Wil Mara, The Draft

The Draft

Wil Mara

Dunne, October 2006, $23.95

ISBN 0312359292

Baltimore Ravens General Manager Jon Sabino has been toasted as the latest genius, as his team has won the last two Superbowls. He plans to make history with a trifecta, and many professional football pundits make the Ravens the favorite the three-peat.

During the off season, the star quarterback Michael Bell is injured in an accident that leaves him out for the season, and the team without a strong player at the key position, as neither the back up nor free agency provides the leadership needed to go all the way. Jon knows the best chance lies with the upcoming college draft by taking a chance on a rookie adapting to the NFL right away, which he believes Wolverine Quarterback Christian McKinley can; as he has the talent and played well in the major bowls and Big Ten games. However, without him the Ravens go nowhere. To get him means working a deal with San Diego who has the first draft pick and is willing to sell the rights to the highest bidder of the McKinley Sweepstakes. Sabino plans that to be him at all costs.

Though the intrigue elements (industrial espionage and a quarterback thinking of passing on the pros) seems more like a forced throw into coverage, NFL fans will enjoy the look behind the scenes of a successful professional football franchise. When the plot focuses on Sabino's efforts to insure an opportunity for the historical third ring, the tale is fast-paced and fascinating; when the story line focuses on other characters like a rival General Manager, it becomes time to punt. Still, since much of the tale centers on Sabino trying to keep from being sacked, football fans will enjoy THE DRAFT especially with its parallels to Brady (Michigan QB) and Roethlisberger (bike accident).