It may not be “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” but it is 12 days until Christmas for a bunch of college kids … the best amateur football players in the country. So while Christmas comes early for Patrick Peterson, Blaine Gabbert and many others, what does the number 12 leave us thinking about?

• The iconic Joe Namath wore number 12, and was the 12th overall pick of the Cardinals in the 1965 NFL Draft (Namath went first overall in the AFL Draft).

• The self-proclaimed icon, Cam Newton, could go to the quarterback-uncertain Vikings at number 12 … perhaps Brett Favre could even become a mentor of sorts.

• Staying with icon status … some pretty famous dudes wore number 12. Terry Bradshaw (first overall pick, 1970), and Jim Kelly (14th overall pick, 1983) immediately come to mind. Another famous 12, Roger Staubach, was one heckuva value buy in the 10th round for the Cowboys in 1964, even though Dallas had to wait out his four-year Navy commitment. Did you know … Bradshaw, Kelly, and Staubach started 12 Super Bowls between them.

• Speaking of getting value, how about the Saints picking up Marques Colston — who also wears No. 12 — in the seventh round of the 2006 draft?

• Another 12, some guy named Tom Brady, was also a late-round steal (sixth round, 2000).

• Despite the dwindling number of running backs going in the first round these days, three of the last four 12th overall picks have been running backs: Ryan Mathews (Chargers, 2010), Knowshon Moreno (Broncos, 2009) and Marshawn Lynch (Bills, 2007).

Where might the best back in this year’s draft, Mark Ingram, go?

Twelve days until we find out.

– Elliot Harrison

Elliot Harrison, a research analyst for NFL RedZone on NFL Network, counts down the days until the start of the 2011 NFL Draft.

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