Bring Back the Draft!

NFLPA events will not prevent players from attending draft
By Albert Breer/NFL Network

The NFL Players Association has finalized a plan to re-work its signature draft event, "The Debut," expanding it to three days, but not interfering directly with the NFL Draft itself, which begins at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, April 28. In previous years, "The Debut" was a VIP event held the Wednesday night before the draft.

The NFLPA will host a reception and dinner for the prospects and their families at a Times Square hotel on Thursday at 4 p.m. The festivities are scheduled to wrap up by 7 p.m., giving the players time to make the short trip to Radio City Music Hall for the 8 p.m. start of the draft.

Scheduled events for Friday are still being determined, but it is expected that the players' commitments that day will end in time for the 6:30 p.m. start of the second round.

The NFLPA will wrap up the weekend with a party Saturday night for the draftees, their families, sponsors and other VIPs in New York City.

NFLPA spokesman George Attalah reiterated Monday, via Twitter, that the NFLPA is not asking players to boycott the draft and no players have voiced any objections to a potential invitation from the NFL.

Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones, considered one of this year's top prospects, told The Birmingham News he would welcome the opportunity to be a part of the festivities at Radio City Music Hall.

"I have not heard anything about that, but hopefully I will be there to shake the commissioner's hand," Jones said. "Yes, sir, I want an opportunity to go to New York and be able to experience that."

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Look I understand trying to present a united front to management but the Draft is going to happen anyway. NFL teams are still going to select players and when this lockout ends those players are going to suit up for the teams that drafted them. What I think is wrong is that a group of players that have already had their Draft Day moment is trying to sway a group of 21-22 year old kids into giving up theirs.

The inclusion of players into the NFL Draft Day festivites was nothing more than an attempt to increase TV viewership but in the process it gave these incoming players their first chance to be recognized for their accomplishments and abilities on a grander scale. Now the NFLPA wants them to give that up because of this pissing match. I commend the NFLPA for moving their events around but now they need to support players like Julio Jones who still want to shake the commissioner's hand. Viva the Draft!