| | | | | | | Presented By CLEAR | | | | Axios Sports | | By Kendall Baker ·Apr 29, 2021 | | 👋 Good morning, and happy Draft Day! Let's sports. Today's word count: 1,456 words (5 minutes). | | | | | | 1 big thing: 🏈 Jacksonville, you're on the clock |  Table: Axios Visuals The 2021 NFL Draft has arrived, and tonight's opening round is expected to feature a historic run on quarterbacks. - When: 8pm ET (ESPN, ABC and NFL Network)
- Where: Cleveland (most prospects will be remote)
Source: Brian McCarthy ( @NFLprguy), the NFL's VP of communications. The state of play: The NFL draft is always a "circus of hot air," as WSJ's Jason Gay puts it (subscription). Nobody really knows anything, and that's especially true this year due to college opt-outs and other pandemic-related chaos. - "Never has there been a draft when the top three offensive linemen, all likely to be picked in the top 20, come in after a year off from football," writes NBC Sports' Peter King.
- "Never has there been a draft when one of the top corners, Caleb Farley, will be drafted having not played a football game in the previous 512 days."
- "And never has there been a draft when a quarterback likely to be drafted in the top 10, Trey Lance, has played one football game in 15 months."
The last word: Some fans will be thrilled tonight, while others will be frustrated. Just remember not to overreact to decisions that can't be judged until players actually take the field. "I'll never forget a Lambeau Field Draft party going on below us with 1,000 people. The thunderous boos from there when we picked Aaron Rodgers literally shook our souls. And we got an F from most media grades. And Brett was mad. And the coaches are mad. But we trusted the Board." — Former Packers executive Andrew Brandt, via TwitterGo deeper: |     | | | | | | 2. 🏈 Grass vs. turf: The NFL is split |  | | | Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty Images | | | | The Panthers will switch from grass to turf at Bank of America Stadium, leaving the NFL with an even 50-50 split of teams who use each surface, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. - Grass (16): Raiders, Chiefs, Washington, Ravens, Titans, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Jaguars, 49ers, Broncos, Browns, Steelers, Bears, Dolphins, Packers*, Eagles* *(hybrid grass)
- Turf (16): Panthers, Bills, Lions, Patriots, Falcons, Seahawks, Saints, Cowboys, Texans, Rams, Chargers, Colts, Bengals, Vikings, Giants, Jets
The retractable grass field at Allegiant Stadium. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images Fun fact: The Raiders' Allegiant Stadium is one of five NFL stadiums with a fixed roof, but it's the only one with natural grass thanks to a retractable field that sits outside when not in use. Super cool. Other leagues: - ⚾️ Five of 30 MLB teams have turf fields: Blue Jays (Rogers Centre), Diamondbacks (Chase Field), Marlins (LoanDepot Park), Rangers (Globe Life Field), Rays (Tropicana Field).
- ⚽️ Four of 27 MLS teams have turf fields: Atlanta United (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), New England Revolution (Gillette Stadium), Portland Timbers (Providence Park), Seattle Sounders (Lumen Field).
The Astrodome in 1995. Photo: Bill Baptist/MLB via Getty Images A brief history of turf ... Modern turf still doesn't provide what grass does, but it's evolved into a pretty decent approximation. - Turf was introduced to the sports world in 1966, when the Astrodome switched its dying grass to a hard plastic substitute called ChemGrass (later renamed AstroTurf).
- Second-generation turf, like Omniturf, improved on the original design with softer fibers and a sand infill to provide a more natural playing surface.
- Third-generation turf, like FieldTurf, has even softer fibers and rubber infill. If you've played on a turf field in the last couple decades, this is probably what you played on.
| | | | | | | | 3. ⚽️ English soccer plans social media blackout |  | | | Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios | | | | English soccer is planning a social media blackout this weekend to protest the online bullying of its athletes and analysts, Jeff writes. Why it matters: This is the "most direct effort yet by a sport to pressure social media companies like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to take action against online abuse," write NYT's Jesus Jiménez and Andrew Das. The state of play: Online harassment has become an endemic problem across English sports, particularly regarding racial abuse. - Reports of discrimination within English soccer were up 42% last season, according to anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out.
- But soccer is hardly the only problem area. Thus, the English cricket, rugby and tennis associations have also joined the social media blackout, which will run from Friday through Monday.
What they're saying: "[We] want to see significant improvements in [social media companies'] policies and processes to tackle online discriminatory abuse," said EPL chief executive Richard Masters. The backdrop: This isn't the first time English soccer has demanded better from social media. In Februrary, top executives wrote an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey. "The reality is your platforms remain havens for abuse. Your inaction has created the belief in the minds of the anonymous perpetrators that they are beyond reach." | | | | | | | | A message from CLEAR | | Ready to get back to what you love? CLEAR can help | | |  | | | | Vaccine connection coming soon to the CLEAR app. Download the free app today so you can get back to what you love whether that be reuniting with family, heading to a concert, cheering on your favorite sports team, or traveling to new destinations. Get ready, get CLEAR. | | | | | | 4. 😀 Smiles du jour: Rizzo K's Freeman | | Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Freddie Freeman went 4-for-5 and fell a triple short of the cycle in the Braves' 10-0 win over the Cubs on Wednesday night. - The only Chicago pitcher who was able to get him out all night? Anthony Rizzo.
- That's right. The reigning NL MVP, enjoying one of the best hitting nights of his life, was struck out by a first baseman.
