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On the Clock: The Story of the NFL Draft
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The National Football League (NFL) draft features no action on the field. No passing, running, tackling, or kicking. Hey, there isn't even a field.
Yet the draft has become more popular than many other sporting events, including the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL) playoff games, against which it goes head-to-head for viewers. In fact, the draft has spawned its own cottage industry in which names such as Gil Brandt, Mel Kiper, Jr., and Mike Mayock become as well-known as any of the first-round selections.
In On the Clock, Ken Rappoport and Barry Wilner chronicle the history of the proceedings. The veteran sports writers take you from the first grab bag in 1936, when Philadelphia chose Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago and saw him decline to play in the NFL, to the 2014 draft—considered one of the deepest in talent ever.
Along the 78-year journey, learn about the competitions for the top overall spot (Peyton Manning vs. Ryan Leaf), the unhappy No. 1s (John Elway and Tom Cousineau), the big flops (JaMarcus Russell) and the late-rounders-turned-superstars (Tom Brady).
Meet the draft wizards, from Paul Brown to Bill Walsh and Jimmy Johnson. And the draft whiffs that cost personnel executives their jobs.
On the Clock takes you behind the scenes at one of pro football’s yearly major events.
Barry Wilner has been a sportswriter for the Associated Press since 1975. He has covered virtually every major sporting event, including twelve Olympics, nine World Cups, twenty-six Super Bowls, the World Series, and the Stanley Cup finals, and has written thirty-nine books. He lives in Garnerville, New York.
Ken Rappoport is the author of more than sixty sports books for adults and young readers. Working for the Associated Press in New York for thirty years, he has written about every major sport. His assignments included the World Series, the NBA Finals, and, as the AP’s national hockey writer, the Stanley Cup Finals and the Olympics. He lives in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.
The National Football League (NFL) draft features no action on the field. No passing, running, tackling, or kicking. Hey, there isn't even a field.
Yet the draft has become more popular than many other sporting events, including the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL) playoff games, against which it goes head-to-head for viewers. In fact, the draft has spawned its own cottage industry in which names such as Gil Brandt, Mel Kiper, Jr., and Mike Mayock become as well-known as any of the first-round selections.
In On the Clock, Ken Rappoport and Barry Wilner chronicle the history of the proceedings. The veteran sports writers take you from the first grab bag in 1936, when Philadelphia chose Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago and saw him decline to play in the NFL, to the 2014 draft—considered one of the deepest in talent ever.
Along the 78-year journey, learn about the competitions for the top overall spot (Peyton Manning vs. Ryan Leaf), the unhappy No. 1s (John Elway and Tom Cousineau), the big flops (JaMarcus Russell) and the late-rounders-turned-superstars (Tom Brady).
Meet the draft wizards, from Paul Brown to Bill Walsh and Jimmy Johnson. And the draft whiffs that cost personnel executives their jobs.
On the Clock takes you behind the scenes at one of pro football’s yearly major events.
Barry Wilner has been a sportswriter for the Associated Press since 1975. He has covered virtually every major sporting event, including twelve Olympics, nine World Cups, twenty-six Super Bowls, the World Series, and the Stanley Cup finals, and has written thirty-nine books. He lives in Garnerville, New York.
Ken Rappoport is the author of more than sixty sports books for adults and young readers. Working for the Associated Press in New York for thirty years, he has written about every major sport. His assignments included the World Series, the NBA Finals, and, as the AP’s national hockey writer, the Stanley Cup Finals and the Olympics. He lives in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.
202 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 17, 2015
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The NFL has become a year-round American sporting obsession. No longer content to simply enjoy the games on the field, we’ve become enthralled by the nature of the machinations off the field. And so now, sports fans spend much of the offseason thinking about football and what’s in store for their favorite teams and players.
The largest piece of that puzzle – the Super Bowl of the NFL offseason, in essence – is the NFL Draft. The explosive growth in the level of fandom has led to in-depth coverage of the draft on all levels, from the number-one overall picks to the annual Mr. Irrelevant (the last player selected). It’s obsessively covered for weeks in advance and relentlessly televised.
But how much do you really know about the past of the NFL Draft?
Authors Barry Wilner and Ken Rappaport offer up a primer with “On the Clock: The Story of the NFL Draft”. The book offers a two-pronged approach to your draft education, alternating between a discussion of the 2014 draft and a look back at the draft’s origins and its growth from necessary convenience to cottage industry.
