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Report: Mariota, Like Winston, Plans To Skip NFL Draft

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The top two draws in the upcoming draft could many, many miles from Chicago -- and the huggable arms of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell -- on April 30.

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, the presumptive No. 1 pick, confirmed on Tuesday that he's leaning toward staying with his family in Alabama despite "a lot of pressure" to attend.

"My grandmother, she can't travel, she has Type-2 diabetes and has multiple surgeries and I want her to be there," Winston told the NFL Network at his Pro Day in Tallahassee, according to CBSSports.com. "I want the people who I've been with Day 1 to be around me and enjoy this moment. It's a celebration to me and it's a once-in-a lifetime opportunity."

Oregon's Marcus Mariota -- considered by many to be the second-best quarterback in the draft and a potential No. 2 overall selection -- also plans to duck the big stage in favor of his home state, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The reigning Heisman winner told the league "it is important to him, personally and culturally, to be in Hawaii to celebrate next step in life," Schefter reported via Twitter.

Though it's unlikely with these two prized signal-callers, watching quarterbacks sweat as they plummet down the draft board has become something of a yearly tradition. Just ask Aaron Rodgers, Brady Quinn, Johnny Manziel and Geno Smith, whose slides made for awkward, cringe-worthy and must-watch television.

According to NFL.com, a first overall selection hasn't skipped the draft since Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson in 1994.

"I'm not concerned with that," Goodell said earlier this month. "I think that it's something we respect when a player says, 'I'd like to be with my family on that day.' It's an important day for them also."

The draft runs from April 30 to May 2 in Chicago. It's being held outside of New York for the first time since 1965.

Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota-heads
Jameis Winston (L) and Marcus Mariota could be the first two names off the board in the 2015 NFL Draft, but they won't be in Chicago. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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