fashions that might be deemed political statements.

The memo, obtained by Pro Football Talk on Sunday, detailed that there should be no third party logos, no explicit language, or racial, religious, or ethnic slurs.

Players cannot be seen wearing a brand logo that does not belong to one of the NFL’s official licensed partners.

Also not tolerated will be any clothing referencing alcohol, gambling, tobacco products (including e-cigarettes), obscene, pornographic (or escort services), violent (including firearms or other weapons), or sexual imagery.

Players will also have to make sure any backdrop is sanitized of products, brands or logos not approved by the NFL.

In order to help with this effort, the league has shipped a “welcome kit” of NFL approved products to all potential top draft picks.

If players do not agree to these conditions, they are free to opt out of the live draft day activities. 

(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

-reuters-

NFL using draft to support COVID-19 relief

The 2020 NFL Draft will double as a three-day charity event to benefit six non-profit organizations providing relief efforts against the coronavirus pandemic, the league announced Wednesday.

The event, which will be entirely virtual with teams making selections from remote locations and players at their homes due to the pandemic, is scheduled for April 23-25 and is being deemed a "Draft-A-Thon."

Current and former NFL players are expected to encourage donations from viewers, and there will be tributes for healthcare workers and other first responders.

The funds raised, which will all go into one central fund, will benefit the American Red Cross, CDC Foundation's All of Us, Feeding America's COVID-19 Response Fund, Meals on Wheels COVID-19 Response Fund, Salvation Army and United Way's COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund.

"As we face this global health crisis together, we are filled with gratitude for the extraordinary work of first responders, healthcare workers and many others who are helping those in need," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

"The Draft-A-Thon will deliver much-needed funding to many who are suffering as well as those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Conducting this event virtually, and taking all necessary precautions while doing so, underscores the importance of staying home and staying strong during this unprecedented moment in our history."

-Field Level Media/Reuters-

Cardinals eye quarterback Murray with NFL Draft top pick

NEW YORK -- Quarterback Kyler Murray, the Heisman Trophy winner as American football's top collegiate player, is expected to be selected Thursday by the Arizona Cardinals with the top pick in the NFL Draft.

The three-day event to allocate new talent to NFL clubs begins Thursday night in Nashville, Tennessee, with the Cardinals selecting first thanks to last season's NFL-worst 3-13 record.

While the Cardinals have been silent about their plans, quarterbacks have been selected with the number one pick in 15 of the past 21 NFL Drafts and Murray has the talent to entice Arizona to continue that trend.

Murray, whose maternal grandmother was born in South Korea, completed 260 of 377 passes for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns with only seven interceptions last season for Oklahoma, which reached the national championship playoffs.

He also ran 140 times for 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns, bringing the run-pass threat that has made several NFL quarterbacks a tough challenge for defensive units in recent years.

Murray, 21, was also a college baseball star outfielder for the Sooners baseball team who announced in February he was giving up any ideas of a baseball career to focus on his NFL effort.

The Oakland A's had taken Murray with the ninth pick in last year's Major League Baseball Draft but he walked away from their offer of $4.33 million (3.84 million euros) for the chance at more than $30 million as a top NFL Draft pick.

"Football has been my love and passion my entire life," Murray tweeted. "I was raised to play QB, and I very much look forward to dedicating 100% of myself to being the best QB possible and winning NFL championships."

Murray's draft status has been dogged by questions over whether he is physically big enough to forge a successful career in the NFL.

At 5ft 10in (1.77m), Murray is relatively short for a quarterback, a factor which has reportedly weighed on some teams deliberations.

"I've never been the biggest guy on the field, I'm always the smallest guy on the field," said Murray. "I've said it multiple times: I feel I'm the most impactful guy on the field and the best player on the field at all times.

"That's just the confidence I have in myself and my teammates have in me. I've always had to play at this height. Everybody's trying to make it out to be something, but at the same time, I just go out there and play the game I love."

Should the Cardinals select someone else, the other highest-regarded prospects are defensive tackle Quinnen Williams of Alabama and defensive end Nick Bosa of Ohio State.