Along with breaking down the 2014 draft and some of its storylines – Jadeveon Clowney as the first overall pick, the first round freefall of Johnny Manziel – “On the Clock” looks back at the draft’s beginnings as the process sprang from Philadelphia Eagles owner Bert Bell’s desire to keep the richest of the league’s teams from gaining an unfair advantage through their money. The draft was designed to give the lesser teams a chance to land better players and improve themselves by doing so.
The authors include some of the legendary figures when it comes to the draft – personnel guys like Gil Brandt and broadcast draftniks like Mel Kiper Jr. and Mike Mayock – which gives a nice sense of the stakes involved. They also include lists of the five all-time best and worst draft selections by position.
“On the Clock” offers a nice entry into learning about the NFL Draft. The juxtaposition between the present and the past offers some welcome perspective. However, it sometimes seems that the 2014 draft analysis – while welcome – is perhaps too prevalent. The historical info and expert context is far more likely to hold up. With the next draft rapidly approaching, it’s already on the verge of becoming old news. It’s not that it’s bad; it’s that there’s too much of it.
Meanwhile, the historic and contextual stuff will engage any avid football fan. The story of how the draft came to be covered in the media – and how that evolved from a few hours of coverage in the early 1980s to the weeks-long multimedia feeding frenzy that is the draft today.
Wilner and Rappaport are both longtime Associated Press writers – and it shows. There’s a straightforwardness to their recounting that feels very reportorial; frankly, it’s a bit refreshing considering the breathlessness and hyperbole of most NFL-related writing. There are tiny pockets of clunkiness and occasional repetitions, but for the most part, the book is a quick and informative read.
So with the 2015 NFL Draft almost upon us, it’s a great time to have a look back at one of the fundamental keys to the league’s long-term viability. “On the Clock” gives you just that – a snapshot look at the NFL Draft’s history, its function and some of the people who have built their lives around it.
The NFL has become a year-round American sporting obsession. No longer content to simply enjoy the games on the field, we’ve become enthralled by the nature of the machinations off the field. And so now, sports fans spend much of the offseason thinking about football and what’s in store for their favorite teams and players.
The largest piece of that puzzle – the Super Bowl of the NFL offseason, in essence – is the NFL Draft. The explosive growth in the level of fandom has led to in-depth coverage of the draft on all levels, from the number-one overall picks to the annual Mr. Irrelevant (the last player selected). It’s obsessively covered for weeks in advance and relentlessly televised.
But how much do you really know about the past of the NFL Draft?
Authors Barry Wilner and Ken Rappaport offer up a primer with “On the Clock: The Story of the NFL Draft”. The book offers a two-pronged approach to your draft education, alternating between a discussion of the 2014 draft and a look back at the draft’s origins and its growth from necessary convenience to cottage industry.
Along with breaking down the 2014 draft and some of its storylines – Jadeveon Clowney as the first overall pick, the first round freefall of Johnny Manziel – “On the Clock” looks back at the draft’s beginnings as the process sprang from Philadelphia Eagles owner Bert Bell’s desire to keep the richest of the league’s teams from gaining an unfair advantage through their money. The draft was designed to give the lesser teams a chance to land better players and improve themselves by doing so.
The authors include some of the legendary figures when it comes to the draft – personnel guys like Gil Brandt and broadcast draftniks like Mel Kiper Jr. and Mike Mayock – which gives a nice sense of the stakes involved. They also include lists of the five all-time best and worst draft selections by position.
“On the Clock” offers a nice entry into learning about the NFL Draft. The juxtaposition between the present and the past offers some welcome perspective. However, it sometimes seems that the 2014 draft analysis – while welcome – is perhaps too prevalent. The historical info and expert context is far more likely to hold up. With the next draft rapidly approaching, it’s already on the verge of becoming old news. It’s not that it’s bad; it’s that there’s too much of it.
Meanwhile, the historic and contextual stuff will engage any avid football fan. The story of how the draft came to be covered in the media – and how that evolved from a few hours of coverage in the early 1980s to the weeks-long multimedia feeding frenzy that is the draft today.
Wilner and Rappaport are both longtime Associated Press writers – and it shows. There’s a straightforwardness to their recounting that feels very reportorial; frankly, it’s a bit refreshing considering the breathlessness and hyperbole of most NFL-related writing. There are tiny pockets of clunkiness and occasional repetitions, but for the most part, the book is a quick and informative read.
