{"id":403254,"date":"2011-04-28T00:43:24","date_gmt":"2011-04-28T00:43:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/04\/28\/draft-uncertainty-compounded-by-lockout-ap\/"},"modified":"2011-04-28T00:43:24","modified_gmt":"2011-04-28T00:43:24","slug":"draft-uncertainty-compounded-by-lockout-ap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/04\/28\/draft-uncertainty-compounded-by-lockout-ap\/","title":{"rendered":"Draft uncertainty compounded by lockout (AP)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

NEW YORK (AP)\u2014The NFL draft always is a guessing game. Never has it been accompanied by so much uncertainty.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Quarterback Sam Bradford of the Oklahoma Sooners holds up a St. Louis Rams jersey as he stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after Bradford was picked numer 1 overall by the Rams during the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 25, 2009 in New York City.
(Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Not just who will go first overall\u2014the betting favorite is Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton\u2014but who goes where and when beyond that. Will the Patriots trade down again and again, as they always seem to do? Or will the Jets trade up, as they normally do?<\/p>\n

This year, the selection process has the added element of players being locked out by owners, and a judge temporarily blocking the lockout earlier this week. Should the league be forced to reopen for business before or during the draft, the result could be even more chaos.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe world doesn\u2019t stop spinning, we have to keep running and working,\u201d Baylor guard Danny Watkins said Wednesday. \u201cIt\u2019s just disappointing the timing of it, but there\u2019s nothing we can do about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nothing except prepare for Thursday night\u2019s opening round of the three-day extravaganza that has been the league\u2019s only order of business since the lockout began March 12.<\/p>\n

A record 25 players accepted invitations to attend the draft itself, and 13 were on hand Wednesday for an NFL event with youngsters.<\/p>\n

A dozen of them spoke to the media afterward. After the young campers were done, Newton skipped out. The Auburn quarterback took a few minutes to high-five some kids and sign autographs before slipping out a side entrance with a few associates and into a waiting SUV.<\/p>\n

The other players expressed little concern the labor impasse would affect the 2011 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is America\u2019s game,\u201d LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson said. \u201cI can\u2019t see the world without NFL football.\u201d<\/p>\n

While matters are worked out in Judge Susan Richard Nelson\u2019s court in Minnesota, the draft is the only game in town. There were concerns that pressure from the locked-out players would persuade many likely high-round draftees to skip the trip to New York.<\/p>\n

Not a consideration, many of them said after gathering around Commissioner Roger Goodell during a pep talk to the youngsters of Play 60, the NFL\u2019s youth health and fitness campaign.<\/p>\n

One intriguing twist involves Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller, the only college player named as a plaintiff in the antitrust lawsuit. Nine pros, including Tom Brady<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> and Peyton Manning<\/a>(notes)<\/a>,<\/span> are plaintiffs, too, but Miller can\u2019t wait to share the joy with Goodell.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s handled the situation well,\u201d said Miller, projected to go in the top five and considered by some the most NFL-ready talent in the entire draft. \u201cThere\u2019s no animosity between me and him. I love him. I plan on giving him a hug when I walk across the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newton is expected to walk onstage first at Radio City Music Hall, when the Carolina Panthers<\/a> open the draft. Several other quarterbacks are projected to go high, although only Blaine Gabbert of Missouri and Jake Locker of Washington are likely first-rounders.<\/p>\n

The opening round probably will be dominated by defensive players, especially linemen. From tackles Marcell Dareus of Alabama, Nick Fairley of Auburn and Corey Liuget of Illinois to ends Da\u2019Quan Bowers of Clemson, Robert Quinn of North Carolina and Ryan Kerrigan of Purdue, there\u2019s strong interest in the trenches.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne year it may be offensive lineman, next year it may be defensive ends, secondary,\u201d Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. \u201cThis year it is not as deep at the safety position as it has been in the past. All of a sudden, there are more defensive lineman than I\u2019ve seen in a long time. You just never know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miller is the top linebacker and Peterson the highest-rated defensive back.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be happy to play for whatever team picks me up,\u201d said Miller, who was born and raised in Texas. \u201cI hope it\u2019s the Cowboys, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo contributed to this story.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Continued here:
\nDraft uncertainty compounded by lockout (AP)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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