2008 Woodie Awards
Columnist heads to NFL draft, gives fantasy tips on rookie sleepers
View from The Rock
By Rocco Cremonese
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Sports
This year's National Football League Draft in New York City came with typical aplomb.
Based on a limited survey of fans I conducted while attending the draft personally, I have come to the conclusion that nearly every team in the NFL did well, except for the New England Patriots or the Dallas Cowboys, for whom results were inconclusive, and for the New York Jets, who benefited from a biased home-field advantage.
The reason is simple.
Every time the Patriots or the Cowboys were on the clock this year, a steady stream of boos erupted from a crowd in which every NFL team seemed to have at least one representative.
Likewise, the New York Jets had an incredible draft that I've based on a raucous group of Jets fans chanting "J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!" every time the team came on the clock or made a selection.
And the most popular pick in the draft wasn't any player, but representatives of the United States military and the Lions draftee Caleb Campbell, a graduate of West Point.
As has been the case over the past three years I have attended the draft, America has been the top choice overall by the fans.
Politicians will debate over justification of wars abroad, but there's never been a lack of support for the troops at the NFL Draft, where Caleb Campbell's name was chanted in rhythm and the presentation of United States military personnel on the draft stage received a standing ovation.
The only crowd reaction I can think of that's ever come close to topping it was in 2006, when then-NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue resided over his last draft before stepping down, and jubilant fans in attendance began chanting, "Four more years! Four more years!" in deference to the much-appreciated NFL kingpin.
Post-draft, everyone has their opinion of who were the big winners and losers in the draft. Although the beauty of the draft is that on those two days, every team is a winner and has promise… until some of their draftees hit minicamp and begin to show whether they belong or not. I can't predict which NFL teams are the big winners, but here are some rookies you might not have heard of that could make fantasy football owners big winners for seasons to come.
Based on a limited survey of fans I conducted while attending the draft personally, I have come to the conclusion that nearly every team in the NFL did well, except for the New England Patriots or the Dallas Cowboys, for whom results were inconclusive, and for the New York Jets, who benefited from a biased home-field advantage.
The reason is simple.
Every time the Patriots or the Cowboys were on the clock this year, a steady stream of boos erupted from a crowd in which every NFL team seemed to have at least one representative.
Likewise, the New York Jets had an incredible draft that I've based on a raucous group of Jets fans chanting "J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!" every time the team came on the clock or made a selection.
And the most popular pick in the draft wasn't any player, but representatives of the United States military and the Lions draftee Caleb Campbell, a graduate of West Point.
As has been the case over the past three years I have attended the draft, America has been the top choice overall by the fans.
Politicians will debate over justification of wars abroad, but there's never been a lack of support for the troops at the NFL Draft, where Caleb Campbell's name was chanted in rhythm and the presentation of United States military personnel on the draft stage received a standing ovation.
The only crowd reaction I can think of that's ever come close to topping it was in 2006, when then-NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue resided over his last draft before stepping down, and jubilant fans in attendance began chanting, "Four more years! Four more years!" in deference to the much-appreciated NFL kingpin.
Post-draft, everyone has their opinion of who were the big winners and losers in the draft. Although the beauty of the draft is that on those two days, every team is a winner and has promise… until some of their draftees hit minicamp and begin to show whether they belong or not. I can't predict which NFL teams are the big winners, but here are some rookies you might not have heard of that could make fantasy football owners big winners for seasons to come.
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