So with the 2015 NFL Draft almost upon us, it’s a great time to have a look back at one of the fundamental keys to the league’s long-term viability. “On the Clock” gives you just that – a snapshot look at the NFL Draft’s history, its function and some of the people who have built their lives around it.
September 9, 2018
The history of the NFL Draft is probably an interesting one, but unfortunately this book fails to deliver on its own premise. There are three good chapters: Chapter 1, covering the 2014 Draft; Chapter 8, about how the draft became a televised event; and Chapter 10, about the creation of the Combine. Most of the rest is wasted on lists and overly deep biographies. Bert Bell sounds like an interest individual and he started the NFL Draft, but there's no good reason to spend 8 pages of this book on his life story. Half this book belongs in the Appendix of a better book.
Don't waste your time on this one.
Don't waste your time on this one.
September 13, 2015
A short, fun trip through the history of the NFL draft. It shows how it was a low-key affair established by Bert Bell in 1936 to promote a more competitive approach to selecting college players and has evolved to the media event it has become in the modern era. Includes vignettes about the "busts" like Ryan Leaf, and the "steals" who were buried deep in the later rounds - most prominently - Tom Brady.
If you are not a football fan, you probably won't find it appealing content, but for fans, by all means, add it to the reading list.
If you are not a football fan, you probably won't find it appealing content, but for fans, by all means, add it to the reading list.
January 30, 2019
On the Clock (The Story of the NFL Draft)
Let me start out by saying I love football, I’m a football maniac, I dream about it, and play it. So if you like football as well this book is already up your ally. The book is called On the Clock (The Story of the NFL Draft) by Berry Wilner and Ken Rappoport. This talks about the history of the NFL draft day and preparations for that day and what goes down behind the scenes.
The history of the NFL draft is quite exciting, all the off scenes trading, names being called, players dreams come to reality. The draft combine, IQ test, just about everything you assume that connects to the draft. So many phone calls trading people and drafting. Just imagine any professional football team calling your phone and telling you, you’re going to the league. This book completes that feeling and journey and puts you in their shoes. Just a all-around football paced book.
All the NFL draft picks like the biggest busts or the biggest sleepers. Legit everything you want to know about the NFL draft is in this book. Before the rules you know of now there were some weird ones like the players could get drafted but leave and play somewhere else like Tony Mandarich. All the teams best and worst picks you want to know the insight is all in this book as well.
Are you still interested? Finally the book just makes you love football. I mean like this book is just filled with information and just makes you literally breath football so if you are deeply interested in football I greatly recommend this book. I myself love football and the way it just wants me to never stop reading it is incredible.
306 words
Let me start out by saying I love football, I’m a football maniac, I dream about it, and play it. So if you like football as well this book is already up your ally. The book is called On the Clock (The Story of the NFL Draft) by Berry Wilner and Ken Rappoport. This talks about the history of the NFL draft day and preparations for that day and what goes down behind the scenes.
The history of the NFL draft is quite exciting, all the off scenes trading, names being called, players dreams come to reality. The draft combine, IQ test, just about everything you assume that connects to the draft. So many phone calls trading people and drafting. Just imagine any professional football team calling your phone and telling you, you’re going to the league. This book completes that feeling and journey and puts you in their shoes. Just a all-around football paced book.
All the NFL draft picks like the biggest busts or the biggest sleepers. Legit everything you want to know about the NFL draft is in this book. Before the rules you know of now there were some weird ones like the players could get drafted but leave and play somewhere else like Tony Mandarich. All the teams best and worst picks you want to know the insight is all in this book as well.
Are you still interested? Finally the book just makes you love football. I mean like this book is just filled with information and just makes you literally breath football so if you are deeply interested in football I greatly recommend this book. I myself love football and the way it just wants me to never stop reading it is incredible.
306 words
May 25, 2024
This book is both a hit and a miss on its objective - telling the story of the NFL Draft. On one hand, the authors do a wonderful job telling many stories from several NFL Drafts which incorporate some history throughout the years, on the other hand, they try to tell one story of one NFL Draft, the 2014 Draft and they don't do it all that well. Instead, we are given this hodge-podge of some history, some storytelling, some modern look in the draft, some stats and it is all jumbled together.
