2011 NFL Draft: 5 Reasons This Draft Will Be Like No Other

While listening to Dan Patrick interview NFL Network's Rich Eisen, they talked about something I had not thought of as a football fan.

This draft holds many mysteries. While I have enjoyed blogging about this draft, can you imagine how different it would have been if Andrew Luck had declared for the NFL? 

This draft is going to be different. I just didn't realize that those close to the NFL circle (like Eisen) are concerned about the fan base. And after listening to him, I can understand why. 

But more on that in a second.

We love the draft because we love the hope that comes with being a fan. The NFL has done a good job leveling out the playing field between the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals, even though Dallas is a large-market team.

While I disagree with both owners and players over this lockout, it is still very difficult to abandon the NFL like Major League Baseball fans did in 1994. It is noticeable that the media long for the NFL, reporting its every move (sometimes even before other sports that are in season). Both media and fans love the NFL, even though we can't possibly understand the greed that accompanies this business. 

The NFL Draft will scratch an itch for the fan until a new CBA is designed and the season begins.  So what's the difference between this draft and the others?

Here are five reasons why this draft will be like no other:

1. The Lockout.

Players can't be traded until a new CBA is created.

We don't know when that will happen, but it can't happen fast enough.

I can't tell you how this will alter the draft because teams cannot package deals to send players and drafts picks. This is a possible perfect storm for NFL draft boredom. For example, if the Buffalo Bills decide they don't like anybody at No. 3, they can let the time wind down and simply choose when they are ready and before the current pick.

It is possible, worst case scenario, that several teams allow for their time to expire. This may create a log jam in the draft, and in the words of Back to the Future's Doc Emmett Brown, "this could cause a chain reaction that would unravel the very fabric of the space-time continuum and destroy the entire universe!"

It would make for a very different draft with two or three teams passing up their picks with no possibility of trading down. It is important to understand that teams won't know the monetary value of their picks when drafted because there is no CBA, which could also cause hesitation to pick in their slots. 

2. NFL vs. The Players.

The NFL will have the normal draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

However, the soon-to-be rookies have been "encouraged" by the decertified union to not attend. They instead want the rookies to attend an alternate event.

Interestingly enough, some of the rookies have decided to attend the NFL Draft. This will create a little bit of future drama in the locker room. I hope there aren't any rookies who show up to their first day on the job with an accidental broken leg. "Coach, I slipped on...uh...my new alpaca. It was a gift," meanwhile, James Harrison is making life-threatening gestures in the background.

You have to wonder if current NFL veterans will show up to picket outside Radio City. Just adding to the drama, baby.

3. You vs. The media.

This is where the conversation between Eisen and Patrick was very insightful.

They focused on the power of us, the fans; the success of the draft will depend on whether or not we watch it.

How refreshingly simple.

Patrick is of the opinion that fans have a jones for football, while Eisen isn't so sure. I don't know why Eisen would act as if fans wouldn't be interested! 

However, if the draft is boring, I will walk, and so should you, no matter if your team has picked its future stud or not. This strike will conclude when the fan becomes disinterested. Remember that we provide the billions for the owners and players to squabble over. If the NFL and players can't settle this in a timely fashion, they don't deserve our time and money.

Simply walk away from the screen.

4. No Clear No. 1.

Media prognosticators have changed their No. 1 picks to include Nick Fairley, Marcell Dareus, Patrick Peterson, Blaine Gabbert, Cam Newton and A.J. Green. No one knows what the Carolina Panthers are going to do.

Once again, what if they decide to let their clock run out? Because there is no concise No. 1 pick in the draft, this has busted the doors open for mock draft geeks to guess and guess again, which leads me to the last reason this draft will be like none other...

5. Andrew Luck Stayed.

I was deeply surprised, stunned even, that he chose to stay in college.

Luck would've clearly starred on the NFL Draft stage. Quarterback-starved teams would've been anxious to deal a trade with Carolina in order to get their hands on this athlete.

What was he thinking?

It sounds to me like he loves college. He wanted to get his degree. More power to him, I guess.

How rare is it that an individual could own New York, and he would've been an immediate star in the NFL WITHOUT HAVING PLAYED A DOWN. 

This draft will be like none other because Luck missed his opportunity to become a star on a bigger stage than Stanford University. 

I am curious to see what the 2011 NFL Draft will hold, and I hope you do too. There is a part of me that wants to boycott because I'm tired of how greed has perverted such a fun game. If you do not watch the draft, good for you. If you chose to watch, watch without conviction, for it will be a draft like none other.