SportsPulse: Josh Rosen, the most polarizing quarterback in this year's draft, discusses the "millennial" narrative, details what he wants in a coach, reacts to former coach Jim Mora's comments and more. USA TODAY Sports
NFL fans cheer on the red carpet before the start of the draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art last year.(Photo: Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports)
Corrections and clarifications: In an earlier version of this story, a different year was listed for the first NFL draft. It was in 1936.
So a parrot named Zsa Zsa is going to help announce the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' fourth-round pick. The Buffalo Bills are going to announce a couple of picks in front of Niagara Falls. And maybe Robert Kraft is flying in Meek Mill and the rapper's probation officer to announce one of the New England Patriots' picks.
Here's my first-round choice: let's go back to the good old days.
I don't mean all the way back to the days when Mel Kiper was operating out of his parents' basement and had yet to discover hair product. But to appreciate the good old days, it's best to go back to the old, old days.
The NFL draft started in 1936, four year before The Draft — you know, the one used to amass American troops for World War II. (History lesson for Josh Rosen and the rest of you Millennials: The Bill Belichick of World War II was a guy by the name of General George S. Patton.)
William "Dub'' Jones, a halfback and the No. 2 overall pick of the 1946 draft, said he was at submarine school in Connecticut when he got a call from the Chicago Cardinals. Jones said the first he heard of the NFL draft is when the Cardinals told Jones they'd drafted him.
"I was the highest paid player on the team at $12,000,'' said Jones, who ended up signing with the Miami Seahawks.
Fast forward, as fast as Saquon Barkley runs the 40-yard dash. Last year, the draft's No. 2 overall pick — quarterback Mitchell Trubisky — got about an $18 million signing bonus for the Chicago Bears. But my complaint is less about the cash than the splash.
In 1980, the NFL's decision to televise the draft was a boon for football fans. But not even P.T. Barnum would sign off on this circus.
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This year the draft will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and the wall-to-wall coverage will reach new heights, decibels and absurdity. It might be worth considering the viewing plans of Dub Jones and his son, Bert Jones, the retired quarterback who was picked by the Baltimore Colts with the No. 2 overall pick of the 1973 NFL draft.
Dub Jones, now 93, said he plans to tune in Thursday night, but he's not so sure his son will be around to see the parrot or Niagara Falls, much less the No. 1 pick.
"Thursday, he may be turkey hunting,'' Dub Jones said.
Sounds like a fine place to be.
Follow Peter on Twitter @joshlpeter11