There is definite value to this book and the narrative is pretty well written. While it may be a confusing read, it isn't a bad read, and you do come away knowing more about the NFL Draft than when you picked it up (unless you are as well versed in Draft history like Mel Kiper Jr., then don't waste your time).
It hit with some good storytelling. It missed with poor editing. If they re-thought this through at the concept level, they could have scored a touchdown with this one. Instead, we'll have to settle for a literary field goal.
There is definite value to this book and the narrative is pretty well written. While it may be a confusing read, it isn't a bad read, and you do come away knowing more about the NFL Draft than when you picked it up (unless you are as well versed in Draft history like Mel Kiper Jr., then don't waste your time).
It hit with some good storytelling. It missed with poor editing. If they re-thought this through at the concept level, they could have scored a touchdown with this one. Instead, we'll have to settle for a literary field goal.
May 16, 2023
It's hard to review this book, because some chapters are excellent and other chapters are horrible. My theory about why this book was so inconsistence is because two people worked together on this book, and maybe one person is a very good writer, and the other person isn't a very good writer. There is a lot of interesting stories in this book, especially about Bert Bell who was the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles and the commissioner of the NFL from the mid 40s to the early 60s. Also there wasn't enough written about the history of the NFL draft over all for a book that claims to be the story of NFL draft. There was to much written about what has happen with the draft recently.
April 19, 2018
If you're an NFL fan or a sports fan in general, I would say it is worth at least one read. I will say though, the book was not as much about the history of the draft as I was expecting it to be. The last chapter was dedicated to a mock draft of 2014. Lots of stories from different players in different drafts. I probably would have rated higher if it would have been more about the draft. Probably will never read again, but, it had entertainment value and learned some things I did not know. Worth the read, but could have been a whole lot better.
April 27, 2018
I think this book gives a good insight into the workings of the NFL Draft. Then again, now there are a lot more stories about the Draft.
What I found interesting were the different stories and also the different angles. What would be good is if there were more pictures or personal stories about this.
What I found interesting were the different stories and also the different angles. What would be good is if there were more pictures or personal stories about this.
May 4, 2018
I was inspired to read this book because of the nfl draft happening just a week ago and. I loved hearing about all the pre-draft things the teams do to make sure they draft someone good in the first round. One thing I didnt like was hearing about the draft busts. I would recommend this book to anyone who watches football
March 29, 2025
As a Football fan I always look forward to one of the best Off Season events the NFL does every year the NFL Draft because nothing's better then seeing which College Star will come to my favorite team the New England Patriots.This book went through the whole story of how the Draft evolved from a 30 Round Business Meeting to a Live TV Public Event
October 16, 2018
Fantastic book! If you are a fan of the NFL then this is a book to read. I could easily read this book over and over again.
January 1, 2020
Terrible. No cohesive story-telling. Not really a history of the draft. Seemed rushed or maybe a collection of other things written.
June 3, 2021
Ok read, not that current
This is an ok read, lots of history (pre 1950) info on NFL and founding the draft. Wish it had a more current focus, but still a fun informative read.
This is an ok read, lots of history (pre 1950) info on NFL and founding the draft. Wish it had a more current focus, but still a fun informative read.
January 27, 2025
This felt more like 14 random magazine articles about the NFL Draft than a book. Would have enjoyed if they flushed out some of the topics a little more.
March 24, 2021
DRAFT FACTS 2021
*Prior to 2001, there had been only 6 times in NFL history that a team was penalized a draft pick due to illegal behavior. Since 2001 there have been sixteen occasions. Some of the more note worthy occasions are:
-The New England Patriots lost their 1st round draft pick in 2008 due to illegally videotaping New York Jets coaches' signals on the sideline during a 2007 game
-The San Francisco 49ers lost their 5th round pick in 2008 due to tampering with Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs.
-The New Orleans Saints lost their 2nd round draft picks in 2012 and 2013 due to paying ‘bounties’ for hitting opposing players.
-The New England Patriots lost their 1st round draft pick in 2016 and 4th round pick in 2017 due to using deflated footballs in the 2014 AFC Championship Game.
-The Atlanta Falcons lost their 5th round pick in the 2016 draft due to pumping artificial noise into their stadium.
-The New England Patriots lost their 3rd pick in the 2021 draft due to Illegal filming of the field and sidelines in a Bengals-Browns game in December of 2019.
