Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

When Army safety Caleb Campbell was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the 218th pick in the seventh-round of the 2008 NFL Draft, he had played his way out of deployment to Kuwait or Iraq and into the National Football League. If he makes the team, that is.

“If football wasn’t going to happen, I branched as an air defense artilleryman, and that’s what I would go into as an officer. I would be a platoon leader in charge of about 32 soldiers. A lot of ADA guys right now are getting deployed, so it would depend on the unit I was stationed with as to where I’d go.”

Because of a new rule (it’s actually about three years old), Army allows its high-profile graduates to go directly to the NFL and, if they can make the team, to fulfill their obligation via recruiting duty and service in the Army Reserve. Since its inception, this is the first time it’s been invoked. Like it or not, the policy makes recruiting athletes at Army easier. Head football coach Bobby Ross can walk into a recruit’s home and tell him he has a better shot at playing in the NFL.

“I initially came to the Academy knowing that I wanted to be an officer in the United States Army. That’s why I came to the Academy, and playing Division I football was just extra. Coach Ross told me my sophomore year that if I continued to play like I was playing, I would have an opportunity to make it to the NFL. That’s when I sat down and had a talk with myself. I decided that if football and the opportunity to play in the National Football League presented itself, I was going to take it. Talking with a lot of officers here at the Academy and my coaches, being a football player in the National Football League and representing the United States Army would be very beneficial, so I decided to go that route.”

I participated in a national conference call with Caleb from West Point today.

DAVID: When did you find out that the Lions were going to take you?

CALEB: I didn’t know until a couple of minutes before they actually took me. Mr. Millen called me around 2:30 that afternoon and told me, ‘Caleb, I can’t promise you anything, but if you’re still around late, I’m probably going to take you.’ I didn’t get my hopes up because I know the Draft is so subjective and things change as the Draft goes on. He called me right before the Packers made their pick and asked me if I would like to be a Lion. I told him I’d love to be a Lion, and he said, ‘Alright, watch your name come up on the screen after the Packers make their pick.’

DAVID: Well, you’re going to be thrown right into it. Rookie camp starts this week. What are your expectations?

CALEB: From what I hear, it’s going to be a lot of work. We’re going to get shuffled around a lot — do this, do that, go get this signed, physicals — and also playing some ball. It’s going to be really competitive. It’s a business that you have to bring the attitude that you’re ready to compete. It’s going to be exciting, but I’ll also be a little bit nervous. It’s going to be a good time.

DAVID: You played safety at West Point, but there are rumors of moving you to sam linebacker. How do you feel about that?

CALEB: It hasn’t been set yet, but initially when I go into camp they’re going to try me out as a sam linebacker. If they see it’s not working out, they’ll move me back to safety.

If you watched the 2008 NFL Draft until the bitter end, you would’ve seen Caleb interviewed on both ESPN’s and NFL Network’s programming. He’s also been featured in Sports Illustrated and on ESPN’s E:60.

“I guess I’m a little surprised. When I did that Sports Illustrated article, the guy who wrote it got a lot of feedback after it was published. He told me that if I got drafted, that I might get a lot of attention, and the attention might not be focused on me, but rather the policy itself. I’m surprised it’s gone to the level that it has, but I’m not really focused on that. I’m focused on making the team.”

DAVID: How do you feel about the potential historic impact of your situation? Since the rule was put into effect, you’re the first one to carry it this far.

CALEB: I just hope I pave the way for future athletes at the Academy if they decide to pursue this career. It’s been kind of a bumpy ride just because it’s a fluid policy and a step-by-step situation. I hope it paves the way for others who can pursue this opportunity if they want to pursue it.

DAVID: How do you feel your time at West Point has prepared you for life in the NFL?

CALEB: Time management, focus and determination. I think one thing people neglect to realize is that 90 percent of our time has been dedicated to being a cadet and a solider, and only 5 to 10 percent of that time has been dedicated to being a football player. We have huge upswings. When we’re able to focus on professional football as a career, our potential will go through the roof and we’ll be able to show what type of football players we can be.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

EMQB Interview: Caleb Campbell

Image details: 2008 NFL Draft served by picapp.com

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

This was my fifth straight year covering the NFL Draft on-location in New York City. It never gets old for me. With each passing season, the Draft brings with it a new hope for all 32 teams. And it’s always exciting to be a part of that. I travel to the Super Bowl, to the Scouting Combine, to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement weekend, and to select preseason and regular season games. Each is special in its own right and I enjoy them all, but none quite compares to my love for the NFL Draft.

Photos by David Kindervater

This year, I was among nearly 450 media covering the Draft (not including ESPN and NFL Network who send huge teams). That includes 13 of the top 20 newspapers; media from 12 states plus the District of Columbia; television outlets such as ABC News, CBS News and CNN; international media from England and Japan; and non-sports media such as Forbes, the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal.

