NFL bettors are well aware that team owners and the NFL Players’ Association are engaged in an ugly labor war that now involves the U.S. legal system. The NFLPA hinted to potential first-round draftees that they not show up to the draft and get the customary handshake from the commissioner because the players are locked out. So when a player gets drafted, he technically still isn’t an employee of that club, can’t workout at the team’s facility, can’t talk to coaches and can’t sign a contract. Also because of the lockout, there can be no trades of players at this draft – only other draft picks. And finally, teams may draft differently this year because they don’t know when football will resume. So instead of perhaps reaching for a prospect that may take a year or two, clubs are likely to draft more for immediate need. It should be good theater.

Because this could be the last official NFL event for months, it is expected to draw record TV ratings. And because Bodog is well aware how important football betting is to fans, we have come up with the 2011 Bodog Football Mock Draft Contest, unique to the Web’s gaming leader. So you think you are a draft guru like Mel Kiper Jr.? Put your picks where your mouth is. Here is how the contest works:

Of course you will need a Bodog account, and it doesn’t hurt to be a fan of the Bodog Facebook page and/or Twitter feed to see how you stack up. Entering this contest couldn’t be easier. Simply enter your own Top 10 mock draft for the first round, posted as a comment on the bottom of this Bodog Beat article page (and bookmark it, too). Obviously getting the perfect 10 is the goal, but you can still win by accurately predicting the highest number of correct 10 players taken in the Top 10. But you only get credit for a pick if that player is drafted the exact spot you had him slotted in – regardless of the team who picked him.

For example, if you have Auburn quarterback and Heisman winner Cam Newton going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers but he goes No. 3 to the Buffalo Bills, all is not lost. The goal is to get the first 10 drafted players as correct as possible. Bodog is starting this contest with a $1,000 prize pool. The 10 best entries would share in that $1,000. First place would get $250, second $200, third $150, fourth $125, fifth $100, sixth $75, seventh $50, eighth $25, ninth, $15 and 10th $10. Tiebreakers are decided by who posts their picks first. And if the near impossible happens and any fan predicts the Top 10 in exact order, the prize pool doubles to $2,000!

You have until the beginning of the first round, 8 p.m. Eastern on April 28, to get your posts up on this page. Winners will be announced the next day on Facebook.com/Bodog and Twitter.com/Bodog. If you are one of the 10 skilled prognosticators, simply email contests@bodog.eu with your Bodog info to claim your share of the prize pool. Winners will receive a reply email with all of the details.

So do your draft homework and get those picks in right now! Feel free to interact and even trash talk as well. But be forewarned – we’re moderating all comments.

Remember, the tiebreaker goes to whoever posted their picks first. It might be the last pro football for a while … Good luck!

Click Here to Open a BoDog Account Today!