Caught in the Draft - New Series on the NFL Channel (1 Viewer)

[Bob Magaw]

Premier aired Wedneday, 4-9 at 6:00 PM PST (check local times and listings - looks like they are repeating it tonight and tomorrow).

First episode is on the 1964 Draft class. Pretty well done. The draft has definitely come a long ways (before the merger, for one thing).

I remember having seen somebody in shows like this a lot previously (such as the Top 10 theme programs) and liking his historical context and insight, but didn't know who it was. It turns out it was Dan Daly (he sounds just like Joe Pesci). Sure enough, he has a few NFL history books, which I may check out. Worth the price of admission for some old school, classic NFL Films footage and music.

 

[One]

1st episode was great.

Fun to follow it's evolution, especially since so many members of the '64 Draft class are still recognizable even to a guy like me, in his 30's.

 

[Bob Magaw]

I knew there used to be a lot more rounds (though not sure they got into that much).

Didn't know they used to draft through the night. Didn't know there wasn't a time limit, so DAL was on the clock six hours until they could get future Hall of Famer Mel Renfro's knee checked out (why not do that before?). DAL thought outside the box, converting star offensive player Renfro to DB, track star, future Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Famer Bob Hayes to WR, Michigan State basketball player Peter Gent to WR and drafting future Hall of Famer Roger Staubach despite a five year Naval commitment during the Vietnam war. Gil Brandt used to send him footballs by the dozens, and one time they got blown up by a mortar round. Daly said that something like 1/4 of the picks in the draft were so called futures picks. Some of the stories of the gamesmanship between the NFL and the upstart rival AFL to take prospects from the other league I had heard. They called them baby sitters, but I have heard the process before described almost like kidnapping.

The underappreciated impact of NYJ RB Matt Snell the year before Joe Namath was new to me and interesting.

I think the next installment is on the '74 draft, which helped key the PIT dynasty.

 

[massraider]

First episode was great.

Anyone who liked the 30 for 30 about the 83 Draft (and who couldn't??), will love this series.

Great idea for a series.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I knew there used to be a lot more rounds (though not sure they got into that much).

Didn't know they used to draft through the night. Didn't know there wasn't a time limit, so DAL was on the clock six hours until they could get future Hall of Famer Mel Renfro's knee checked out (why not do that before?). DAL thought outside the box, converting star offensive player Renfro to DB, track star, future Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Famer Bob Hayes to WR, Michigan State basketball player Peter Gent to WR and drafting future Hall of Famer Roger Staubach despite a five year Naval commitment during the Vietnam war. Gil Brandt used to send him footballs by the dozens, and one time they got blown up by a mortar round. Daly said that something like 1/4 of the picks in the draft were so called futures picks. Some of the stories of the gamesmanship between the NFL and the upstart rival AFL to take prospects from the other league I had heard. They called them baby sitters, but I have heard the process before described almost like kidnapping.

The underappreciated impact of NYJ RB Matt Snell the year before Joe Namath was new to me and interesting.

I think the next installment is on the '74 draft, which helped key the PIT dynasty.

Matt Snell was part of that 1964 draft.

Namath (and I do think he was a great QB) gets all the adulation for that SBIII win but the reality is the Jets defense (which had Buddy Ryan on staff) and Matt Snell won that game. Namath did not throw a pass in the 4th quarter.

The 1964 NFL draft had 6 hall of famers in the first 18 picks, 10 HOF'ers altogether.

Bob Brown - PHI

Charley Taylor - CLE

Carl Eller - MIN

Paul Warfield - WAS

Mel Renfro - DAL

Paul Krause - WAS - all time interception leader to this day

The Redskins actually managed two HOF'ers in the first two rounds.

Also had HOF'ers: Leroy Kelly to CLE in the 8th round, Bob Hayes in the 7th, Dave Wilcox in the 3rd, Roger Staubach in the 10th (admittedly he had like 5 years or so before he could play).

http://www.pro-footb.../1964/draft.htm

The draft used to have 20, then later 17, then ultimately 12 rounds. There are some great players who came out of those late rounds like (for Saints fans) Danny Abramowicz (17th round pick from Xavier OH, early day Danny Amendola but had the toughness of Mike Ditka, ended up with the most consecutive games receiving in the NFL at one point) and Johnny Unitas (9th). Obviously a lot of these guys would just be UDFA signees today. If the NFL had 20 rounds today I'd probably watch the whole damn thing.

There were also players drafted in earlier rounds who never played a single snap in the NFL. Some teams did not even have scouting departments.

 

[Bob Magaw]

In '74 (three more episodes, covering '84, '94 and '04) there were five Hall of Famers - PIT had four of them.

First - Lynn Swann

Second - Jack Lambert

Third - None

Fourth - John Stallworth

Fifth - Mike Webster

 

[Bob Magaw]

Still rerunning some episodes.

'84 was preempted last week, but reshowing that.

'94 has been good so far, and I think 2004 airs next week.

 

[massraider]

I attended the 1994 draft, it was cool to stay at the Marriott Marquis, and roll downstairs to attend the draft. You can't hear it great in the telecast, but when Kiper slammed the Colts, the Place. Went. Bonkers.

 

[Bob Magaw]

Yeah, that was the Tobin/Kiper meltdown draft.

Cool that you got to attend and provide that perspective, thanks.

 

[massraider]

UDFA's from 1994:

Kurt Warner

Jeff Garcia

Jay Fiedler

D'Marco Farr

Shelton Quarles

Robert Griffith

Tony Richardson

Rod Smith

Amazing.

 

[Fariq]

Premier aired Wedneday, 4-9 at 6:00 PM PST (check local times and listings - looks like they are repeating it tonight and tomorrow).

