By Artis Twyman
Assistant Director/ Football Media

The excitement of having the second pick in the NFL draft (especially after the first has been announced days earlier) is overwhelming.  It seems as if the entire world is speculating on what you are going to do. That was just part of what I experienced last weekend.

With the Rams having the highest pick in the draft since taking Orlando Pace first in the draft in 1997, I got an opportunity to go to New York and assist our selection with a barrage of media interviews and coordinate his travel back to St. Louis.

This was my first trip to New York City without traveling with the team for a game, so, yes, I was excited.  The trip started out star-studded as comedian D.L. Hughley was on my flight from St. Louis to New York City.  Why didn’t I have my camera?  I told him that I just got married three weeks ago.

“At this stage, you still have dreams and hope,” joked Hughley.

Once reaching The Big Apple, I had an appointment to meet with NFL public relations officials at the league office.  This was my first visit to the NFL offices.  I got a short tour of the NFL’s headquarters and was given the rundown on what would happen on draft day.

I headed to Radio City Music Hall to get my credential and meet the six players who would be present for the draft.

Who are we going to take?  Glenn Dorsey?  Chris Long?  Will we surprise the world and take Matt Ryan?  To cover my bases, I talked a little bit with each one of the guys, just so that I would not be a total stranger when we picked.  All except Miami’s Jake Long.

“I grew up a Rams fan,” said Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston, a native of Detroit.  “It was cool to meet Marshall Faulk this weekend.

That night, I scored a ticket to one of the most popular parties during draft weekend, the ESPN party.  All the ESPN personalities where there, plus many of the potential draft picks who were going to become millionaires in just a couple of hours.

“What are you guys going to do at No. 2?” said Dorsey, thinking I had some inside info. 

“I wish I knew,” I said.  “I can tell you that you will probably be drafted tomorrow though.”

It’s the big day.  I get down to Radio City Music Hall and it’s just like you see on television.  Tables set up for each team where they will tell who is going to shape the future of their particular franchise.  ESPN and NFL Network television sets buzzing with people getting ready to weigh in on every player whose name is announced.

It’s time to start the draft.  Jake Long is announced just as a formality, and the Rams are on the clock.  Just hours prior to the draft, everyone is speculating the Rams will take Chris Long, the talented defensive end from Virginia, but no one really knows. 

After Commissioner Roger Goodell announces that we have selected Chris Long, the media frenzy begins.  Immediately he speaks with Deion Sanders from NFL Network.  Then he is rushed to the ESPN set to speak with Suzy Kolber as he talks with Rams Head Coach Scott Linehan and owner Chip Rosenbloom on my cell phone.  All while I am busy sticking the Rams lapel pin on his suit.

Next he is off to do a couple of national radio interviews and then I get him on the phone with our local media in St. Louis.  After 10 minutes of talking about his excitement of going to see the Arch, he is whisked away to another news conference before shaking hands with military personnel and conducting one-on-one interviews with television stations, many from his hometown.  NFL Network is following us everywhere we go, documenting the pick for a behind-the-scenes piece for the network.

Chris’ father, Hall of Famer Howie Long, and his mother Diane look on as proud as parents can be.

I am busy talking with our travel department to make sure we are set to get Chris on a first-class flight back to St. Louis.

After about an hour and a half of questions, we were prepared to leave Radio City and head to the team hotel.  We pile into the Hummer provided by the NFL.  Chris rolls down his window and signs as many autographs as he can before we pull off.

Chris is ready to celebrate the next chapter in his life, while I am ready to get a good night sleep because we have to leave at 6:30 a.m. the next morning to catch a flight back to Missouri.  Not so easy.  After a very little coaxing I went to one of the post draft parties for short time, just so I could see a little more to the city.

At 6:30 in the morning, the trusty NFL Network cameraman and I met Chris at his hotel to make our way to the airport.  I don’t think Chris got much sleep Saturday night.

“I haven’t been asleep since I became a Ram,” said a sleepy Chris.

We got to the airport, and to my surprise, more people recognized Chris than I thought.  He signed a couple of autographs and took some pictures before we boarded the plane.  Once on the plane, I gave the flight attendants and pilots Rams hats and they announced that Chris was on the plane and congratulated him.  Everyone on the plane gave him a round of applause.

Back to St. Louis.  Chris is met with a limousine that pulled onto the tarmac, where he would not be swamped with people in the airport.  Once we got to the Russell Training Center, Chris met with the Rosenbloom and Rodriguez families and prepared for more interviews.  After a 1 p.m. news conference, and several one-on-ones, Chris has been introduced to the St. Louis community as the newest member of the Rams.

The trip to New York was a great experience, one that I will always remember.  Although I had a great time, I am not looking forward to going back to work at the NFL Draft.  If I am there, the chances are that it’s following a season that was not so great.