NFL and Players Association Analyze Changes for Next Year’s Draft

The NFL and NFL Players Association are discussing the possibility of rescheduling next year’s Draft and move up the start of the league year to before the annual scouting combine held in Indianapolis.

NFL.com informed this week that executives and the representatives from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) are currently analyzing and discussing a plan to move the 2014 NFL Draft from April to May. Only hours later, several sites informed that the NFL and the NFLPA are also working on an agreement to change the start of the league year and free agency up to the middle of February.

The NFL can reschedule the draft and annual scouting combine without the approval of the Players Association, but changes to the start of the league year must be revised and approved by both parts. The NFL initially proposed starting the league year in April but the union rejected the plan.
Moving the draft to May is likely to happen starting next year. The measure is expected to be in place for at least the next three years.  The possible start date for the 2014 draft is May 15th.

The official start of the league year and free agency period is also expected to suffer some changes and get reschedule to begin before the annual NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. According to the NFLPA, they would like to give free agents a chance to find new teams sooner. This year's scouting combine took place from Feb. 20-26. The 2013 league year began on March 12th.

While the NFL hasn’t discussed the motives that prompted the changes, rumors point the league has several reasons to do so. Less than a week ago, NFL.com informed that a scheduling conflict with Radio City Music Hall (the location of the draft) would make next year as a good time to test the change. On the other hand, the NFL is looking to expand its postseason calendar and get some exposure during the post season. The longer the league can stretch events such as the free agency period and the draft, the more they will stay in the spotlight in the months following the Super Bowl.

The change may be insignificant for bettors and football fans; after all, it does not alter the season or the betting action. But for more teams, which are inactive during that time of the year, getting some extra exposure is nothing but beneficial. Now, the change may impact Draft prospects, as they will get some more free time before the end of the NCAA season and the Draft, which means dealing with more time under the media scrutiny and perhaps more pressure and criticism.


Find the latest sportsbook betting odds on all your favorite sports at Sports Betting Online. No matter who comes out on top, you’ll walk away with 10% cash back in your pocket. The money is paid back, directly in your account, no matter who wins.

Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks voted by fans as Top Super Bowl XLVIII contenders

Every offseason, NFL fans and bettors come with the same exact question: Who’s going to win next Super Bowl? Now, football bettors know how hard is to predict an accurate outcome, but that doesn’t seem to stop thousands of sportsbook betting fans from trying.

Just a few days ago, the NFL ended its popular "Predict the Season" contest hosted every year, and after three long of voting, fans came with two early Super Bowl favorites: Denver and Seattle. According to the numbers released by the NFL, voters picked the Broncos over the New England Patriots in the AFC title game and the Seahawks over the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC championship. Broncos got a total of 44,362 votes; however, the team was surpassed by the Seahawks by approximately 7.000 votes (51,803 votes).

Despite how useless the fan opinion could be, the truth is that their prediction isn’t that far from what oddsmakers are predicting for the next season.  Just days after the 2013 NFL Draft came to an end, the odds to win the 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII had the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos as the Top two title contenders for next NFL championship. 

Same as San Francisco and the always favorite New England Patriots, the Seahawks and Broncos are catching the attention of fans and oddsmakers. Both teams show listed among the Top 5 Teams to Win Super Bowl XLVIII according to oddsmakers. The Broncos and Patriots are tied in third place to win the title at +600. The Seattle Seahawks, who opened at 12-to-1 to win the Super Bowl, show listed at +800. But according to oddsmakers, the 49ers are the top contender this season. Future NFL odds are led by the 49ers, listed at +500 to win Super Bowl XLVIII.

The 2013 NFL Season is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, September 5th with a special game pitting the current NFL champs, the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos in a rematch of a 2012 Divisional Round playoff game. Conference rivals, Seahawks and Niners are programmed to meet twice this season, with the first game set to take place on September 15^th at CenturyLink Field (Week 2) and Game 2 set for December 8^th at Candlestick Park (Week 14).

Bettors looking ahead to Super Bowl XLVIII can join the action and take advantage of the early odds on NFL provided by Sports Betting Online.  Sign Up Now for a free account and get full 10% cash-back credit for your weekly wins or loses deposited to your account every Monday.

Lebron James wins 4th MVP Award

Well, the announcement of the 2012-13 NBA Most Valuable Player went exactly as predicted. As many sportsbook betting and basketball predicted since months ago, the annual prize went to Miami Heat LeBron James, who remains the best basketball player in the National Basketball League.

James received a total of 120 first-place votes from a panel of 121 voters consisting of sportswriters and sports journalists and other NBA experts in North America as well as an NBA.com MVP fan vote.  The only vote that wasn’t casted to James went to Knicks star Carmelo Anthony. Oklahoma City's  Thunder forward Kevin Durant finished second to James in MVP voting for the second straight year, with Anthony third, Chris Paul fourth and Los Angeles Lakers Super Star Kobe Bryant fifth in votes.

The award places James as the youngest player in NBA history to win four MVPs, and the fifth player in league history to win four MVPs. At only 28-years old, James is joining an elite club of players with multiple MVP awards, including NBA Legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Michael Jordan (five), Bill Russell (five) and Wilt Chamberlain (four).

This is also the fourth consecutive season in where fans were allowed to cast their votes and rank their top five choices. The fan vote counted as one vote and was compiled with the 120 media votes to select the overall winner. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for each third-place vote, three for each fourth-place vote and one for each fifth-place vote received.

2012-13 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award Results

LeBron James, Miami, Total Points 1,207
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, Total Points 765
Carmelo Anthony, New York, Total Points 475
Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers, Total Points 289
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, Total Points 184
Tony Parker, San Antonio , Total Points 86
Tim Duncan, San Antonio, Total Points 65
James Harden, Houston, 33
Russell Westbrook, OKC, 9
Dwyane Wade, Miami, 5
Stephen Curry, Golden State, 3
Kevin Garnett, Boston, Total Points 1
David Lee, Golden State , Total Points  1
Ty Lawson, Denver , Total Points 1
Marc Gasol, Memphis , Total Points 1
Joakim Noah, Chicago¸ Total Points 1

Besides the 2012-13 NBA MVP, James won five Kia NBA Player of the Month award in 2012-13 (October-November, December, January, February, and March), becoming the first player in NBA history to receive the award during five straight months during a single season. He was also named Player of the Week five times (Nov. 11, Nov. 18, Dec. 23, Feb. 10, and March 24).

Looking for a trustable sportsbook betting site? Try Sports Betting Online. Here you can find the latest odds on NBA, odds on NFL, odds on NHL and all major sports leagues around the world and pocket 10% of your winnings or losses regardless of who wins! Join Here and Start Betting Now!