*The NFL draft will be held in Cleveland, Ohio for the first time ever in 2021. Only three cities have ever hosted the draft more than three times:
New York (57 times), Philadelphia (15 times) and Chicago (9 times)
*The Ravens, Seahawks and Broncos are the only three teams to never have the first overall pick in a draft, while the Rams and the Colts have each had the first overall pick seven different times. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had the first overall pick five times in addition to the first overall pick in the 1984 additional draft for players who were under contract with either USFL or CFL teams.
*There have been five times in which the same team had the first overall pick in back-to-back years:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ‘76 and ‘77
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ‘86 and ‘87
Cincinnati Bengals ‘94 and ‘95
Cleveland Browns ‘99 and ‘00
Cleveland Browns ‘17 and ‘18
*No team has ever gone from the 1st overall pick to a Super Bowl win in the same season, although eight teams have made the playoffs in the same season in which they made the 1st overall selection. They are: The 1968 Minnesota Vikings (Tackle Ron Yary), 1978 Houston Oilers (RB Earl Campbell), 1982 New England Patriots (DE Kenneth Sims), 1991 Dallas Cowboys (DT Russell Maryland), 2004 San Diego Chargers (QB Eli Manning – traded to NY Giants), 2008 Miami Dolphins (Tackle Jake Long), 2012 Indianapolis Colts (QB Andrew Luck), and 2013 Kansas City Chiefs (Tackle Eric Fisher).
*Safety Gary Glick, selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1956 draft, is the only defensive back ever to be taken as the first overall pick. Meanwhile 33 quarterbacks, 23 running backs, 15 defensive linemen, 7 offensive lineman, 3 wide receivers, and 3 linebackers have been the first overall pick. Zero kickers or punters have been selected as the first overall pick. Since the 2000 draft, quarterbacks have been taken as the first overall pick in 15 out of 20 drafts.
* The official title of the NFL Draft is the Player Selection Meeting.
*Prior to 2001, there had been only 6 times in NFL history that a team was penalized a draft pick due to illegal behavior. Since 2001 there have been sixteen occasions. Some of the more note worthy occasions are:
-The New England Patriots lost their 1st round draft pick in 2008 due to illegally videotaping New York Jets coaches' signals on the sideline during a 2007 game
-The San Francisco 49ers lost their 5th round pick in 2008 due to tampering with Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs.
-The New Orleans Saints lost their 2nd round draft picks in 2012 and 2013 due to paying ‘bounties’ for hitting opposing players.
-The New England Patriots lost their 1st round draft pick in 2016 and 4th round pick in 2017 due to using deflated footballs in the 2014 AFC Championship Game.
-The Atlanta Falcons lost their 5th round pick in the 2016 draft due to pumping artificial noise into their stadium.
-The New England Patriots lost their 3rd pick in the 2021 draft due to Illegal filming of the field and sidelines in a Bengals-Browns game in December of 2019.
*The NFL draft will be held in Cleveland, Ohio for the first time ever in 2021. Only three cities have ever hosted the draft more than three times:
New York (57 times), Philadelphia (15 times) and Chicago (9 times)
*The Ravens, Seahawks and Broncos are the only three teams to never have the first overall pick in a draft, while the Rams and the Colts have each had the first overall pick seven different times. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had the first overall pick five times in addition to the first overall pick in the 1984 additional draft for players who were under contract with either USFL or CFL teams.
*There have been five times in which the same team had the first overall pick in back-to-back years:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ‘76 and ‘77
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ‘86 and ‘87
Cincinnati Bengals ‘94 and ‘95
Cleveland Browns ‘99 and ‘00
Cleveland Browns ‘17 and ‘18
*No team has ever gone from the 1st overall pick to a Super Bowl win in the same season, although eight teams have made the playoffs in the same season in which they made the 1st overall selection. They are: The 1968 Minnesota Vikings (Tackle Ron Yary), 1978 Houston Oilers (RB Earl Campbell), 1982 New England Patriots (DE Kenneth Sims), 1991 Dallas Cowboys (DT Russell Maryland), 2004 San Diego Chargers (QB Eli Manning – traded to NY Giants), 2008 Miami Dolphins (Tackle Jake Long), 2012 Indianapolis Colts (QB Andrew Luck), and 2013 Kansas City Chiefs (Tackle Eric Fisher).
