Arch Stanton
04-23-2005, 05:35 AM
By Charean Williams
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Rayfield Wright heard that he was drafted by the Cowboys in 1967 while listening to the radio. Cowboys fans likely had no knowledge of their team's seventh-round draft choice until years later when he became one of the NFL's all-time best offensive linemen.
How times have changed.
"My God, now you can be anywhere in the world and watch [the draft] live," said Wright, a standout basketball player at Fort Valley State who was discovered by former Cowboys player personnel director Gil Brandt. "It's a lot different today than it was in 1967."
Mel Kiper Jr. has become a self-made draft expert who has a slick 120-page draft guide that sells for $26.95, his own weekly radio show, his own column and his own Web site. He will get plenty of face time during ESPN's 17 hours of coverage this weekend.
ESPN has turned the NFL Draft into a made-for-TV production since broadcasting the first two rounds in 1980. More than 30 million viewers are expected to tune in to all or part of the 70th NFL Draft this weekend.
Six players accepted invitations to attend the 2005 NFL Draft at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, where the draft has moved this year after 10 years at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.
While California quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Utah quarterback Alex Smith, Texas running back Cedric Benson, Auburn running back Ronnie Brown, Miami cornerback Antrel Rolle and Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards are chilling in the green room, waiting for their names to be called, another 249 players around the country will be sweating it out.
Most prospects will watch the draft on television with their families. Others will be at parties hosted by their agents.
Alabama-Birmingham receiver Roddy White, whose stock has steadily risen, is hoping for a first-round phone call as the Atlanta Falcons, the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Ravens have shown him a lot of love. Until then, White will be trying his best to relax at the home of his mother, Joenephia, who is hosting a draft-day party for some 25 people.
"I'm a little anxious," White admitted earlier this week.
Louisiana Tech running back Ryan Moats and San Jose State running back Tyson Thompson will be watching with friends and family in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson, expected to go in the top 10, is watching at his parents' house in Waco. Houston cornerback Stanford Routt, projected as a second-round choice, is spending today at his parents' house in Austin. Baylor defensive end Khari Long, projected as an early second-day pick, is in Wichita Falls with his family.
Oklahoma State cornerback Darrent Williams is going to be home in Fort Worth watching with about 20 friends and family.
TCU offensive lineman Anthony Alabi, TCU receiver Reggie Harrell and TCU tight end Cody McCarty also have plans to spend the weekend with family.
Alabi, for one, won't be glued to the television. He is going to play golf in San Antonio, while his father, Tony, and his stepmother, Mary, monitor things on ESPN.
"I need something to take my mind off of it," Alabi said. "It's too nerve-racking to watch."
Alabi will have his cellphone on, though, waiting for one of the 32 teams to call his number.
At the postseason all-star games and at the NFL Scouting Combine, the NFL asks players where they will be on draft day. Brandt, who now works for the NFL, said one player put down "surfing in Hawaii," though he did provide a cell number.
In 1970 B.C. -- Before Cellphone -- Clemson's Charlie Waters was working on a landscape design project across campus when his frat brother, Johnny Floyd, came running into the lab. The first trip across campus was to tell Waters he was about to be selected by the Green Bay Packers. The second trip was to inform Waters he had been taken by the Cowboys in the third round.
"It sounds very exciting, doesn't it?" Waters said earlier this week, laughing. "My frat brothers found out before I did."
Waters, though, did make an "A" on his project.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Rayfield Wright heard that he was drafted by the Cowboys in 1967 while listening to the radio. Cowboys fans likely had no knowledge of their team's seventh-round draft choice until years later when he became one of the NFL's all-time best offensive linemen.
How times have changed.
"My God, now you can be anywhere in the world and watch [the draft] live," said Wright, a standout basketball player at Fort Valley State who was discovered by former Cowboys player personnel director Gil Brandt. "It's a lot different today than it was in 1967."
Mel Kiper Jr. has become a self-made draft expert who has a slick 120-page draft guide that sells for $26.95, his own weekly radio show, his own column and his own Web site. He will get plenty of face time during ESPN's 17 hours of coverage this weekend.
ESPN has turned the NFL Draft into a made-for-TV production since broadcasting the first two rounds in 1980. More than 30 million viewers are expected to tune in to all or part of the 70th NFL Draft this weekend.
Six players accepted invitations to attend the 2005 NFL Draft at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, where the draft has moved this year after 10 years at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.
While California quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Utah quarterback Alex Smith, Texas running back Cedric Benson, Auburn running back Ronnie Brown, Miami cornerback Antrel Rolle and Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards are chilling in the green room, waiting for their names to be called, another 249 players around the country will be sweating it out.
Most prospects will watch the draft on television with their families. Others will be at parties hosted by their agents.
Alabama-Birmingham receiver Roddy White, whose stock has steadily risen, is hoping for a first-round phone call as the Atlanta Falcons, the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Ravens have shown him a lot of love. Until then, White will be trying his best to relax at the home of his mother, Joenephia, who is hosting a draft-day party for some 25 people.
"I'm a little anxious," White admitted earlier this week.
Louisiana Tech running back Ryan Moats and San Jose State running back Tyson Thompson will be watching with friends and family in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson, expected to go in the top 10, is watching at his parents' house in Waco. Houston cornerback Stanford Routt, projected as a second-round choice, is spending today at his parents' house in Austin. Baylor defensive end Khari Long, projected as an early second-day pick, is in Wichita Falls with his family.
Oklahoma State cornerback Darrent Williams is going to be home in Fort Worth watching with about 20 friends and family.
TCU offensive lineman Anthony Alabi, TCU receiver Reggie Harrell and TCU tight end Cody McCarty also have plans to spend the weekend with family.
Alabi, for one, won't be glued to the television. He is going to play golf in San Antonio, while his father, Tony, and his stepmother, Mary, monitor things on ESPN.
"I need something to take my mind off of it," Alabi said. "It's too nerve-racking to watch."
Alabi will have his cellphone on, though, waiting for one of the 32 teams to call his number.
At the postseason all-star games and at the NFL Scouting Combine, the NFL asks players where they will be on draft day. Brandt, who now works for the NFL, said one player put down "surfing in Hawaii," though he did provide a cell number.
In 1970 B.C. -- Before Cellphone -- Clemson's Charlie Waters was working on a landscape design project across campus when his frat brother, Johnny Floyd, came running into the lab. The first trip across campus was to tell Waters he was about to be selected by the Green Bay Packers. The second trip was to inform Waters he had been taken by the Cowboys in the third round.
"It sounds very exciting, doesn't it?" Waters said earlier this week, laughing. "My frat brothers found out before I did."
Waters, though, did make an "A" on his project.