Winston and Mariota are not planning to attend the NFL Draft

[cysporsche]

I respect that, Cy. I respect that you would love the once-in-a-lifetime experience of walking across that stage, putting on the ball cap, and shaking Goodell's hand. Just as I hope you would respect another person's wishes to be at home in the comfort of friends and family without 20 cameras and microphones in their face.

My only point here is that some (you included) have turned what should be a non-issue into yet another thing to nitpick Winston on.

Pointdexter, I like Winston more than any QB in this draft, I don't care if it's Mariota. I bet Mariota will be there. The NFL only invites players that are going to go in or around the 1st round. Joe Blow from Yankton College can't show up without an invitation. This is not like the Grammy's or Academy Awards, where they can say, sorry Betty Smith can't be here tonight, because she's currently filming a movie in Japan !

My point, no other #1 draft choice has missed the draft before, and the Commish is going to look stupid announcing the Buc's card, and he looks @ millions of people on live TV and say's,"sorry Mr. Jones can't be with us tonight; however, the Titans are now on the clock. What an embarrassing moment for Goodell & the NFL. And to Set Setter above, if you don't think a contract is consummated before the draft, you are wrong. Winston or Mariota will un-officially be on the Buc's payroll long before his card is turned in. Check-out the watches on about every kid in the war room, those are 100K watches, so flying their famlies would not be a financial strain on any of the family members, and surely not the #1 pick.

Go Jets...Cyborg

 

[jetfandreamer]

non story

 

[Jet Setter]

Pointdexter, I like Winston more than any QB in this draft, I don't care if it's Mariota. I bet Mariota will be there. The NFL only invites players that are going to go in or around the 1st round. Joe Blow from Yankton College can't show up without an invitation. This is not like the Grammy's or Academy Awards, where they can say, sorry Betty Smith can't be here tonight, because she's currently filming a movie in Japan !

My point, no other #1 draft choice has missed the draft before, and the Commish is going to look stupid announcing the Buc's card, and he looks @ millions of people on live TV and say's,"sorry Mr. Jones can't be with us tonight; however, the Titans are now on the clock. What an embarrassing moment for Goodell & the NFL. And to Set Setter above, if you don't think a contract is consummated before the draft, you are wrong. Winston or Mariota will un-officially be on the Buc's payroll long before his card is turned in.

Go Jets...Cyborg

How often have contracts been signed before the draft begins?

That can only happen with the first pick. That wasn't my point. My point was about all the players who are NOT under contract. Who's going to pay for their families to fly and stay there if they're not being paid? Why would you gloss over my point and make one player the gleaming answer to this question I posed? I think it's only happened once ever, if it has at all.

As for Goodell being embarrassed? Give me a break! Sorry, I couldn't possibly care less. I am diametrically opposed to you on every aspect of this topic. Every one. Couldn't be further apart. No point in bringing me into the discussion.

 

[jetfandreamer]

the first round ?? How the hell do they know..they cant predict the draft sequence.

 

[mykcuz]

How often have contracts been signed before the draft begins?

That can only happen with the first pick. That wasn't my point. My point was about all the players who are NOT under contract. Who's going to pay for their families to fly and stay there if they're not being paid? Why would you gloss over my point and make one player the gleaming answer to this question I posed? I think it's only happened once ever, if it has at all.

As for Goodell being embarrassed? Give me a break! Sorry, I couldn't possibly care less. I am diametrically opposed to you on every aspect of this topic. Every one. Couldn't be further apart. No point in bringing me into the discussion.

I believe he was insinuating the gift giving.

 

[flgreen]

I'll tell you something, FLG, if all that stuff PDex said is true, or even partly true, I hope Winston is not being intimidated because the girl went public and I hope he tells Goodell to F-off if its the leagues idea that he stays away because Goodell doesn't want to deal with the blowback. Thats his problem. If this kid is innocent he shouldn't let nobody steal his draft day experience. If its his idea to say home, fine, but if its anybody else's idea, he should go.