*Safety Gary Glick, selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1956 draft, is the only defensive back ever to be taken as the first overall pick. Meanwhile 33 quarterbacks, 23 running backs, 15 defensive linemen, 7 offensive lineman, 3 wide receivers, and 3 linebackers have been the first overall pick. Zero kickers or punters have been selected as the first overall pick. Since the 2000 draft, quarterbacks have been taken as the first overall pick in 15 out of 20 drafts.
* The official title of the NFL Draft is the Player Selection Meeting.
July 15, 2015
An easy way to sum up the growth of the National Football League is to look at the Draft - the selection process used by teams to pick college players.
Once upon a time, this procedure was done in a hotel ballroom, with little fanfare and hoopla. Now, the Draft has been staged at such places as Radio City Music Hall in New York, and it's going on the road to Chicago this year to spread the excitement.
What happened? Veteran football writers Barry Wilner and Ken Rappoport teamed up to tell some of the stories about the draft. "On the Clock" give the allotment procedure a quick once over.
The authors jump around quite a bit in their coverage after devoting the first chapter to the 2014 proceedings. Jay Berwanger is the answer to a couple of trivia questions - the first NFL draft choice, and the first Heisman Trophy winner. Berwanger turned down the pros because they didn't offer enough money. That hasn't been an issue for some time.
Bert Bell, the former commissioner of the league, gets credit for creating the draft. It was a revolutionary step at the time. Baseball essentially let any team sign anyone it wanted until the middle of the 1960s, something that certainly helped the New York Yankees plant the seeds that led to championships. Football spread out the wealth about 30 years before that, keeping the rich teams and poor teams on a more level playing field.
Still, the draft didn't begin to expand in interest until the early 1980s, when ESPN started televising the show. As the production values grew, the draft served as a bridge between college and pro football. The college fans were interested in seeing where their boys would go in the pros, and the pro fans treated the day like Christmas - teams knew they'd get something good, but they weren't sure what until they got to "open them." The broadcasts led to the rise of such analysts as Mel Kiper Jr.
Wilner and Rappoport have a few other subjects to cover. There's the story about top draft picks who didn't wind up with their drafting team for one reason or another - Bo Jackson, John Elway, Eli Manning. The authors also pick a best pick and a bust pick for each team as well as the top five all-time draft choices by position - which is a lot like just picking something close to an all-time team, since just about everyone in the past 60 years has been drafted.
The material can be read in a couple of hours, and the authors know what they are talking about. Still, this feels like a very basic look at the subject. There aren't many "inside" stories on the teams and players. In fact, my guess is that most football fans will have at least a passing familiarity with the material that's covered here.
Those looking for a primer on this spring tradition could do worse that picking up a copy of "On the Clock." But it's probably going to have trouble finding an audience.
Once upon a time, this procedure was done in a hotel ballroom, with little fanfare and hoopla. Now, the Draft has been staged at such places as Radio City Music Hall in New York, and it's going on the road to Chicago this year to spread the excitement.
What happened? Veteran football writers Barry Wilner and Ken Rappoport teamed up to tell some of the stories about the draft. "On the Clock" give the allotment procedure a quick once over.
The authors jump around quite a bit in their coverage after devoting the first chapter to the 2014 proceedings. Jay Berwanger is the answer to a couple of trivia questions - the first NFL draft choice, and the first Heisman Trophy winner. Berwanger turned down the pros because they didn't offer enough money. That hasn't been an issue for some time.
Bert Bell, the former commissioner of the league, gets credit for creating the draft. It was a revolutionary step at the time. Baseball essentially let any team sign anyone it wanted until the middle of the 1960s, something that certainly helped the New York Yankees plant the seeds that led to championships. Football spread out the wealth about 30 years before that, keeping the rich teams and poor teams on a more level playing field.
Still, the draft didn't begin to expand in interest until the early 1980s, when ESPN started televising the show. As the production values grew, the draft served as a bridge between college and pro football. The college fans were interested in seeing where their boys would go in the pros, and the pro fans treated the day like Christmas - teams knew they'd get something good, but they weren't sure what until they got to "open them." The broadcasts led to the rise of such analysts as Mel Kiper Jr.
Wilner and Rappoport have a few other subjects to cover. There's the story about top draft picks who didn't wind up with their drafting team for one reason or another - Bo Jackson, John Elway, Eli Manning. The authors also pick a best pick and a bust pick for each team as well as the top five all-time draft choices by position - which is a lot like just picking something close to an all-time team, since just about everyone in the past 60 years has been drafted.
