Long Draft Weekend Pays Off For Wisconsin Center Bill Nagy

University of Wisconsin center Bill Nagy, a four year letterman for the Badgers, had watched two and a half days of the 2011 NFL Draft before his cell phone rang. On the other end was Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, who told Nagy that he would be the team’s seventh round selection.

For Nagy, the call represented the end of a long, hopeful wait.

''As the draft was winding down, with only a few picks left, I was kind of sitting there, just waiting and hoping,'' said Nagy, per the Beacon Journal. ''I went into the whole thing with an open mind, hoping things would work out.

''It was cool just to have a day at home with my family, so I was fine with anything. It ended up working out, which I am very grateful for.''

Nagy is understandably glad he was drafted. Had he not been, he would have had to endure the very peculiar process of being an undrafted free agent in a league where free agency currently doesn’t exist.

''It would have been so difficult if I hadn't gotten drafted. I would have had to wait. After I talked with Jerry Jones, I talked with Jason Garrett,'' Nagy said. ''He said it was weird right now in the NFL, that no one knows about minicamps and OTAs.

''He said it was my responsibility to be in shape and be ready for the call, whenever that will be. That was his main message.''