In 2014, the movie, “Draft Day” was released, starring Kevin Costner as General Manager of the Cleveland Browns preparing for, and executing, his game plan in building the Cleveland Browns Football Team before the 2014 season. It was based on the annual NFL Player Draft and even featured appearances by Jamestown’s own Roger Goodell, the present NFL Commissioner.

Being a lifelong Browns fan, I thought the fictional Sonny Weaver, Jr. executed a fantastic draft, using ingenuity and savvy in making deals on his draft day. After seeing the real draft that year, I wish the real Browns had the players drafted by Weaver in the movie. In 2014, the actual Browns made Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel first round picks. Neither is in the NFL anymore. I would’ve liked to have seen the Browns play with Weaver’s first rounders, Vontae Mack and Ray Jennings. I think both would still be wearing brown and orange.

Most know, baseball’s my favorite sport, but I love the NFL draft. Back when the draft wasn’t a primetime event, I’d use a personal day to take off from work, lock myself in our bedroom and watch the first day of what was a much longer (round-wise) draft. ESPN covered it, and there were only three people in the studio, Chris Berman, Paul Zimmerman, and a young Mel Kiper Jr. I loved that day, as family and friends at their jobs would call me throughout the day asking me who their favorite teams selected. I kept charts and results and welcomed each call with excitement.

Fast forward to today’s drafts. The NFL draft is now the sports world’s equivalent to The Academy Awards red carpet extravaganza and presentations.

Before this season’s forced altering of routines because of COVID-19, I’d spend round one of today’s primetime draft at Waddington’s Tavern, official viewing site of the Browns Backers of Jamestown, NY. I’d then watch as much as possible of days 2 and 3 at home, if there. Last year, we were at Jon and Erica’s in Virginia. Jon and I watched there. After that draft, we celebrated the announcement of Jamestown’s Stephen Carlson signing a NDFA contract with the Browns.

While at Waddington’s or home, Jon and I would text after each pick and analyze it as many fans do regarding picks by their favorite teams. I love our technology “conversations” during the Draft. Another constant of the three days of the draft is my back and forth texting with the guy I call, the GM of the Browns Backers, Sam Prinzi, who knows as much, if not more, information on many players awaiting that call welcoming them to the NFL, than the TV “experts.” We “text talk” throughout the draft, each predicting who we think the Browns will pick next. Then I get messages from Jon, and going back and forth with Sam and Jon, we all give our ESPN-like analysis of each player and give our “grade” for the pick. In between, I get other texts, Facebook messages, emails, and phone calls about the draft and what the Browns are doing, have done, and possibly will do, as the draft progresses.

This year, things were different watching the draft, as Waddington’s wasn’t available, so I spent the three days at home, the first two in my living room watching, and the third day in my “sports cave” where I watched all seven hours of day three. The coverage was different, as the NFL had to go virtual as well. I thought officials were tipping off the selections before they were announced, especially in the first three rounds, but the coverage of players and families, and the team brain trusts, their families, and even pets, was better than the Hollywood red carpet atmosphere, the draft has become over the years. The one constant though, was my communications with Jon, Sam, and everyone else who contacted me at points here and there.

I sometimes wish I could get “slapped on the wrists” for a non-threatening, minor infraction that would result in my being life sentenced to house arrest for three days each year, coinciding with the NFL draft, but not until after next season.

Why?

Because next year the NFL draft is taking place in my favorite city — Cleveland. Yep, the Home of the Browns.

Guess where I hope to be?