The 2008 NFL Draft featured a new “streamlined” format — a later (3 p.m. EST) starting time and shorter time frame for teams to make their selections (10 minutes in today’s first- and second-rounds). It worked. The faster pace kept things exciting and interesting. The first-round concluded in just three hours and 30 minutes, the fastest time since 1990. Check out my 2008 NFL Draft first-round analysis with NFL Draft guru Lloyd Vance.

Photos by David Kindervater

After I got settled into my spot in the press box at Radio City Music Hall, I ventured across the street to check out NFL Draft Fan Central. Like last year, fans had the opportunity to participate in several interactive football activities typically offered during NFL Experience events in the Super Bowl host cities. Among the activities offered at NFL Draft Fan Central were “Quarterback Challenge,” “Goal to Go,” “Stadium Bounce” and “Red Zone.” Fans could also visit the Autograph Stage to meet players from the Giants and Jets and had a chance to win Draft tickets. Those who weren’t lucky enough to get inside could watch live coverage of the Draft on the NFL Network big screen. NFL partners like Hummer, Sprint, Sirius NFL Radio, EA Sports and others had product displays with additional interactive elements. It’s a fun “carnival of football” and takes up a whole block of Manhattan real estate — 51st Street between 6th and 7th avenues.

Once back in the press box, I “enjoyed the show” and offered my thoughts on each of the 31 first-round Draft picks. I also traveled back and forth between the interview room downstairs where the six players (Glenn Dorsey, Vernon Gholston, Chris Long, Jake Long, Darren McFadden and Matt Ryan) who were invited to the Draft were conducting pressers with their families also in attendance. Naturally, Chris Long’s Hall of Fame dad Howie got the most attention. The NFL and Radio City also provided meals for the media across from the Interview Room.

From start to finish, it was a 22-hour day for me (a new record which beat my 21-hour Super Bowl XLII Media Day in Arizona this past January). It was an exhausting day. And of course, it was all worth it.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Draft 2008: Time to ‘Believe in Now’

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

The new 2008 NFL Draft gear is here and it’s the hats that always draw the most interest. These are the same lids the players will wear on Draft day and they’ve arrived for you to purchase at NFLShop.com. I dig the new look. It’s simple but not boring. I like that you can see the stitching throughout the hat. The price is kind of steep at $24.99 each. There are also new tees for $19.99 per, but they look more like an afterthought than anything else. There are also a few “collectibles” but I’d stick with the hat.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

2008 NFL Draft Hats Now Available

The National Football League announced today the names of 53 players who have been granted special eligibility for the 2008 NFL Draft on April 26-27. Each of the 53 players has met the league’s three-year eligibility rule and each has submitted a written application in which he renounced his remaining college football eligibility. The deadline for receiving applications was January 15. The players declared eligible are:

Branden Albert G Virginia; L.J. Anderson G Central Florida; Adrian Arrington WR Michigan; Earl Bennett WR Vanderbilt; Martellus Bennett TE Texas A&M; Davone Bess WR Hawaii; Demario Bobo DB Mississippi State; Calais Campbell DE Miami; Jamaal Charles RB Texas; Ryan Clady LT Boise State; Anthony Collins LT Kansas; Johnny Dingle DE West Virginia; Franklin Dunbar OT Middle Tennessee; Jermichael Finley TE Texas; Brandon Flowers CB Virginia Tech; Jeremy Geathers DE UNLV; Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State; Ryan Grice-Mullen WR Hawaii; Letroy Guion DT Florida State; James Hardy WR Indiana; Derrick Harvey DE Florida; Geno Hayes LB Florida State; Erin Henderson LB Maryland; Jack Ikegwuonu CB Wisconsin; DeSean Jackson WR California; Josh Johnson LB Marshall; Felix Jones RB Arkansas; Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma; Justin King CB Penn State; Xavier Lee QB Florida State; Curtis Lofton LB Oklahoma; Selwyn Lymon WR Purdue; Mario Manningham WR Michigan; Jerod Mayo LB Tennessee; Darren McFadden RB Arkansas; Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois; Phillip Merling DE Clemson; DaJuan Morgan S North Carolina State; Lamar Myles LB Louisville; Sean Penix WR Arkansas; Kenny Phillips S Miami; Chilo Rachal G USC; Darius Reynaud WR West Virginia; Ray Rice RB Rutgers; Orlando Scandrick CB Boise State; Pat Sims DT Auburn; Steve Slaton RB West Virginia; Kevin Smith RB Central Florida; Reggie Smith DB Oklahoma; Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon; Aqib Talib CB Kansas; Devin Thomas WR Michigan State; Mario Urrutia WR Louisville

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Special Eligibility Granted for 2008 NFL Draft