NFL Draft 2011: Will the Players Walk Across the Stage?

The NFL Draft is just a tad over a month and a week away, and there is already a lot of controversy surrounding what the newly drafted players will do.

The big question remains if the top picks will even be at Radio City to walk across the stage when their names are announced or will they listen to the NFLPA and not even show up.

There were originally rumors of a boycott of the draft last week, and now, according to USA Today, the NFLPA may be hosting a separate event for the players at the same time.

It is difficult to not feel bad for players like Patrick Peterson and A.J. Green who have grown up dreaming of hearing their name announced and walking across the stage to thank the commissioner. Now the dream of being drafted will be achieved, but the chance to walk across the stage is in question.

When the idea of a boycott originally came out most people felt as though the NFLPA was being obtuse by forcing people they represented to lose the spotlight. I assume the new idea by the NFLPA is designed to give these players the spotlight they deserve while still sending a message to the owners.

When push comes to shove I would assume the players are going to walk at the draft because it hurts them the most if they don't.

Also the players look like the bigger party when they show up and could draw some fan appreciation towards them.

Overall though fans are fed up with the situation and have little to know sympathy for either party.