The NFL is expected to conduct “multiple systems checks” to ensure that the technology to be used during the draft runs correctly, including holding a “mock draft of sorts with all 32 teams involved to make sure that everybody is up to speed,” according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Most teams are using their GM’s house as the “central hub of the draft operation.” That has left many GMs wondering if “all this technology (is) going to work." The league has been in contact with individual clubs "about their tech setups, what their needs are going to be" (“NFL Total Access,” NFL Network, 4/7). NBCSN's Mike Florio said, “They need to be sure that everything works. You’ve got a lot of moving parts here.” NBCSN's Chris Simms: "It’s too big and too important for them to just go into it and go, ‘Alright, let’s see how the whole system works. I hope it all goes well.’ ... It’s good to hear that they’re doing this now and not waiting until the night before” (“PFT,” NBCSN, 4/8).
SECURITY DETAIL: YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson noted the virtual NFL Draft will take place "on the heels of an FBI advisory warning that authorities had received multiple reports of 'Zoom-bombing' during online meetings -- where hackers bombard feeds with pornography and threatening messages." Several such incidents "took place on the Zoom Meetings platform." Multiple NFL teams were part of the "initial growth in Zoom usage" at the outbreak of the virus, although many franchises also were "using Microsoft Teams or other platforms for meetings." With the draft now becoming an "online affair, the issues with 'Zoom-bombing' raised some red flags." One NFL GM said, "We aren’t going to be using Zoom for the draft. I’m getting with our IT people tomorrow, but we’ve already taken all our meetings off Zoom and moved them into Microsoft Teams." Robinson noted Zoom has "introduced new security measures," but with NFL teams "already bordering on paranoia when it comes to the security of information, it’s expected that any teams still operating meetings on Zoom will likely migrate off this week if they haven’t already" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/7).