The material can be read in a couple of hours, and the authors know what they are talking about. Still, this feels like a very basic look at the subject. There aren't many "inside" stories on the teams and players. In fact, my guess is that most football fans will have at least a passing familiarity with the material that's covered here.
Those looking for a primer on this spring tradition could do worse that picking up a copy of "On the Clock." But it's probably going to have trouble finding an audience.
April 20, 2015
This book about the pro football draft takes you back in time to when Bert Bell, who owned the Eagles and felt that he was at a disadvantage when it came to signing players. The dominate teams of this time were the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Giants, and Redskins. To make the league competitive Bell believed the only way to keep the NFL successful was for all teams to have an equal opportunity to sign players that were eligible. At the league meeting in 1935 he proposed a draft and the order of selection would be the last place would pick first and so on. His proposal was adopted that day and the first draft was held in 1936. The book then goes into the first draft with some of the players and trades. The first player drafted was Jay Berwanger who was the winner of the Heisman Trophy that year, but the award was called Downtown Athletic Club. He was also the first winner of this award. He was drafted by the Eagles and his rights were traded to the Bears, but he never agreed on a contract and never played pro football. He then goes into a couple of early great players that people don’t talk about any more. One being Sid Luckman, who played Quarterback for the Bears during the 40’s and still to this day holds the most passing records for Bears QB’s. He was also the quarterback for the most points scored in a championship game 73-0 over the Washington Redskins. Luckman was a first pick for them in 1939 and they would win 4 titles with him. Another player he talks about is Sammy Baugh, first pick for Washington in 1937, and they would win the championship in 37 and in 42 he also is the only player to be an All – Pro at three positions in the same year, quarterback, defensive back, and punter. He intercepted more passes that year than he had thrown. The draft really doesn’t change until 1980 with ESPN, coming on board and they start televising the draft and a man by the name of Mel Kipper Jr. is one of their go to guys. The book goes into who he got the job and how he and some other guys were doing mock drafts years before but when asked by teams or television they could not or would not go on TV, Mel Kipper had the presence to see ESPN as a way to take what he was doing as a hobby and get paid for it. Then people started to come out against some of his choices and that actually made him more popular. The book then takes you to what we have now a three day show prime time and it is being talked about it seems all year long. A good book on the beginnings of the football draft to where it is now. I got this book from net galley.
May 11, 2015
Sports fanatics will enjoy this. I'm a fan of football, but not a diehard so it was a nice, list-oriented jockstrap edition novella. I found the section on the draft gurus interesting but wanting more depth on the origins and background on those guys. Most importantly, I thought the book missed out on a chapter that should have gone behind the scenes in the war rooms with an NFL GM and Player Personnel staff to give fans the kind of experience they might be missing from the stands. Anyways, it was still good to get some nice info on the history of the draft from whence it came to the behemoth it is now. Two and a half stars.
May 12, 2015
I found that I really enjoyed this book because it tied in to what was happening in the NFL today. As I was reading the book, I could also listen to the TV shows that related to the book. I also enjoyed the book because I could read other peoples opinions on how they thought the draft would play out, in this case in the eyes of Barry Wilner. I could object to his ideas and thought and be compelled to read more and want to get into a sort of argument with him in my mind. (Don't call me crazy) Overall believe that this book is for all readers because this book explains in perfect detail what the NFL draft is like.
April 20, 2015
Well this says it is the history of the NFL draft, and you do get a story of the events leading up to the initial meeting and that’s it, the chapter ends. And the middle of the book details the careers of players and team officials with fairly little on the draft itself. This would have been better without the padding and concentrated more on the draft with its 70+ year history.
Free review copy.
Free review copy.
November 11, 2020
Meh. OK I guess. But it had the old cliche how this guy "knew" that guy was special or would be great. I got some yeah sure, vibes. Some good stuff, but a lot of ho hum. Because I read so many football books it was a waste for me. A more casual football reader might have a better opinion.
March 27, 2015
Great in the beginning, turns into a boring history lesson, but is much better by the end. Full review posted here:
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
September 26, 2015
The anecdotes about the history of the NFL are wonderful. It was nice to read the history of how the league became desegregated. This topic is usually skipped or given short shrift in many books.
July 17, 2016
Interesting read, but no one narrative; it reads more like a collection of short stories and "top" lists.
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