NFL Draft to bring a bit of normalcy to sports fans

Like everyone else, I have been stuck inside with life turned a bit upside down due to the Corona virus that has struck everywhere.  I find myself missing sports the most, whether it be professional, college or middle school baseball with my 14-year old son. Fortunately, we received a little taste of the NFL when it held fast and kicked off 2020 Free Agency period on time just a little over a month ago (March 18th).  We watched from afar as the Detroit Lions plugged some holes and created a few new ones, but apparently have come out of the initial waves of free agency a team with better depth but with a little less star power after trades, losses and signings.

Fast forward to this week, and the NFL is once again able to serve up some appreciative sports content with the 2020 NFL Draft set to start Thursday night (Rd 1) and continue Friday (Rd 2 &3) through Saturday (Rds. 4-7) evening.  For those of us that have been looking for any sports related material to digest, this is a godsend.  Being a Detroit Lions fan, it is even sweeter, as success has evaded the team for much of our adult lives and we have relied on the yearly draft to be our “super bowl” of sorts to distract us from the frustrations of being stuck in mediocracy.  Although the draft will be nothing like we are used to (GMs in their basement offices, no fans, no hoopla and likely social distancing on the sets of the networks), it’s still a glimmer of that light at the end of the tunnel that sports fans are craving.

I can unequivocally say I am ready for this.  Ready to get into my yearly draft routine of ordering my pizza for Thursday night.  Ready to log into our draft chat with a group of Detroit Lions fans and friends of 20+ years, including a few that are my partners here at The Grey Manes.  Heck, I am ready to start chatting with our favorite Brit that loves himself some LBs where we will have to rationally explain to him why Simmons won’t be a Lion over Brown and Okudah.  I don’t care that he comes from across the pond where they spell it “futbol” and think the ball is supposed to be round, having him up to 4:00 a.m. GMT to finish out the round Chatting with our group is something I always cherish.  All I know, is that regardless how the draft turns out for the Lions, I am just thankful that we are able to forget about what is going on in the world, even if it is for a few nights, and get back to a bit of normalcy