Bosa's preparations for the draft meanwhile has been the subject of a social media controversy, with the defender wiping his Twitter account of a series of posts which criticised former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and others which praised President Donald Trump.

The San Francisco 49ers are set to select second overall, followed in order by the New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos.

The reigning Super Bowl champion New England Patriots receive the 32nd and last pick in the first round.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Murray opts into NFL Draft but baseball remains an option

NEW YORK -- Two-sport star Kyler Murray said Monday he has submitted his name for this year's NFL Draft but a Major League Baseball career still remains an option for the 21-year-old Texan.

Murray won the Heisman Trophy as American football's top college player this past season as quarterback for Oklahoma University after having been selected ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics in last year's Major League Baseball Draft for his skills as an outfielder.

Murray announced on Twitter he has filed paperwork before a midnight deadline to be eligible for this year's NFL Draft, ending his collegiate eligibility, but that only delays the choice he must make.

The Athletics open pre-season training camp on February 15 while the NFL Scouting Combine to analyze prime draft prospects is February 26 and Murray will likely require time for workouts to produce peak efforts at whichever sport he selects.

Keeping his NFL options open would buy time for Murray to explore his value for NFL clubs to better decide whether he would prefer years with a 162-game baseball campaign or a more punishing but potentially more lucrative 16-game NFL season.

It's all in the family for Murray, whose maternal grandmother is from South Korea. He's the son of a former college quarterback and the nephew of a former Major League Baseball player.

At 5-foot-10 (1.78m), Murray would be the shortest NFL quarterback since Doug Flutie in 2005. But Murray comes off a season where he threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns while rushing for 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns.

For Oklahoma's baseball squad, Murray batted .296 with 10 home runs and 47 runs batted in with 13 doubles and 28 walks.

Murray was signed to a minor-league baseball contract by Oakland last year, a $4.66 million bonus deal that allowed him to play last year at Oklahoma.

The A's reportedly spoke last weekend with Murray and would have to make some changes to his contract to allow him to leave training camp for the NFL scouting combine workouts.

Murray's representatives have indicated no plans to attempt a two-career NFL-MLB double, a feat most notably done by Bo Jackson from 1987-1990 with the NFL Los Angeles Raiders and MLB Kansas City Royals until a hip injury suffered in an NFL playoff game ended his gridiron days.

Murray would likely begin his baseball career in lower-level developmental leagues before working his way into the major leagues while he potentially could jump directly into a key role for an NFL team.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NFL Draft 2013: Second round draft order, TV schedule

The second and third rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, April 26. All rounds take place on NFL Network (Direct TV channel 212, Dish Network 154, Comcast 547).

  Second Round draft order

1 (33 overall). Jacksonville Jaguars

2 (34). San Francisco 49ers

(from Kansas City Chiefs)

3 (35). Philadelphia Eagles

4 (36). Detroit Lions

5 (37). Cincinnati Bengals

(from Oakland Raiders).

6 (38). Arizona Cardinals

7. Cleveland Browns (exercised pick in Supplemental Draft)

8 (39). New York Jets

9 (40). Tennessee Titans

10 (41). Buffalo Bills

11 (42). Miami Dolphins

12 (43). Tampa Bay Buccaneers

13 (44). Carolina Panthers

14. New Orleans Saints (forfeited)

15 (45). San Diego Chargers

16 (46). St. Louis Rams

17 (47). Dallas Cowboys

18 (48). Pittsburgh Steelers

19 (49). New York Giants

20 (50). Chicago Bears

21 (51). Washington Redskins

22 (52). Minnesota Vikings

23 (53). Cincinnati Bengals

24 (54). Miami Dolphins

(from Indianapolis Colts)

25 (55). Green Bay Packers

26 (56). Seattle Seahawks

27 (57). Houston Texans

28 (58). Denver Broncos

29 (59). New England Patriots

30 (60). Atlanta Falcons

31 (61). San Francisco 49ers

32 (62). Baltimore Ravens

source: aol.sportingnews.com