2014 NFL draft thread (no longer too early)

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

NFL Network is running a series of Caught in the Draft episodes focusing on previous draft classes. They ran one tonight (sure to replay a few times) on the 1974 draft. It was interesting to watch clips from what passed for draft coverage at the time, before ESPN even existed. They will also be running one on the 1984 draft.

Of course, this one caught my eye because 1974 featured arguably the greatest draft by one team in NFL history. That was the year the Steelers drafted four players now in the Hall of Fame -- Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Jack Lambert and Mike Webster.

I did not realize that only five players in the entire draft went on to make the Hall of Fame. The fifth was the player taken one spot ahead of Lambert by the Oakland Raiders. Anybody want to guess who that was?

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Hendricks?

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Nope. Hendricks began his career with the Colts in 1969.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Biletnikoff?

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Got it. Had to look it up. Won't spoil it here.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Dave Casper?

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Why do these things stick in my head?

Skol, Les Steckel:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19840721&id=9JkRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3323,1760091

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

You got it. Raiders took Casper in the second round, right before the Steelers selected Lambert.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

The 1974 one re-airs in about 20 minutes. Got it set to tape.

The 1984 one should be interesting too. That was the year the USFL plundered a huge number of high-profile guys (Steve Young, Mike Rozier, Gary Zimmerman, Reggie White, etc).

There were still some big-timers left over (Carl Banks, Wilber Marshall & Dean Steinkuhler to name a few), but I don't think the regular draft produced any Hall of Famers.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

The draft is great for crawl information while you're watching a Stanley Cup (or even NBA) playoff game. But watching the guys in suits sit there for five hours and rehash what we've been talking about for months isn't real compelling TV.

And the player interviews rarely give you anything interesting. I doubt Teddy Bridgewater is going to say "Yeah, it's fine to being going to Oakland, but I was really hoping to go back to my hometown of Miami." Or Jadeveon Clowney: "I always wanted to play tight end, so maybe they'll give me the chance."

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

You have to love the awkward moments like when the Chargers drafted Eli and they were trying to get him to put on the Chargers hat. I can't remember if he did or not. I remember him holding it like there was a giant turd in it.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

My all-time favorite was from the 1999 NBA draft, when Steve Francis was drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies. He pouted all the way up to the stage, all the way through the handshake and jersey pose with David Stern, and through all the interviews.

He was such a pain in the ass about the whole thing that the Grizzlies eventually traded him to the Rockets before he even played a game.

http://ballislife.com/flashback-1999-draft-steve-francis-upset-for-being-drafted-by-the-grizzlies-at-2-pick/