2008 DRAFT DAY PRIMER

When: April 26-27

Where: Radio City Music Hall, New York City

Time: Starts at 3 PM ET on Saturday and at 10 AM EST on Sunday.

Seating: There is no charge for admission to the event for fans, however, there is limited seating. On the morning of the 26th, the NFL will begin distributing wristbands in lieu of a ticket for entry to the draft on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 10 AM ET on the 50th Street side of Radio City Music Hall. All individuals that want a wristband, though, must pick up one in person. The doors to the draft will then open beginning at 1:45 PM ET.


Television coverage: NFL Network and ESPN


Rounds: There are seven rounds; rounds 1-2 go on Saturday; rounds 3-7 on Sunday

The picks: The draft order in the first round is determined as follows: 1) the super Bowl champion has the last regular pick in each round, while the Super Bowl loser has the second last regular pick in each round; 2) the remaining teams are grouped according to won-lost record; if there are both playoff and non-playoff teams within a won-lost grouping, the playoff teams are grouped after the non-playoff teams; 3) non-playoff teams in each group draft in reverse order of their opponents' combined W-L %; 4) playoff teams are also grouped according to strength of schedule, though they are further aggregated by the team(s) advancing the farthest in the playoffs in the same group. Where two teams with the same records and their combined opponents have the same winning percentage, divisional or conference tie-breakers arer applied whenever applicable. Any ties that still exist are broken by a coin flip. In subsequent rounds, the team with the highest pick in the previous round in each won-lost grouping drops to the bottom of that group, while all other teams move up one place.

Compensatory picks are awarded based on a formula the primary factor of which is a team's NET losses of unrestricted free agency the previous year. These picks are added on at the end of the assigned round. As part of the CBA there must be a minimum of 255 players picked at each draft. If the total number of regular plus compensatory picks is less than 255 additional compensatory picks will be awarded to the teams with the highest picks in the first round starting with the team with the very first selection until the 255 number is reached. Assignment of comp picks usually is announced a few weeks before the draft.

Teams have 10 minutes to make their picks in the first round; 8 in the second; and 5 in subsequent rounds. A team going over the time limit may make their pick at any time after the clock runs out, but the team(s) with the succeeding pick(s) may make their picks as their turn indicates.

If you have comments or suggestions, e-mail the Editor, Great Blue North Draft Report. The GBN can also be reached by phone at (613) 727-3388; by fax at (613) 951-0387; or regular mail at PO Box 5282 Merivale Depot, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2C 3H5.

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