Towards the end of the round, I noticed Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young leaving ESPN’s booth and walking out of the building. Immediately I jumped out of my seat in the hopes of intercepting Young. Luckily, I caught him well before he left the building and actually had a chance to ask him what he thought of the Jets draft. His response went something like this, “I liked it. I mean you guys picked up two quality defensive players and Harris was a legitimate first rounder.” I did not get an autograph from Young; however I did get a photo with my friends and Young, something that is far more valuable than a meaningless scribble of a name.
We decided to stay through the second round, unlike most fans, and saw the best name of the draft: Ikaika Alama-Francis went to Detroit at pick 58. After leaving Radio City Music Hall we decided to head over to ESPN Zone in Times Square for a post-draft meal. While waiting for a table near the stairs, I saw a mammoth of a man slowly stagger up the steps. I remember thinking to myself ‘That guy’s gotta be an athlete.’ The next words out of my mouth were, “Oh my god, it’s JaMarcus Russell.”
“JaMarcus, hey, congratulations.” I said looking up, while trying to soak in the fact that I was now talking to the man I had cheered for from afar nine hours ago.
“Thanks man,” he said as he extended his colossal hand that I awkwardly shook. (I have not washed my hand since.)
“Can I get an autograph?” I asked nervously.
He then uttered a line that has forever cemented itself into my brain, “Naw man,” he said looking down at my Vilma jersey. “You don’t cheer for my team.” He then proceeded to walk into a private room to celebrate with his family.
Eventually, we got kicked out of ESPN Zone because we did not have an adult over the age of 21 in our party, but not before we took a picture with Braylon Edwards, a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns. (Wills actually followed him into the bathroom.) Ullmann and I ended up taking the 11:48 train from Penn Station back to Princeton Junction. The chaotic, incredible, day had come to a close.
The 2007 NFL draft taught me some lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life. It taught me the virtue of patience because even when you think the San Diego Chargers’ 15 minutes will never end, they will eventually take Craig Davis. It also taught me to expect the unexpected because the Jets, by trading up twice, caught me off guard and compensated me with great picks and great moments.
The NFL draft is an experience every NFL fan should undergo because of the raw emotion it produces, an aspect fans cannot feel watching from home. Now that I have gone to the draft, I will never be able to watch it again from home. And JaMarcus, I’m glad I do not root for “your team” because the Jets won ten games last year and your team won two. I feel safe saying that from a bit of a distance.
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