First episode is on the 1964 Draft class. Pretty well done. The draft has definitely come a long ways (before the merger, for one thing).

I remember having seen somebody in shows like this a lot previously (such as the Top 10 theme programs) and liking his historical context and insight, but didn't know who it was. It turns out it was Dan Daly (he sounds just like Joe Pesci). Sure enough, he has a few NFL history books, which I may check out. Worth the price of admission for some old school, classic NFL Films footage and music.

The Pro Football Chronicle is my favorite football book.

 

[Fariq]

I knew there used to be a lot more rounds (though not sure they got into that much).

Didn't know they used to draft through the night. Didn't know there wasn't a time limit, so DAL was on the clock six hours until they could get future Hall of Famer Mel Renfro's knee checked out (why not do that before?). DAL thought outside the box, converting star offensive player Renfro to DB, track star, future Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Famer Bob Hayes to WR, Michigan State basketball player Peter Gent to WR and drafting future Hall of Famer Roger Staubach despite a five year Naval commitment during the Vietnam war. Gil Brandt used to send him footballs by the dozens, and one time they got blown up by a mortar round. Daly said that something like 1/4 of the picks in the draft were so called futures picks. Some of the stories of the gamesmanship between the NFL and the upstart rival AFL to take prospects from the other league I had heard. They called them baby sitters, but I have heard the process before described almost like kidnapping.

The underappreciated impact of NYJ RB Matt Snell the year before Joe Namath was new to me and interesting.

I think the next installment is on the '74 draft, which helped key the PIT dynasty.

Matt Snell was part of that 1964 draft.

Namath (and I do think he was a great QB) gets all the adulation for that SBIII win but the reality is the Jets defense (which had Buddy Ryan on staff) and Matt Snell won that game. Namath did not throw a pass in the 4th quarter.

That was by his own design. He called the plays. He was masterful in the game in the face of the strong Baltimore pass defense. Also, one of his All-Pro receivers was severely hindered in the game.

 

[Sabertooth]

I knew there used to be a lot more rounds (though not sure they got into that much).

Didn't know they used to draft through the night. Didn't know there wasn't a time limit, so DAL was on the clock six hours until they could get future Hall of Famer Mel Renfro's knee checked out (why not do that before?). DAL thought outside the box, converting star offensive player Renfro to DB, track star, future Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Famer Bob Hayes to WR, Michigan State basketball player Peter Gent to WR and drafting future Hall of Famer Roger Staubach despite a five year Naval commitment during the Vietnam war. Gil Brandt used to send him footballs by the dozens, and one time they got blown up by a mortar round. Daly said that something like 1/4 of the picks in the draft were so called futures picks. Some of the stories of the gamesmanship between the NFL and the upstart rival AFL to take prospects from the other league I had heard. They called them baby sitters, but I have heard the process before described almost like kidnapping.

The underappreciated impact of NYJ RB Matt Snell the year before Joe Namath was new to me and interesting.

I think the next installment is on the '74 draft, which helped key the PIT dynasty.

Matt Snell was part of that 1964 draft.

Namath (and I do think he was a great QB) gets all the adulation for that SBIII win but the reality is the Jets defense (which had Buddy Ryan on staff) and Matt Snell won that game. Namath did not throw a pass in the 4th quarter.

That was by his own design. He called the plays. He was masterful in the game in the face of the strong Baltimore pass defense. Also, one of his All-Pro receivers was severely hindered in the game.

So basically it was a team effort, I think you both can agree on that.

 

[Fariq]

I knew there used to be a lot more rounds (though not sure they got into that much).

Didn't know they used to draft through the night. Didn't know there wasn't a time limit, so DAL was on the clock six hours until they could get future Hall of Famer Mel Renfro's knee checked out (why not do that before?). DAL thought outside the box, converting star offensive player Renfro to DB, track star, future Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Famer Bob Hayes to WR, Michigan State basketball player Peter Gent to WR and drafting future Hall of Famer Roger Staubach despite a five year Naval commitment during the Vietnam war. Gil Brandt used to send him footballs by the dozens, and one time they got blown up by a mortar round. Daly said that something like 1/4 of the picks in the draft were so called futures picks. Some of the stories of the gamesmanship between the NFL and the upstart rival AFL to take prospects from the other league I had heard. They called them baby sitters, but I have heard the process before described almost like kidnapping.

The underappreciated impact of NYJ RB Matt Snell the year before Joe Namath was new to me and interesting.

I think the next installment is on the '74 draft, which helped key the PIT dynasty.

Matt Snell was part of that 1964 draft.

Namath (and I do think he was a great QB) gets all the adulation for that SBIII win but the reality is the Jets defense (which had Buddy Ryan on staff) and Matt Snell won that game. Namath did not throw a pass in the 4th quarter.

That was by his own design. He called the plays. He was masterful in the game in the face of the strong Baltimore pass defense. Also, one of his All-Pro receivers was severely hindered in the game.

So basically it was a team effort, I think you both can agree on that.

Having seen the game and having read many books and articles on it, I think a case can be made for Dave Herman or George Sauer for MVP and maybe Snell. I do not think it was wrong for Namath to have been named the MVP.

The biggest mistake with that award was for Super Bowl 6. Duane Thomas should have won over Roger Staubach.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

UDFA's from 1994:

Kurt Warner

Jeff Garcia

Jay Fiedler

D'Marco Farr

Shelton Quarles

Robert Griffith

Tony Richardson

Rod Smith

Amazing.

Saw that - I think the point there is those were guys who would have been drafted in later rounds in the prior 12 round format.