Cardinals Rod Graves Joins New NFL GM Committee

by cgolden on Jun 17, 2008 5:32 PM MDT in News Comment 4 comments

Arizona Cardinals' General Manager, Rod Graves, was named to a new NFL committee consisting of fellow GMs and the purpose of the committee will be to provide advice and other feedback to the NFL Football Operations department. The committee have several areas that they will focus on including:

Protecting and supporting the integrity of the game
Expanded use of technology
Player development and scouting
Development of innovative ideas to improve the Pro Bowl, scouting combine, draft and preseason.

I’m not sure what, if anything, will come out of this committee other than larger expense reports. One area that I can't wait to see how they change/influence is the first directive: "Protecting and Supporting the Intergrity of the Game." I'd have to think that this is a result of "Spygate," and I don't think the answer to this is an simple as increased security. Another area that I'm sure how they'll influence is "player development and scouting." That could be anywhere from the education and personal development of current players to the size and general practices of team scouting departments. Regardless though, it got me thinking about what I would want to change. Here’s what I came up with off the top of my head:

Develop some kind of very small camera that can be mounted to the front of a quarterback or middle linebacker's helmet. The "QB Cam" would be an instant hit.
I'd move the scouting combine each season. There's no reason that it should be in Indy every year and any team with a dome should be in the rotation. The combine should also be open to the public.
I really like the changes that they made this past season and I'd look for more ways to shorten the draft. I also wouldn't mind seeing more players in the 'green room.'
I'd cut the preseason down to at least three games, if not two. If teams want to see more of their younger players they can schedule multiple scrimmages with other teams.

That's everything I could think of off the top of my head. What changes would you want to make, anything is fair game?

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I’d definitely move the Pro Bowl to the week before Superbowl at the Superbowl venue – is would be a great kickoff to the week.

by CardsIrish on Jun 18, 2008 4:44 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

PB

That’s the best idea I’ve heard for the Pro Bowl yet. I don’t ever watch it but I might be tempted if it was the week between the conference championships and the Super Bowl. The players might miss Hawaii but oh well, most of them hate playing in it anyways.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Jun 18, 2008 5:28 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

id nix Pro Bowl alltogether

And replace it with some sort of skills challenge before the Super Bowl. Too physical a game to risk injury, so maybe better way to showcase their unique abilities.

I think draft was big improvement this year with 10 minutes instead of 15 in first two rounds, and five afterwards.

No TV timeouts after every kickoff, punt, etc. Find other ways to place products. There’s just too many freaking commercials that it disrupts flow of the game.

by Blitzburgh on Jun 18, 2008 10:18 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Not a bad idea either Blitz

I certainly wouldn’t miss the Pro Bowl if it was done away with completely.

Also another thing I thought of technology wise, is why don’t any of the major sports have some program where you can purchase full length games on their website? Just imagine if they had some kind of database (similar to i-tunes) where fans could go in a purchase a replay of the game for a couple bucks. They’d no doubt make more money hand over fist, although I’m sure there are some copyright issues they’d have to work out.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Jun 19, 2008 8:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs