GRANT PARK — The football fans inhabiting Grant Park this weekend are certainly coming as they are.
Draft Town, the free football festival accompanying this weekend's NFL Draft, is already attracting football fans from across the nation, many of whom aren't afraid to show their true colors.
"It's cool to have this many fans from all the different teams," John Clark of Michigan said. "It's different than a game where everyone is taunting each other."
Jaguars fans do exist. Some of them are from northern Indiana. [DNAinfo/David Matthews]
Tyler Derby is from Valparaiso, Ind., but reps the Jacksonville Jaguars. Why? He likes underdogs.
Jeff Howe of South Dakota likes the Rams, move to LA and all. He hopes they take Wentz, dispelling N/S Dakota beef pic.twitter.com/p3HXzRCf6o
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
Jeff Howe is from South Dakota, but cheers on the Rams, who just moved to Los Angeles. His team also has this year's No. 1 draft pick, which Howe hopes will be used to select quarterback Carson Wentz of North Dakota State. Howe dispels the notion there's any beef between North and South Dakotans.
"It's fun to look like Mike," Ray Hart of Homer Glen says. Admits the weather is a bit of a downer #NFLDraft2016 pic.twitter.com/y6cB84yEfI
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
Ray Hart of suburban Homer Glen impersonates former Bears coach Mike Ditka for a living. His wife thinks it's funny. Hart went to last year's draft too, and admits this one is a bit worse because of the weather.
Nick Calvaresi of Pennsylvania is a Patriots fan like his mom. [DNAinfo/David Matthews]
Nick Calvaresi, 17, is from Pennsylvania but reps the Patriots like his mom. He was showing his support for star quarterback Tom Brady, who will serve a four-game suspension next season for the much-publicized "Deflategate" scandal.
Brady was accused of asking equipment managers to deflate game balls below regulation limits. Calvaresi's mom, Debra, called the suspension "punitive."
"Nobody cared when [kicker] Jay Feely deflated balls," Debra said.
[DNAinfo/David Matthews]
This Baltimore Ravens fan gets love for wearing a giant purple bird on his head. With a matching jacket.
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