Photo: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images The two shared a laugh after Freeman whiffed at Rizzo's 61-mph heater to go down swinging. Sometimes, baseball is wonderful. | | | | | | | | 5. 👟 Zion joins the signature shoe club |  Data: Sportico; Chart: Axios Visuals Zion Williamson's first signature shoe, The Zion 1, hit stores in limited quantities last Friday. By the numbers: Williamson, who signed with Nike's Jordan Brand in 2019, is one of 11 active players set to earn at least $8 million this year from their shoe deals, per Sportico. - And then there's MJ, himself, who will earn at least $150 million this season, mostly from re-releases of old Jordans.
- Nike's Jordan division reported revenue of $3.6 billion, up 15%, in the company's fiscal year ending in May 2020.
In related news ... Nike's contract with the estate of Kobe Bryant expired this month, ending a nearly two-decade relationship. The implications are complex, given how many NBA players still wear Kobe's shoes. | | | | | | | | 6. 🎧 Worth a listen: The Jalen Generation |  | | | Jalen Rose. Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images | | | | According to Jalen Rose, his mother, the recently passed Leanne Rose, invented the name Jalen by combining the names of his father, James, and uncle, Leonard. - 48 years after Rose's birth, the "Jalen Generation" is in full effect, as there are currently 32 players with some variation of the name on rosters across the major North American sports leagues, per ESPN.
- Tonight's NFL draft could see three go in the first round (Jaylen Waddle, Jaelen Phillips, Jalen Mayfield), and June's NBA draft could see three go in the first eight picks (Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green, Jalen Johnson).
🎧 Listen: ESPN spent weeks investigating Rose's claims that he is "The Original Jalen," and the result is one of my favorite podcast episodes ever. Please enjoy. | | | | | | | | 7. ⚡️ Lightning round | | Giphy 🏀 Suns clinch: The Suns (44-18) have secured a playoff spot for the first time since 2010, ending the fifth-longest drought in NBA history. It will be the 11th straight postseason appearance for Chris Paul. ⚽ City tops PSG: Manchester City took a big step towards its first Champions League final, coming back to beat PSG, 2-1, in the semifinal first leg. 🇯🇵 Tokyo update: Olympic organizers have released updated protocols for athletes, who will be tested daily but won't need to quarantine upon arrival. A decision about fan capacity at venues will be made in June. 🏒 NWHL doubles cap: The National Women's Hockey League is doubling its salary cap to $300,000 for each of its six teams, a sign of financial strength as the league enters its seventh season. 📈 Hopeful read: The post-pandemic economic boom is coming (Nicholas Johnston, Axios) "Declining COVID cases, rising vaccination rates, trillions of dollars in government spending and an accommodative Federal Reserve are coming together to create a year of U.S. economic growth for the record books." | | | | | | | | 8. 📆 April 29, 1980: "A neat experiment" | | No. 1 pick Billy Sims is interviewed by ESPN's George Grande (center) and former Colts GM Joe Thomas. Courtesy: ESPN 41 years ago today, a seven-month old TV network called ESPN aired the entirety of the NFL draft — the first time the event was televised. "NFL Draft Telecast. A Neat Experiment." — Headline in the Hartford Courant on April 30, 1980 Details: The 12-round, 333-pick draft was held in a ballroom at the New York Sheraton, and coverage began at 8am ET. It was far from the primetime event that it is today — but so began our obsession. - No. 1 pick: The Lions drafted Oklahoma RB Billy Sims, the winner of the 1978 Heisman Trophy.
- Hall of Famers: LT Anthony Muñoz (No. 3, CIN); WR Art Monk (No. 18, WSH); C Dwight Stephenson (No. 48, MIA).
The big picture: The draft became a media spectacle almost overnight, turning the already-thriving NFL into a year-round content machine. - Then came Mel Kiper Jr., the wunderkind draft analyst who brought scouting lingo and analytics to ESPN's coverage in 1984.
- "Seemingly every year since, the cottage industry of media scouting, mock drafts, and Big Boards has gotten bigger," writes B/R's Ty Schalter.
- "The league repeatedly shaved off rounds, and the length of time allotted to make picks, all to improve the TV product."
Fast forward ... By 1988, the NFL had moved the draft from the week to the weekend. And in 2010, it became a three-night primetime event, starting Thursday. Go deeper ... A bold new network, a preposterous idea: How the NFL draft came to TV (SI) | | | | | | | | 9. 🏈 NFL draft trivia |  | | | Sunshine from "Remember The Titans," is that you? Photo: Aubrey Lao/Getty Images | | | | Tonight could mark the first time since 1999 that QBs are selected with the first three picks. - Question: Who were the top three picks in 1999?
- Hint: Browns, Eagles, Bengals.
Answer at the bottom. | | | | | | | | 10. 🏈 Poll: Who will the 49ers draft at No. 3? |  | | | Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images | | | | Click to vote: We'll share the results tomorrow. | | | | | | | | A message from CLEAR | | The world is opening up again, are you ready? Get CLEAR | | |  | | | | Vaccine connection coming soon to the CLEAR app. Download the free CLEAR app today and get ready to reunite with family, explore new travel destinations, head to a concert with friends, cheer on your favorite sports teams and more. Get ready, get the CLEAR app. | | | | Talk tomorrow, Kendall "Chris Paul has become severely underrated" Baker Trivia answer: Tim Couch (Browns), Donovan McNabb (Eagles), Akili Smith (Bengals) | | Invite friends to follow Axios Sports Use your personal link to track how many readers you bring into the community  You currently have 00 referrals. Share with a friend For questions email referralsupport@axios.com. Participation in the Axios Sports Referral Program constitutes your acceptance of the Axios Terms and Conditions of Use, which can be viewed here. | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters.
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