Key NFL Dates for 2013

**Forward_Lateral** · 02-14-2012, 07:29 AM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

I was hoping they'd scrap the 3 day draft idea. I really didn't like it last year. Anyone with me on this?

**DraftBoy** · 02-14-2012, 07:33 AM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

Originally posted by Forward_Lateral

I was hoping they'd scrap the 3 day draft idea. I really didn't like it last year. Anyone with me on this?

I enjoyed it, especially with Sunday being almost all UDFA's and Monday it being mostly settled.

I don't have the numbers handy but I'm pretty sure ratings wise the three day idea killed.

Found them;

Second-largest television audience ever for NFL draft

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d81fa43b7/article/secondlargest-television-audience-ever-for-nfl-draft

The 2011 NFL Draft is the second most-viewed ever with a total of 42 million viewers for the three days of coverage on NFLN, ESPN and ESPN2. Buffalo led all markets in average local ratings for the three-day event (see below). NFL Network posted its best-

2nd largest audience ever and that was with a lockout.

**DraftBoy** · 02-14-2012, 07:33 AM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

Also kind of cool that Buffalo led the market share.

**better days** · 02-14-2012, 07:39 AM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

Originally posted by Forward_Lateral

I was hoping they'd scrap the 3 day draft idea. I really didn't like it last year. Anyone with me on this?

The first rnd is so long that I think two days is fine, but having the first & biggest day of the draft on Thursday night sucks. Friday for rnd one & Saturday for the rest would be great.

**CleveSteve** · 02-14-2012, 08:46 AM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

I'm assuming you mean 2012 season?

I like the two day schedule. The three day is brutal, especially if you want to attend the draft. Manhattan hotels and food are not cheap. I went in 2006 (Sat/Sun) and 2009 (Thu-Sat). I asked about the possibility of going back to two day in 2009 and the NFL rep basically told me to go eff myself, they don't care if the fans like it better or want to have draft parties or whatever, the ratings are better. Well of course the ratings are better if everyone watches at home by themselves, that's more TVs on. Oh well.

**Ickybaluky** · 02-14-2012, 08:51 AM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

Originally posted by CleveSteve

I'm assuming you mean 2012 season?

Yes, changed it. Thanks.

**Yasgur's Farm** · 02-14-2012, 02:09 PM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

This should be stickied.

**TigerJ** · 02-14-2012, 02:35 PM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

Thanks, even though you are an Icky Patriots fan. I had no idea the NFL had regional combines too. That information could be important. Does anybody cover the regional combines? I also see that those dates put the draft on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Was it that way last year?

**Forward_Lateral** · 02-14-2012, 02:45 PM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

Originally posted by better days

The first rnd is so long that I think two days is fine, but having the first & biggest day of the draft on Thursday night sucks. Friday for rnd one & Saturday for the rest would be great.

OK, that's what it was. I forgot it started on a Thursday night. That's why I hated it.

I agree, though, the first round takes way too long.

**Ickybaluky** · 02-14-2012, 02:59 PM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

Originally posted by TigerJ

Thanks, even though you are an Icky Patriots fan. I had no idea the NFL had regional combines too. That information could be important. Does anybody cover the regional combines?

The regional combines are, per the NFL, "Designed to spotlight players who are not invited to the Indianapolis event, the eight combines also will be conducted specifically for players with college playing experience who want to gauge their pro potential, and for players with some pro experience who have been out of the game for a period of time."

There are 8 regional combines this year, from January 28 to March 17. They are run by the same people who run the combine. After all those combines are complete, the best players from those events are invited to a Super Regional Combine on March 30-31, which is run similar to the regular combine. That event will be attended by all the teams and their scouting departments.

Here is the link.

**stuckincincy** · 02-14-2012, 03:44 PM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

Originally posted by DraftBoy

Also kind of cool that Buffalo led the market share.

Desperation and/or saps without end...

**mikemac2001** · 02-14-2012, 03:57 PM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

Originally posted by Yasgur's Farm

This should be stickied.

i agree

**TedMock** · 02-14-2012, 04:51 PM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

Originally posted by Ickybaluky

The regional combines are, per the NFL, "Designed to spotlight players who are not invited to the Indianapolis event, the eight combines also will be conducted specifically for players with college playing experience who want to gauge their pro potential, and for players with some pro experience who have been out of the game for a period of time."

There are 8 regional combines this year, from January 28 to March 17. They are run by the same people who run the combine. After all those combines are complete, the best players from those events are invited to a Super Regional Combine on March 30-31, which is run similar to the regular combine. That event will be attended by all the teams and their scouting departments.

Here is the link.

The NFL essentially bought out an outside combine entity formerly known as ELITE Combines. Elite used to charge somewhere in the $200-$300 range for what was basically a cattle call. Anybody could go to these as long as they were willing to pay, but the top performers at each were invited to the "National Combine" every year (they still had to pay another fee to go to that, plus travel). Some of the ELITE combines were getting 20 people, but some were getting over 200.

Several of these combines were offered all over the country throughout the year and the combines were essentially a scaled-down version of what you would see at the NFL combine. There are actually several companies that do this exact thing, but ELITE was the biggest. The basic testing drills (40, 5-10-5, L or 3-cone, vertical jump, broad jump) were usually conducted. The bench press was done at some, but not others. I do not know why or how that was decided. Some basic football drills were also run, but, again, not nearly to the extent that they are at the actual combine. So, OL pulling drills, QB's to WR routes on air, etc.

The NFL took these over and scaled the availability down and moved the locations to various NFL fields, and the new National Combine invitees getting to showcase their skills in Detroit at the end (Lucky winner gets to go to Detroit?!). Supposedly, they are run by the same folks who run the NFL combine, but I noticed that the one in NY on 2/25 is right in the middle of the NFL combine in Indy. If this is true, the "same people" concept means low-level employees and interns working for the same company. Either way, the same format applies, but the price has gone down. Non-kickers pay $190 and kickers/punters pay $250 to attend. Still, anybody can go as long as they pay and with the NFL stamp on it, it is assumed that more people will register.

I have heard that the league is considering making these available to only current seniors going forward, but that has not been decided on either way. This will limit the pool of players, but it will also scale it down to who they realisitcally want to see. The guy working a full-time job and playing semi-pro on the weekend, even if talented, probably doesn't get much of a look. I was told recently that the event in Houston earlier this month was an unorganized mess (much like it was when ELITE still ran them). I was not there and cannot confirm that. It's just what an angry agent told me. There are two sides, so it's also possible that his client just did not perform well and he's blaming the system.

Right now, unless we see some real signings and progress, I see this as either the NFL just taking the opportunity to make a few bucks on the side, or working in the possibility of the neverending concept of a D-league. This comes up all the time, but maybe these combines are actually a step in that direction.

**The Spaz** · 02-14-2012, 05:53 PM

Re: Key NFL Dates for 2013

I hate the 3 day thing. I used to make a weekend out it, and it was my thing my wife didn't bother me, and I lived in my man cave till monday morning...lol

Key NFL Dates for 2013

Key NFL Dates for 2013

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