Speed Drills

Draft Pace Faster Than '07

Roger Goodell’s desire for a faster NFL Draft certainly is achieved this weekend, as the streamlined process cuts the length of the proceedings so much the entirety of Saturday’s two rounds are conducted within six hours. Goodell says the event now has a “great pace,” but the quicker proceedings cause ESPN to miss several live draft selections during commercial breaks. Also, in a strange twist, critics claim the reduced amount of time between picks actually hurt the spontaneity of the event. Meanwhile, drafting players with good character is still at the top of mind for teams, but the Bucs still take CB Aqib Talib despite reports of several positive marijuana tests. From an agent standpoint, the first round is dominated by CAA and Maximum Sports. But one thing they, and everyone else, will be keeping an eye on: Goodell says he will talk to Gene Upshaw about a rookie salary cap when CBA negotiations are opened.