Two thumbs up; one down for NFL Net draft coverage … I pretty much always watch the NFL Network’s draft coverage and this year I give them two thumbs up for their coverage on the first two nights of the draft as they did their best to provide some reasonably serious draft coverage with what often seemed to be a circus going on around them. And they started out well enough on Saturday, but then halfway through the third day they decided to stop covering, well, you know, the draft and instead a segment from Good Morning Football broke out. They did scroll the names of the players as they were taken across the bottom of the screen and broke in when something noticeable happened, but otherwise there were a lot of interviews featuring the best in coach-speak and a lot of well, just blathering. There were cute puppies – and fortunately no orangutans – and of course Rich Eisen did his run, although we could have done with a few less pleas for money. In fact, thinking about Rich’s run, we wonder why they hold it until Saturday – remember it used to be at the combine – when the viewership for the draft is at its lowest. we also why they insist on adding Peter Schrager to the Saturday panel – well we know its to give GMF a boost – but he’s annoying. So are most of the celebrity and non-celebrity pick announcers. There are only so many ways you can say: ‘Hey Kansas City, what’s up?’
Here would be my suggestion. I know the NFL wants to make the draft an ‘event’, but maybe take the party out of at least the third day. Move it inside and just make the picks. As we have said, the draft is actually kind of boring niche event and the third day is really long and boring. So move it along for those who care and let those looking to party do so on the first two nights! I would also note that dragging out picks doesn’t increase the drama or excitement, it just drags the whole thing out. And one final thought for the NFL Network. Bring back Mike Mayock! Maybe he made enough in Las Vegas that he’ll never have to work again, but he brought just the right mix of draft smarts and levity to make it all work. Move Daniel Jeremiah to the second chair and you’d have a pretty darn good mix.
