The Games of Draft season

[MHS831]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-games-of-draft-season.html

Interesting article from a former Bears Scout about smokescreens, lying, etc. before the draft.

[mav1234]

One last note: Back in the early 80’s when ESPN started televising the draft, Paul Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated was one of their analysts. Paul would call the GM’s of teams he was close to and ask them who they were going to draft in the first round. When those teams’ turns came up Paul would say “they were going to take so and so because the GM told me that last night.” When the team took another player Paul looked so disillusioned and would then say, “I can’t believe it, they told me they were taking the other guy…why would they lie to me?” He found out the hard way that there are more lies than truths being told this time of year when it comes to the draft.

I love that quote, lol.

[MHS831]

I love that quote, lol.

Basically, if you don't know it to be true for a fact, do not believe a word. Lotta articles, qoutes, etc. that are the cornerstones of arguments on here are fluffy lies. I guess it depends on your level of gullibility.

[csx]

As a fan I'd just rather watch and see who it is when it's announced. It's certainly more entertaining that way and in the end makes no difference whatsoever if I guess correclty or worry about it.

[The Other Colbert]

We just have to wait until april 28th.

I wonder how many GMs switch their minds on Draft Day. It's like going into a marriage with one foot still in cold water haha

Edit: I guess the only way we could ever know is if they started working a contract before the draft like the Rams and Bradford.

[vorbis]

i'd say it's a lot like a poker game among friends. you say a lot of things, some of them outrageous and some of them absolutely true. you are equally easy to read if you say only true things than if you only say b.s. things. so you throw out a bit of both.

[nationsford]

you got to bring an article over a fad going on, thats OD... theres also truths being told.

[MHS831]

you got to bring an article over a fad going on, thats OD... theres also truths being told.

It states that there are truths as well. Just like in poker. The best rule, as stated, is to not believe a thing unless you KNOW it to be true.

And The other colbert makes a good point: I wonder how many minds are changed in the war room.

If we don't have a CBA, we won't be able to work out a contract before the draft, so that might add to the suspense.

[panthers55]

Common wisdom is after the first round GMs constantly making changes as players go off the board and offers are made. And there is a lot of smokescreening around. But that isn't a primary issue when you are talking the top 3 picks and youknow who is going to there no matter what. Sure you keep folks gurssing until you make your mind and even then you might make a trade if the price is worth is.

But to assume we are doing a lot of smokescreening isn't necessarily true. I suspect we have told some truth along the way as well. Chances are we might still not know what we are going to do right now.

[MHS831]

But to assume we are doing a lot of smokescreening isn't necessarily true. I suspect we have told some truth along the way as well. Chances are we might still not know what we are going to do right now.

I agree, but would add that to assume that we are telling the truth is probably naive. If we are telling the truth, we hare telling Half truths, anyway. If a team wants a certain QB and they think we want him, they will offer us a trade. If we tell everyone what we are doing because we have the first pick, they might offer the trade to Denver. Unless you want offers, There is no real need to smokescreen with the first pick. I also agree that they probably do not know for sure yet.

I think you have to remember the players the press likes to pimp so they have stories and sell papers; they will be the subject of questions and these questions form headlines. I imagine there are players we like who have never been asked about, so there is no ink about them at all. Nobody was talking about Beason a few years back or Stewart, or Otah that much.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

Just like in poker someone with enough experience can figure out what's true and what's not listening to people that are let's say less-experienced. It's almost always better to just keep your mouth shut period.

Playing poker I knew a guy that would tell you in the middle of hand what his cards were. He always lied, but with that you could figure out what he DIDN'T have. I can beat everything except a flush, this guy is bragging about how he has a flush, well then, I know I have the best hand. Not that complicated.

Like this:

I would never talk about players we liked only about the players we didn’t like. And I would always talk very favorably about them.

Terrible move. I would chat this guy up at any chance. If he shied away from talking about a player, changed the subject ect. then you know it's someone they like. If he goes on and on about how great someone is then you know it's a player they don't like. Playschool.

[mav1234]

If he goes on and on about how great someone is then you know it's a player they don't like. Playschool.

and this is exactly why so many people were originally calling what Rivera was doing a smoke screen; it is very very typical to talk up guys you don't like to a ridiculous extent when it comes to the draft.

fwiw, I don't know that was what Rivera was doing. He was just asked questions about Newton, and I see no reason why he would answer them negatively even if he didn't like the guy.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

Well the biggest thing Rivera has going for him is that he's a new HC so teams don't really have a bead on to how he actually drafts vs. how he talks up guys. Maybe he was being genuine, maybe he thought he was OK and just being nice, maybe he hates the guy and is throwing that out there as misinformation. We don't really know until you have a draft or two of history to compare what's said vs. who is actually drafted.

I still think the best move is to just keep your mouth shut. Give nothing away, keep other teams completely in the dark. Let them fall in love with a player and second guess themselves that you'll take them instead.

[MHS831]

I still think the best move is to just keep your mouth shut. Give nothing away, keep other teams completely in the dark. Let them fall in love with a player and second guess themselves that you'll take them instead.

The article talks about that too (God gave you 2 ears and 1 mouth). I agree that you should keep it shut. However, it is Playschool, then poker players should analyze what we and other teams are going to do before the draft--it will be very interesting--to have experienced poker players highlight things that are BS and things that are true. They would have to decode specifics, etc. Sorta like that Liar TV show. In 5 weeks, we find out who is good and who is blowing smoke themselves! Don't know how to put that together, but it would be fun.