As the 2011 NFL Draft begins Thursday night, there will be a moment of reflection in honor of the nearly 200 people killed across five Southern states following a wave of devastating tornadoes the past two days.
Fatalities have been reported in Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama, which has been dealt the most severe blow. Thousands have also been left homeless in the wake of the disaster.
Commissioner Roger Goodell will address the devastation in his opening remarks. Draft prospects Marcell Dareus, Julio Jones and Mark Ingram, all from the University of Alabama, will be in attendance at the draft. Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama's main campus -- was leveled by a massive mile-wide tornado.
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