5 Things To Know About Nashville's Party Of The Year - The NFL Draft
NBD - it’s only their whole career on the line.
Prospects went from the toughest job interview with the NFL (National Football League) Combine to the anxiety inducing draft that starts tomorrow.
Break out the antacids,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. For more than 50 years, the draft was held in New York but it’s now become quite the road show. It has moved from Chicago to Philadelphia to Dallas and has since landed in Nashville. The city is expecting a serious influx of visitors with last year's event in Dallas drawing more than 200,000 fans and generating over $125 million in economic impact. BANKING ON IT
2. Draft candidates must be three years removed from high school. The Arizona Cardinals have the distinct honor of choosing the first player in the draft because they were the worst team in football last year. FIRST IS THE WORST
3. Nashville is rolling out the red carpet and fans will be cheering for concerts from big country music names like Tim McGraw and Dierks Bentley but they won’t be cheering for the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. It’s a tradition for fans to boo him every single time he walks up to the podium to announce a new draft pick. Keep an eye out for Make-A-Wish recipient Kacey Reynolds who will give Goodell a break and announce the Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft pick. ROCK ON
4. After Goodell is done announcing the picks in the first round (there are a total of seven rounds), many teams will bring in special guests to relay their selections. This year, we can expect big name alumni to take the stage and hope for some unique special guests like last year where R2-D2, Chewbacca and members of the Stoneman Douglas football team all revealed their team’s choice. SURPRISE SURPRISE
5. Mr. Irrelevant is the title given to pick #256, the last person drafted. Why irrelevant? Because of the multitude of players chosen before them, the player is not likely to make the team roster. Making a negative into a positive, one Mr. Irrelevant established Irrelevant Week, celebrating that last player. The week, which has turned into quite the big event, preaches that it’s not a negative to be picked last in the NFL Draft; rather, it’s an honor to be drafted at all. FINDING THE SILVER LINING
Want to watch the drama unfold live? Coverage starts tomorrow with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts on ABC.
FOR THE WIN!
The draft isn’t the only thing everyone will be talking about today. Share your newfound knowledge about Hamilton the pig, how women’s sports are gaining some serious ground and are football players smarter than you think? READ
The Wonderlic Test
Think you’re smarter than an NFL draft prospect? Take the test.
Think you’re smarter than an NFL draft prospect? Give it a shot.
The average score is 20.
The Toughest Job Interview Around - 5 Things To Know About The NFL Combine
Why is it called the Underwear Olympics?
The ultimate job interview could lead to a big paycheck. One of the ways to become an NFL player is to participate in the combine where players are judged on their speed, strength, brain and size of their body parts.
We’re guessing that doesn’t include beer bellies?
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. The combine (pronounced kɒmbaɪn– like a harvesting tractor). is known as the “Underwear Olympics” because prospects compete in different challenges in small, tight-fitting workout gear all while being scrutinized. It wasn’t long ago that prospects stripped down to their underwear for the “eyeball test” where coaches would make notes about their stature, muscle build, etc. IT’S LIKE PRIZED CATTLE GOING TO MARKET
2. As if being in your undies isn’t bad enough, teams are known for asking really weird and intrusive questions. The 338 players who have been invited to the tryout will be asked interrogation-style questions in an attempt to evoke the player’s vices (drinking, drugs), ethics, failures, sexual orientation (even though technically this is illegal) or anything to get a rise out of the player. WHERE’S THE HR DEPARTMENT?
3. Unlike in the last election, hand size matters in the combine. Expect that to be a challenge for last season’s Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Kyler Murray, who is notably small for the NFL. (You may remember that Murray originally signed a professional baseball contract and then chose to try out professional football). What are teams looking for? According to an NFL (National Football League) executive, there’s not a quarterback in the NFL that has a smaller hand than a 9-inch hand, the span from the thumb to the pinkie. THE FUTURE IS IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
4. The “sexiest” event in the combine is the 40-yard dash. In the past, the fastest runner has won prizes such as a private island or $1 million. For the 15th year in a row, sports reporter Rich Eisen will participate in the dash, while wearing a suit with cleats, to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. RUN RICH RUN
5. If you think any dumb jock can make it to the NFL, you’ve never taken the Wonderlic Test. This challenge tests players’ problem solving and critical thinking skills. Only one player has ever had a perfect score. Think you can beat it? GIVE IT A SHOT
THAT’S NOT ALL FOLKS
No test here, just knowledge for networking. Here’s are the top three stories from today including a new Will Ferrell sports movie, an elevator nightmare and one athlete’s Marie Kondo moment. READ