VineMarcus Mariota's time in the NFL can only get better from here.
The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and all-around lovely lad from University of Oregon was selected by the Tennessee Titans tonight as the overall No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, second only to fellow Heisman winner, 2014 national champion with FSU and controversy magnet Jameis Winston, who went No. 1 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But that's another story.
While going second was certainly nothing to not be beyond proud of, Mariota's big moment was a little bush league, thanks to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell—who ironically probably couldn't wait to put the 2014 season of marked by concussions, domestic violence and deflating footballs behind him.
Alas, Goodell kicked off 2015 by mispronouncing Mariota's name, saying it "Mar-ee-oh-toe," instead of...well, how it looks.
But the athlete, who was watching draft unfold from his home state of Hawaii while surrounded by lei-wearing supporters, seemed to take the flub in stride. He gave a small laugh (the famously stoic athlete isn't much of a smirker), and then presumably the scene dissolved into a blur of hugs, high fives and fist pumps.
Winston himself tweeted out a video snippet of himself getting the call while watching the draft with friends and family.
#MyDraftReactions @TBBuccaneers #JameisDraft2015 pic.twitter.com/T4uyNfkH6Q
? Jameis Winston (@Jaboowins) May 1, 2015"Dream come true! So happy to be @TBBuccaneers have my very own jersey @Fanatics http://fnat.tk/16v1 #NFLDraft #JameisDraft2015," he wrote.
Congrats to all the draftees, in the first round and beyond—may training camp be a fresh start for every one of them.