FACTS & FIGURES ON 2002 NFL DRAFT

WHAT:

67th Annual National Football League Player Selection Meeting.

WHERE:

The Theater at Madison Square Garden, between 31st and 33rd Streets in New York City.

WHEN:

Noon ET, Saturday, April 20, 2002 (Rounds 1-3).

11:00 AM ET, Sunday, April 21, 2002 (Rounds 4-7).

The first three rounds will conclude on Saturday by approximately 10:00 PM ET.  In 2001, the first round consumed four hours and 18 minutes; the second, two hours and 57 minutes; and the third, one hour and 28 minutes.  The draft will resume on Sunday at 11:00 AM ET for the final four rounds, ending at approximately 5:00 PM ET.    

DRAFTING:

Representatives of the 32 NFL clubs by telephone communication with their general managers, coaches and scouts.

ROUNDS:

Seven Rounds – Rounds 1 through 3 on Saturday, April 20; and Rounds 4 through 7 on Sunday, April 21.

There will be 261 selections, including 14 by the expansion Houston Texans and 32 compensatory choices that have been awarded to 18 teams which suffered a net loss of certain quality unrestricted free agents last year.

The Texans will receive the first pick in each of the seven rounds.  They also will receive one selection in each of Rounds 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 after all teams with a 2001 regular-season winning percentage of less than .500.  Houston also will receive the final selection in Round 7 (after all compensatory selections).     

The following 32 compensatory choices will supplement the 229 regular choices in the seven rounds – Round 3: Buffalo, 32; Arizona, 33.   Round 4: Minnesota, 34; Tennessee, 35; Detroit, 36; Green Bay, 37.  Round 5: Seattle, 34; Miami, 35; Seattle, 36; San Francisco, 37.  Round 6: Baltimore, 34; Baltimore, 35; Dallas, 36; Baltimore, 37; Chicago, 38; Dallas, 39.  Round 7: Atlanta, 34; NY Giants, 35; Jacksonville, 36; Jacksonville, 37; San Francisco, 38; Buffalo, 39; Tampa Bay, 40; Buffalo, 41; Detroit, 42; Tampa Bay, 43; Tampa Bay, 44; San Francisco, 45; Washington, 46; Carolina, 47; Detroit, 48; Buffalo, 49. 

Two teams have two selections each in the first round – New Orleans (Nos. 13 and 25) and Oakland (21 and 23).  Miami and Tampa Bay do not have first-round picks.

TIME LIMITS:

Round 1:  15 minutes each team.  Round 2:  10 minutes each team.  Rounds 3 through 7: Five minutes each team. 

TELEVISION:

ESPN will televise the draft on Saturday from Noon ET to 7:00 PM ET.  ESPN2 will televise the rest of the draft on Saturday from 7:00 PM ET to its conclusion.  ESPN will televise the draft on Sunday from 11:00 AM ET to 1:00 PM ET, with ESPN2 carrying the remainder of the draft from 1:00 PM ET to its conclusion.  

FAN TICKETS:

Free tickets to the 2002 NFL Draft will be made available to fans on a first-come, first-serve basis on Saturday, April 20.  The tickets will be distributed at the Madison Square Garden box office beginning at 9:00 AM on Saturday.  Any remaining tickets will be made available on Sunday beginning at 9:00 AM.  One ticket will be distributed per person and can be used for admission on both April 20-21.  All seating is general admission.  Doors will open at 10:30 AM on Saturday and 10:00 AM on Sunday.  The Theater at Madison Square Garden seats 4,000 fans for the draft.

DRAFT ONLINE:

NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com) will carry complete NFL Draft coverage.  The site features in-depth information on numerous draft prospects.  NFL.com will provide live coverage throughout draft weekend.  Fans can follow every pick of the draft as it occurs and listen to press conferences with drafted players.  Fans can bid on team jerseys, autographed on-site by newly selected NFL players attending the draft.   Leading up to the draft, fans can read diaries by Oklahoma LB ROCKY CALMUS, Syracuse RB KYLE JOHNSON, Miami T BRYANT MC KINNIE and LSU WR JOSH REED.  In addition, fans can view a “video diary” of Fresno State QB DAVID CARR on draft weekend in New York City, and get a behind-the-scenes look at NFL draft headquarters in New York.  Fans also can participate in live chats with top picks and interact with NFL draft expert GIL BRANDT, the Dallas Cowboys’ chief scout for 29 years, and former Oakland Raiders head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer ART SHELL.  NFL.com’s“Draft Tracker” will analyze the draft as it unfolds and track selections by player, position, team and other categories.