2011 NFL Draft: 5 Reasons Why Cam Newton and Friends Shouldn't Attend

Today is March 23rd and the NFL owners haven't come any closer to a new collective bargaining agreement with the players.  Owners are anxious about potential lost revenues, and players are anxious about their futures and the impending hearing in front of Judge Susan Richard Nelson on April 6th.

Fans are anxious because there might not be a season, but most anxious of all are probably the college prospects like Cam Newton (pictured left), who are expected to be taken in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Recently, the NFLPA (or what used to be the NFLPA) sent out a memo "recommending" that these college players not attend the NFL's draft ceremony.  Instead, they should attend a smaller venue rented out by the NFLPA.  This idea may sound crazy, but it could actually be a good idea.

Here are five reasons that Newton and his peers should consider this option and not attend the NFL Draft.

No. 5: No Mel Kiper Analysis

If there's one thing that NFL fans love about watching the draft, it's Mel Kiper's analysis of each and every pick.  The man is a draft guru and is almost always on point with his predictions for certain players.  Yet, he is also a reason that this year's draft class should not attend the ceremony at Radio City Music Hall.

Put yourself in the No. 1 pick's position.  Your name is called, you walk up to the stage and get the man-hug from the commissioner.  After the obligatory picture is taken, you head backstage and start watching ESPN.  Talking on the TV, his hair as still as ever, is Kiper.  After a couple of words about how good you are, he then starts rambling about your bust potential.

Call me crazy, but no player wants to hear that.  At a smaller venue with the NFLPA, Kiper will almost definitely be on the TV, but at least there won't be the anxiety of being in the same room as him.

No. 4: Get to Know DeMaurice Smith

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: National Football League Players' Association (NFLPA) executive director DeMaurice Smith talks with the media following meetings at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service building March 11, 2011 in Washington, DC. Repre

In his short tenure as Executive Director of the NFLPA, DeMaurice Smith has been nothing but stellar in representing the players.  He has not bowed to or made concessions regarding the owners' demands, truly having the players' best interests at heart.

If this year's draft class was to attend the smaller ceremony proposed by the NFLPA, they would have a chance to get to know Smith and hopefully get an idea of where negotiations and their futures stand.

No. 3: It Would Put Them in Good Graces with Current Players

Throughout this whole negotiation process, veteran players like Drew Brees (pictured left) have pleaded with the owners to reach a compromise.  Now that no deal has been reached, Brees and company have been extremely cold towards the owners, and more importantly, Roger Goodell.  That being said, this year's draft class wouldn't make any new friends among the players where they pick the company of Goodell over that of the players and DeMaurice Smith.

The longstanding philosophy in football, and all sports, has been that no matter how good rookies are, they should still know their place and treat veteran players with respect.  If Cam Newton and the rest of this year's draft class were to attend the Radio City ceremony and not the other one, they would certainly have a hard first year in the NFL.

No. 2: It Will Ultimately Result in a New Deal

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 21: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the media during the NFL Annual Meetings at the Roosevelt Hotel on March 21, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Despite a NFL owners imposed lockout in effect since March 12 the league is c

The owners have already said that they have enough money saved up for a lost season.  Yet, I don't think many people have an idea of just how much money will be lost if top college prospects decide not to attend the NFL Draft.

The fact is that for a sporting event that isn't an actual game, the NFL Draft is one of the most watched events on television.  Fans love watching their favorite college players embrace the commissioner, put on their new team's hat, and hold up the jersey, as well as the post pick interviews.

This year, after the lack of their presence results in lower ratings, and thus less money from advertising, it will force Goodell and the owners to rethink their demands and ultimately get a deal done.

No. 1: It Will Cause Goodell to Lose All Leverage

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell talks with the media outside the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service building March 11, 2011 in Washington, DC. The NFLPA has filed for decertification and will no longer be the exclusive c

I have long stated that Roger Goodell is to blame for the lockout.  Rather than be impartial and try to mediate the negotiations, he has clearly taken the owners' side and further established himself as the NFL's worst commissioner.  Even worse, he is confident that a deal will be reached before the planned start of the season, and that replacement players are not in the cards.  In the short term, he still thinks he has leverage.

If this year's draft class doesn't attend the draft, and thus cause the NFL to lose revenue from that event, Goodell would lose what little leverage he has left, if any at all.  This would serve as a wakeup call to him that it's time to stop taking sides and tell both parties to work it out.