Everything Pointdexter said in his post is true.

I am also fairly sure that no one is intimidating Winston. One of the reasons I like Winston as much as I do, and I really don't like FSU, is because the kid seems to have ice water in his veins. As much crap as was heaped upon him this season, as much as people who knew nothing at all about the case kept referring to him as a rapist , as much as the media was stalking him, as much as the feds once again stepped out of their jurisdiction and harassed him, the kid never batted an eye on the field. Good game after good game. Of the 17 games I've seen him play over the last 2 years, the only game I can remember that I thought he put up a stinker was the Gators game. Even in the Ducks route, he played pretty well. The Noles just sucked.

Winston, if he doesn't go to the draft, it is because he wants to be with his family. If the NFL discouraged him from going, IMO he would come right out and say, he wasn't invited .

This is a lot of drama being made out of nothing. Just people, with false out rage, trying to prove that Winston is a bad guy.

I hope they succeed. Maybe the Bucs will buy it and he falls to the Jets. I can dream can't I?

 

[JaxJet]

Winston does not want to go because he waited years to walk the stage in NY, not Chicago!

 

[Football51]

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m3 minutes ago

Like Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota does not plan to attend NFL Draft in Chicago, per league sources. Top 2 QBs, maybe top 2 picks, now out.



Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m3 minutes ago

Marcus Mariota told NFL it is important to him, personally and culturally, to be in Hawaii to celebrate next step in life. No draft for him.

 

[Fudbutter]

Perhaps Winston and Mariota don't want to stand on those long lines waiting to get in and if they're late they'll get lousy seats near the top

 

[Elias]

Mariota is not attending the draft either

Mariota is not attending the draft either

Both big named QBs are skipping out on this event.

[TWEET]<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Like Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota does not plan to attend NFL Draft in Chicago, per league sources. Top 2 QBs, maybe top 2 picks, now out.</p>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/583053091454455808">March 31, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>[/TWEET]

 

[Elias]

[TWEET]<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Marcus Mariota told NFL it is important to him, personally and culturally, to be in Hawaii to celebrate next step in life. No draft for him.</p>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/583053493029740544">March 31, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>[/TWEET]

 

[Sarge]

How long is a flight from Hawaii to Jersey in a private plane? 8 hours?

 

[hatnlvr]

So Winston IMO has a very valid reason for not going. He wants to celebrate the moment with his grandmother and she cannot travel so I see nothing wrong with him not attending.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

NFL underestimated the allure NYC had for these kids, many of whom are from small towns and had never been to NYC

Oh wait, we're going to Chicago? Yippie!

 

[hokiejetfan92]

NFL underestimated the allure NYC had for these kids, many of whom are from small towns and had never been to NYC

Oh wait, we're going to Chicago? Yippie!

I don't think it will affect the ratings much though. I mean the same stuff will happen regardless. However, its obviously not ideal

 

[Pointdexter]

Winston also addressed reports he will not attend the draft in Chicago, an unusual move for the player expected to go first overall. Winston told the NFL Network he has not made a final decision, but he may watch from his Alabama home to be close to his family.

“My grandmother, she can’t travel, she has Type 2 diabetes and has multiple surgeries, and I want her to be there,” Winston said. “I want the people who I’ve been with [from] Day 1 to be around me and enjoy this moment. It’s a celebration to me, and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“We really haven’t made that decision yet. There’s been a lot of pressure on people trying to get me to come and make the draft.”

 

[cysporsche]

I just read that Winston wants to stay home, so he can order some fresh crab legs for his whole family !

Go Jets...Cyborg

 

[flgreen]

Good for him.

The draft has just become a money making vehicle for the NFL. Not that I'm opposed to making money, but I enjoyed it a lot better when it was just 2 days, and on the week end

I like hearing the commentary, and the game clips of the players, but could care less about watching Mariota hug Rodger.

If the first two picks in the draft aren't there, I find that funny for their "Super event"