The NFL "insists on some gimmicks" for Day 3 of the Draft, and this year's late-round selections will "include a mix of celebrity and unique locations," according to Josh Slagter of MLIVE.com. The Texans will announce their late-round picks from "outer space," while the Cardinals are "having picks announced from the Grand Canyon." Meanwhile, the Browns will announce their Day 3 picks from Cedar Point Amusement Park and the Colts will announce from the Indianapolis Zoo. In the past, the NFL also has "used former players to announce a team's picks at the draft" (MLIVE.com, 4/25). In Houston, Matt Young noted astronaut Peggy Whitson will introduce the Texans' picks and "send it down to Earth for the live announcements," while astronaut Scott Kelly will "help make the Texans' announcements for the fourth and fifth rounds" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/26). Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Brian Batko notes actors Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia, who appear on NBC's "This Is Us," will announce the Steelers' fourth-round pick at Saturday's '17 Steelers Fan Blitz at Heinz Field. The show "featured Pittsburgh prominently throughout the first season" (POST-GAZETTE.com, 4/25).
A TRUE WORK OF ART: ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio this morning reported in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where the Draft will take place, and noted construction of the set is "still ongoing.” However, NFL Dir of Event Operations Eric Finkelstein said "we’ll be ready” by tomorrow night. Paolantonio noted the NFL "decided to plop an eight-story structure on top of ... one of the biggest tourist attractions in North America.” Finkelstein: "We’ve been here about a month, and it’s been a lot of planning for about 10 months and working with the city to make this all happen.” Paolantonio called it the "largest outdoor theater in North America." Finkelstein said compared to previous NFL Draft road shows, this is the "largest we’ve ever done” in terms of the theater and the NFL Experience. Finkelstein: “We’ve never done anything like this ever before” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 4/26). Former Philadelphia Mayor and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said, "Tickets among the seated seats for Thursday night are going for $1,400 for a pair of tickets. The enthusiasm for the Draft here is mind-boggling” (“NFL Total Access,” NFL Network, 4/25).
LOOKING FOR MERCH: NFL Dir of Communications Kamran Mumtaz said that official NFL Draft merchandise "can be purchased at the NFL Shop and two other, smaller venues within the NFL Draft Experience, and at www.nflshop.com." In Philadelphia, Suzette Parmley noted outside of the NFL Draft Experience, Sports City at the Playground in Atlantic City and the two Eagles Pro Shops at Lincoln Financial Field and Cherry Hill will be the "only sports-apparel retailers in the region to sell the official New Era NFL Draft Day hat" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/25).
