Day 2 of the Draft- The Skins pick David Amerson

So excited to see the 'Skins use the 51st pick to select David Amerson.  I am hopeful that picks this year work out as well as last years.  I am hoping to see our team rounding out with the remaining picks!  Keep watching (I am in the orchestra pit!)

My Idea of Heaven at the NFL Draft!

Finally, A Quarterback!!!

The Buffalo Bills select the first quarterback of the Draft - EJ Manuel! Thanking his mom who is a breast cancer survivor- gotta love it! Now for my friends who are Steeler fans, they are on the clock!

First Surprise of the Night- Miami Selects Dion Jordan, a Defensive End

NFL Draft First Pick: Kansas City Picks Eric Fisher... and what it means to be on the clock.

So the first pick has been made and the Jacksonville Jaguars are "on the clock".  What, exactly does that mean? There is a set order in which the teams select during the Draft and each team has a certain amount of time to make their selection.. In round one they have 15 minutes to make their choice known, Round two get 10 minutes and rounds three through 7 get 5 minutes. Hope that clarifies what it means when a team is "on the clock", Back to the action!!!

Who will be the first pick?

Kansas City is on the clock - who will be drafted first?  This year TV correspondents will not tip the selections until they are announced! Joekel or Fisher?  On the Mezzanine live at the Draft!

Images from Day One of the NFL Draft

Yesterday's  twelve-hour day at Children's Hospital, packing and getting up at 4AM to catch the train to NYC is all forgotten when you get an invitation to lunch with the Commissioner! Now back to the hotel to take put my feet up for a hot second and then to Radio City for the start of the Draft!

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and me at lunch

No, A Draft is not a Breeze, at least at the NFL....

Remember when you were in elementary school at recess and it was time to pick sides for kickball?  Well, basically that is what the NFL draft is, except that there are 32 teams vying to pick the very best players, and unlike the schoolyard pick, just getting selected is an honor.  Each year near the end of April, the NFL hosts the draft in New York City, and all the teams have representatives there to select the players that will best fill out their team’s needs as they move into the season.  The best and brightest of the college players are hoping to be picked and begin their career in professional football.  I was lucky enough to be selected as a prize winner last year for the Verizon Draft Dream Sweepstakes and the grand prize was a trip to be part of this event first hand and announce a draft pick for my favorite team (the Redskins). It was an amazing experience and  the NFL and Redskins draft teams were so gracious and easy to work with that I was not even nervous about pronouncing Josh LeRibeus on national TV (well, maybe a little).

As it turns out I announced three picks, including Kirk Cousins, which was a surprising pick after the Skins first round pick of Robert Griffin III, and caused a lot of people in the DC area to ask "Who was that girl who announced the Kirk Cousins pick?"

Me with Michael Lombardi, Ken Harvey, And Roger Goodell at 2012 Draft

So what can I tell you about the draft as a spectator and participant? The Draft has 7 rounds, with the star players like Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III being snapped up in the first round.  A lot of analysis and observation goes into a team's selection. Who they pick is based not only on the assets a particular player brings but on what the team needs. Is your team needing a leader- you draft a quarterback, the equivalent of a field general in football.  Is your quarterback getting hit or does he need more time to throw a pass- draft some offensive linemen.  Do you need someone with great hands, and the legs of a gazelle- you need a receiver.Besides scouting colleges for stand out players and watching hours of game films from around the country, hopefuls are also observed before the draft at a Scouting Combine - a try-out of sorts where, this year more than 300 prospects ran their paces in front of reps from all the teams in workouts including the 40-yard dash, bench press,broad and vertical jumps and cone drills.

The actual draft is part complicated production and part party.Oddly enough it is a very nerve-wracking
evening for players, but for the fans lucky enough to be there it a chance to be part of the excitement that signals the start of a new NFL season.  Though I did not win a contest this year, I am able to get to the Draft again, and will be leaving for the NYC tomorrow.  I hope to post pix and videos over the three days to share the experience with you all, so stay tuned- it should be a wild ride!!!

Ten Reasons a Woman Should Care About Football

Me having a moment at last year's NFL Draft with Ken Harvey and the Commissioner

Not sure how you got to a blog about football? Thinking that football is a game for lunky, sweaty guys who crush beer cans on their foreheads? Are you more into Coach than coaches or more about fashion than forwards, care more about Louboutins than cleats? Well, as girls we are raised to think of football as man's domain, but by our sheer numbers, women have an important place at the table in football fandom. Merchandising and commercials are moving to attract women as well as men, a clear sign that women are becoming a force.

So why should you be interested?  Here are my ten reasons- send me your own:

City or regional pride - Remember the camaraderie that you had following your high school or

I guess you can tell my Redskins pride!!!

college team? You felt a part of something exciting. Learning about and following your home team gives you that same feeling, pride in your city or region, a chance to be part of something.  When your team wins, it is great, and when they don't , well, it builds character.

Social Outlet -  Basically from August until the end of January, football rules the airwaves, so why not learn something so that you are not left out at the water cooler at work, at the sports bar or even at family gatherings?

Mental Challenge -  Football is a game not just of brawn, but of skill and strategy, and understanding what makes a winning team or a successful play takes thought and analysis.  This will be especially if decide to explore the world of fantasyfootball.

Eye Candy -  What red-blooded woman does not want to watch built guys in tight pants run around the field? 'Nuff said.

Shock Factor for the Men in Your Life -  Whether it is your dad, your older brother or your boyfriend or husband, there is nothing like the shock and surprise on a guy's face when you actually know the signal for holding or how many points a safety is (kind of the way you would feel if he distinguished a Prada bag from a Nine West!)

This is only part of last year's Super Bowl Spread- Caviar can go with football!

Football Food -  From wings to ribs, to chips and dip, the food people eat while watching football is amazing! Games are a natural gathering and when a lot of people get together there has got to be food and drink, and it has got to be good!

Tailgating - An extension of football food for the fanatic fan - "extreme" football food if you will. You can cook out at the location of your team's game, and some people take tailgating seriously. Tailgating among die-hards is almost a competitive sport in and of itself.  Only football fans can make a parking lot a culinary destination!

Kitchen Avoidance - My mom told that with three brothers she learned early that on Thanksgiving  and game days you could either be watching the game or doing dishes in the kitchen. Seriously, now, which would you choose?

Me Announcing the selection of Kirk Cousins!

Fantasy Football - With a little understanding of the game, you can create a team, vanquish opponents and even win money without the billions it would take to own your own NFL team.

Break the Stereotype - Everyone thinks that women can't like or understand football.  Just like the
stereotype that you can't be beautiful and smart, or that all blondes are dumb, it is great to break through and blow people's minds.  Guess what you can love Fashion Week AND understand the crown of the helmet rule, you can adore RG III and Elie Saab (oh, and for you boys and girls, Elie is a man!)

So hopefully these reasons are enough for you to keep coming back. Come here to ask your questions and share your experiences. And I will be sharing mine with you, and maybe you can find something to interest and engage you, even make you laugh.