Muscle Sport Magazine

Life Goes On For Draft Prep During NFL Lockout, Labor Negotiations

There is certainly something missing this year as the NFL Draft is looming. Instead of organizations making strategic free agent signings filling holes in their rosters and mapping out the upcoming college draft, they are patiently waiting for the labor impasse to come to an end so we can all get on with our lives.

To the average fan, all of the behind closed doors head banging over dollars, cents and the like are akin to watching paint dry. They want to read about players being inked to long term deals, not sitting on the proverbial sideline while lawyers and union heads do battle instead of offensive and defensive lineman.

No matter how many hours the NFL Network runs “Path to the Draft,” there is a huge void in the days leading up to the gala event held annually at Radio City Music Hall. Will the vocal fans have the same zeal with so many questions surrounding the status of the 2011 season? There will surely be some that choose to stay home or attend to salute with a chorus of boos, but the majority will be there as always to voice their opinion on their favorite team’s picks.

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The war rooms around the country will be their usual confusing places of agreement and disagreement amongst front office personnel and the media will have their own slant on why this particular junior cornerback was taken too high. With so much uncertainty, though, do not expect a flurry of trades that we have become accustomed to in previous years.

But at least for one weekend, we can actually talk football for a change this offseason.

Photo by Bill Menzel

2011 NFL DRAFT ORDER

1. Carolina (2-14)
2. Denver (4-12)
3. Buffalo (4-12)
4. Cincinnati (4-12)
5. Arizona (5-11)
6. Cleveland (5-11)
7. San Francisco (6-10)
8. Tennessee (6-10)
9. Dallas (6-10)
10. Washington (6-10)
11. Houston (6-10)
12. Minnesota (6-10)
13. Detroit (6-10)
14. St. Louis (7-9)
15. Miami (7-9)
16. Jacksonville (8-8)
17. New England (14-2) — from Oakland
18. San Diego (9-7)
19. New York Giants (10-6)
20. Tampa Bay (10-6)
21. Kansas City (10-6)
22. Indianapolis (10-6)
23. Philadelphia (10-6)
24. New Orleans (11-5)
25. Seattle (7-9)
26. Baltimore (12-4)
27. Atlanta (13-3)
28. New England (14-2)
29. Chicago (11-5)
30. New York Jets (11-5)
31. Green Bay (10-6)*
32. Pittsburgh (12-4)*

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