NFL asked Peyton Manning to encourage Fernando Mendoza to attend the draft
Mendoza held firm in his decision to stay home.
The NFL draft is a TV show. On the first night, the stars are the players who accepted the invitations to walk to the stage, hug the Commissioner, hold up a new jersey, and submit to a mini-car wash of media appearances. If the players don't go, that's a problem.
Especially in a draft that is lacking in superstars. Tonight's presumptive No. 1 pick by the Raiders, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, declined the invitation.
The league opted not to take "no, thank you" for an answer. Via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette , Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning said the league " reached out to me ” to "maybe encourage" Fernando Mendoza "to go to the draft. " Manning did.
And Mendoza didn't change his mind. Mendoza recently explained his decision to stay home for the draft in an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show . It's Mendoza's decision.