Emanuel Basks In National Spotlight As NFL Draft Ramps Up
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel was enjoying his role playing host to the 2015 NFL Draft on Wednesday, hoping to convince NFL officials to bring the draft back to Chicago for years to come.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who joined the mayor at what the NFL is calling "Draft Town" – a sprawling fan festival area in Grant Park – enjoyed watching this year's prospects interacting with children at a mock NFL Combine and other activities set up for the festival.
"We're also incredibly proud to be here in Chicago. The mayor did it up right," he said. "I never thought I was going to have to bring sunscreen to Chicago for the draft, but I did."
Emanuel acknowledged it isn't enough to host the draft this year, he wants a sequel or two.
"My goal is, as I have said from Day One, is that when Roger and the NFL leave the city, they say 'Why do we not bring this back to the city of Chicago?'" he said.
Goodell didn't scoff at that idea. He and Emanuel announced the expansion of the NFL FLAG Football program, to get more kids playing flag football, after watching football clinics for children conducted by some of this year's NFL prospects.
"Through our partnership with GENYOUth, we are going to be reaching a million more kids with flag football kits in the next year," he said.
The idea is to get more kids outside, and exercising. Approximately 250,000 of the kids in the program are expected to be in Chicago.