Posted at 6:31 a.m., Tuesday, October 23, 2007
NFL: League cuts time between draft picks
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — The NFL today cut from 15 minutes to 10 the time between picks in the first round of its draft after a 2007 record round of 6 hours and 8 minutes.It also moved the starting time of the draft from noon EDT to 3 p.m. and limited the first day to two rounds instead of three.
"We believe this will make for a more streamlined and efficient draft," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement issued during the league owners meetings.
The change also applied to the second round, which will go from 10 minutes to seven between choices for next year's draft, which will be held April 26-27 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
In recent years, teams have often used most of the 15 minutes in the first round, entertaining trade offers or making them.
The time between picks will stay at five minutes for the last five rounds, which will take place on Sunday. That session will start at 10 a.m. instead of 11. Both draft days will be televised by ESPN and the NFL Network.
