The National Football League (NFL) currently has some of the most incredible talents in American football history. From legends such as Tom Brady to new talents such as Kyle Hamilton and Kayvon Thibodeaux, these stars give fans and bettors their money’s worth.

Seasoned punters know that the best team is the one with the most capable players. While the NFL gives bettors fresh football talent every year, legit sportsbooks such as BetDSI make their wagers worth it. Teammates are vital to a team’s success, and it’s essential that NFL teams carefully pick the player who will stick with them through the season.

Player selection requires preparation, and this article will discuss six factors that NFL teams consider before picking a player in the NFL Draft.

How NFL Teams Prepare for the Annual Draft

Before the NFL introduced the Draft in 1936, teams had a full-out bid on fresh players with potential, and whichever team the player signed with got the goodies to themselves. This gave immense power to the rich teams, leaving the weak ones weak. The Draft changed it all. Now, teams undergo organized preparation to balance out their playing power, including the following.

Scouting

At the end of every season, each team will set out to discover promising players, identify potential Draft picks, and recruit them to professional football. These scouts attend college games, watch practice tapes and game films, and conduct interviews with players and their coaches to gather information and evaluate their skills. Some other places that scouts can evaluate players include:

• Combine: The NFL Scouting Combine is an annual week-long event where college players perform physical and mental tests before NFL coaches and scouts. At this event, coaches and scouts evaluate players’ athleticism, strength, speed and football IQ.

• Pro Days: Pro Days are where scouts, executives and coaches can watch NFL prospects perform workout drills. The workouts display players’ strengths and weaknesses regarding on-field fluidity, allowing scouts to decide which player fits their team and which doesn’t.

Mock Drafts

Mock Drafts are simulations of the actual Draft. A team may divide itself into sections to represent NFL teams and practice the process of player selection based on the projected availability of players and the team’s perceived need. Mock Drafts help teams evaluate potential Draft strategies and scenarios. It also helps them identify and address loopholes in their Draft plans, such as overvaluing or undervaluing certain positions.

Player Trades

Teams may trade players with others to move up or down the Draft order and manage their financial budgets by exchanging expensive players with less expensive ones. They can even trade picks to target their desired player or accumulate more picks in later rounds.

Six Factors that NFL Teams Consider When Selecting Players

Preparation is vital to successful Draft picks, but what the players can offer their team matters. Here are six factors that NFL teams consider when selecting players.

Physical Abilities

Each position in football requires specific physical attributes that make their play phenomenal. For instance, while quarterbacks should have arm strength, footwork and quick decision-making skills, tight ends should have a bigger size, excellent hand control, and fluidity to block and catch passes. Teams prioritize players who have the physical attributes necessary to succeed in their position.

Performance History

Every professional player would have played in high school or college. Teams observe their past performance, including significant wins, teamwork and weaknesses, to gauge how well they will perform in professional football.

Character

NFL teams are interested in team-oriented, hardworking players with a strong work ethic. Nobody likes unmotivated players with zero capacity for teamwork, making character checks a priority for most NFL teams. A player’s character can be evaluated through interviews, a background check, and interactions with their coaches and teammates.

Injuries

While injuries are unfortunate, they play a significant role in the efficiency of players. Teams will observe the severity of past injuries, how long the player was out for, and if the player has undergone full recovery before they draft them.

Positional Needs

Physical abilities and character checks pale in comparison to the team’s needs. NFL teams may prioritize certain positions based on their need. For instance, a team that needs a quarterback won’t pick a tight ends, even if they have the best hand control.

Compatibility with Team Culture

NFL teams will also prioritize players with personalities and values that align with the team’s philosophy and approach to football. During Draft picks, teams will consider how players fit into their unique culture and values. For example, a team that values natural leaders might draft players with track records of being captains or team leaders in high school or college.

Conclusion

The drafting process is complex and usually determines the teams’ performance in the coming season, which is why they need to select players who sync with them. Ultimately, the success of the Draft depends on how well teams can evaluate and choose the right players to fit their needs and build a winning team.

Cricket has been synonymous with India ever since the country gained its independence in 1947. Millions of India’s hardcore cricket fans watch TV matches, go to stadiums to witness their favorite players, indulge in different types of fantasy cricket league using fantasy gaming apps, and perform numerous other cricket-related activities that facilitate them to experience the game more immersively.

There are numerous reasons why the sport receives so much love from the masses in India. For instance, over the years, there have been many legendary players who have represented India in prestigious domestic as well as International tournaments and made the country proud. Players like Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and many others have made the country witness countless memorable moments, resulting in the sport becoming an integral part of fans’ lives.

Here are some of India’s most memorable moments in the history of the sport of cricket:

Kapil Dev Lifting the World Cup Trophy – 1983

One of the most memorable moments in the history of cricket is when the Indian team, under the captaincy of the legendary Kapil Dev, won its first-ever World Cup trophy in 1983. In the 1975 World Cup, India was able to only win one match against East Africa.

Due to the consistently poor performance, fans were running low on hope when India participated in the third iteration of the World Cup in 1983. However, the underdogs displayed exceptional performances throughout the tournament and managed to reach the finals and play against West Indies. By scoring only 183 runs in the first innings, India’s dream of winning the trophy seemed blurry.

However, India fought hard and eventually won their first-ever World Cup. The entire nation was overjoyed when Kapil Dev lifted the trophy along with his team. The moment got registered as one of the most memorable ones for India in the history of cricket.

