This past Monday news broke that the Eagles had signed Michael Vick for 2013. First, this again proves that the NFL truly never does sleep. Team executives are working year-round, even though there are not any players on the field. Exaggerated Reporting While it was noteworthy that the Eagles had reached an agreement with Michael…
Joe Pirucki
Author Archive | Joe Pirucki
Super Bowl XLVII Snubs
Super Bowl Sunday is the most glamorized sporting event of the year, and the hype leading up to the game is maximized. Those players participating in the game have more physical and mental preparation than any other game of their careers, along with a much bigger media spotlight. But in the end, it is still…
Drafting for Dummies – Part VII
Welcome back. This is the final installment of my 7-part series detailing the NFL Draft from a team perspective and the years of preparatory work that goes on behind the scenes. I encourage you to read the whole series, because each part offers unique exclusive content that is essential to the process! Part I –…
Drafting for Dummies – Part VI
Now that the Draft is rolling, teams are seeing their hard work come to fruition. As teams select, hopefully the best players available are also players that fill needs. Trade talks have commenced and this is when strategy and negotiating come to the forefront. Rolling the Dice The strategy of the NFL Draft truly comes…
Drafting for Dummies – Part V
Thus far I have detailed the entire process leading up to a team’s first draft choice and the Commissioner announcing that the Club is on the clock. So what exactly does happen in those final minutes before a team actually selects a player to draft? Anxious Moments As a team’s first draft pick approaches, the…
Drafting for Dummies – Part IV
In the week leading up to the NFL Draft, teams really start to get a good feel for which players will be available in the first round around the position of their pick. Before trade talks commence indicating interest in trading positions in the Draft to acquire the player(s) most coveted, teams first try to…
Drafting for Dummies – Part III
After analyzing and scouting all college football players through the college football season, bowl games and all-star games, teams turn to the NFL Combine to begin to finalize the information gathering process. Part I and Part II of this series detail this process, but I want to emphasize the importance of the aspect of the…
Drafting for Dummies – Part II
The Rest of the Team There is much more occurring behind the scenes at NFL team’s headquarters to prepare for the NFL Draft, beyond just the work of the College Scouting department (as outlined in Part I). A team’s General Manager and Player Personnel executives have integral involvement as well. They will often travel to…
Drafting for Dummies – Part I
Making an Event The NFL Draft has become quite the spectacle. Now a three night primetime television event, millions of NFL fans tune in to watch as their favorite NFL teams infuse their rosters with new young talent. These selections are followed by instant analysis and judgment, and this is not simply the jeers or…
Emotion in Sports: Brady Quinn Goes Deep
An Unfortunate Event Two Sundays ago the Kansas City Chiefs organization was dealt a very unexpected and tragic blow. My prayers go out to everyone hurt as a result of the events involving Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher. I do not know how any organization or business could adequately prepare for such a situation. More importantly,…
The Babin Breakdown
Why would a team release a veteran starting player? Why would a team release a Pro Bowl caliber veteran starting player? And why release him with the season already three-fourths of the way completed? There is a method to the madness in Philadelphia, and I am here to enlighten you on the reasons behind releasing Jason…
The Social Development of Athletes – Part II
Last Friday I left you considering the cause and effect of the sports industry on professional football players. I showed in Part I how athletes are developed, and I detailed some of the common career events in professional football. Lets dig a little deeper now and explore the football player we see off the field….