Sourav Ganguly Tearing his T-Shirt at Lord’s – 2002

Indians have never shied away from expressing happy emotions, especially during cricket matches. A fine example of this is Sourav Ganguly’s favorite t-shirt-tearing moment. In 2002, India was playing the decider test match of the series against England at Lord’s Stadium. England had set up a massive target of 316 runs, which seemed impossible to chase at the time.

However, India’s batters had different plans. Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag, India’s opening batting pair, put on a partnership of 106 runs, making the task of chasing the target possible. Sadly, India lost five wickets, and the scoreboard read 146-5. When Sachin Tendulkar got out, the hope diminished.

However, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif took the reins and built a solid 121-run partnership. Eventually, the Indian team required two runs off four deliveries. Zaheer Khan hit the ball and ran twice between the wickets thanks to an overthrow. India won the match and series, and as a display of celebration, Ganguly tore off his t-shirt at the balcony of Lord’s. This went down as another memorable moment for India in cricket history.

India Winning the First-Ever T20 World Cup – 2007

In 2007, India exited the ODI World Cup in a disappointing fashion, leaving the fans heartbroken and furious. Due to this, senior players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Rahul Dravid opted out of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was given the responsibility of leading Team India in the Inaugural T20 World Cup. Nobody expected the new captain to lead the team even into the playoffs, but the world-class captain did it with finesse.

Team India reached the finals and defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by five runs. Under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, India reclaimed its glory and gave the entire nation a major reason to rejoice. The Indian team defeating Pakistan and winning the inaugural T20 World Cup became another milestone for Indian cricket.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Iconic 6 in the World Cup Finals – 2011

After the disappointing ODI World Cup run in 2007, India, under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, got ready to compete against world-class teams. Throughout the tournament, the Indian cricket team displayed exceptional performances and reached the finals.

The final matchup was between India and Sri Lanka. Like India, the Sri Lankan team also dominated the tournament, making them tough opponents. Sachin and Sehwag departed early from the field, but Gautam Gambhir put up 97 runs on the board, which changed the match’s pace.

Moreover, MS Dhoni scored 96 runs (not out) to lead India to its second World Cup victory after 28 years. Dhoni finished the job in style by hitting a six to reach the target set by Sri Lanka. The cheer of the audience in the stadium as well as that of the entire country, still echoes in the history books.

Sachin Tendulkar Scoring his 100th International Ton – 2012

Sachin Tendulkar, deemed the “God of Cricket,” became the first-ever player to score 100 centuries across all formats in the history of international cricket. He achieved this feat against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in 2012.

Although India lost the match, the game is and will always remain one of the most iconic matches of all time. The moment Sachin scored his 100th ton, the entire audience, along with the players, applauded him, making it one of the most memorable moments in the history of Indian cricket.

Thanks to the moments mentioned above, along with all others, cricket is and will always remain an absolute favorite sport for Indians.

Are you an avid sports fan? Do you enjoy watching baseball, football, or basketball and following every match, player’s career, tournament, and other related to the game? How about starting a sports card collection hobby?

People collect sports cards of their favorite teams or players because it is fun, exciting, and demonstrates your enthusiasm as a fan. Moreover, it is also a good investment because its value increases over time.

If it is your first time, you may be unaware of the various aspects involved in it. But if you’re looking at sports card collecting, you must know some information beforehand. Here are some tips and suggestions you will find helpful.

Tips to start a sports card collection

Beginning small is good if you’re starting with a card-collecting hobby. If your collection gets too large and overwhelming, you can always scale back and focus on one sport or player.

It’s also vital that when you first start collecting cards, certain things will help keep your interest up. For example, start with a few different sports/players and gather them over time so that they become more familiar to you. This makes it easier for others who want to look at your cards. It also allows fewer items in one place because everything is the same color! You could also avoid buying any rare cards unless necessary.

Types of sports cards

Sports cards are classified into several categories. The most common are baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. Other popular sports include soccer, racing, and golf. Each type has its own set of rules for collecting cards. For instance, baseball cards come in many shapes and sizes, like commons (first run), parallels (second run), or autographs. Autograph cards often feature players’ signatures and hold a special place in the hearts of sports card collectors.

Importance of player/card

Player/card desirability is an essential factor in sports card collecting. Both factors depend on the number of cards in a set. Therefore, it can be difficult to accurately determine why a particular card is valued higher than others. However, there are some general guidelines that you can use to help you understand player/card desirability better.

The more valuable the player or team was when they were active, the higher their value will likely be today. Secondly, if a player retires extremely young, their value immediately drops. Lastly, if a player retires after sustaining injuries that may affect future performance levels, their prices typically drop even further.

How to choose cards?

As a collector, you want to ensure that each card you purchase is in the best condition possible. It includes looking at all the elements and determining whether they’re damaged, if there are any blemishes, or if some other issue could affect their value (or even prevent them from being worth much).

You might think about buying cards based on either team logos or colors alone, but experts recommend doing both because there are so many options available! It’s important to consider what players have associated with each team. For example, if a player plays for one but then joins another later down the line or even changes their jersey number, they’ll likely be easy to spot when searching through your collection.

Vintage vs. Modern cards

Vintage and modern sports cards are two distinct types of collectibles. Vintage cards are more valuable than their modern counterparts because they’re harder to find and easier to sell if you want to put your money towards something else, like paying off your student loans!

You would do well to remember these things if you’re looking at sports card collecting. It is an exciting hobby and an excellent way to showcase appreciation for a sport, team, or player. You can buy these from various e-commerce sites that usually have impressive collections and offer you the option to bid or buy them.