I have a bone to pick with the NFL Network's draft coverage (1 Viewer)

[shader]

I love my draft, NFLN. I take it seriously. I spend way too much time analyzing mock drafts and get way too hyped for this event.

I also have grown really tired of ESPN's ridiculous draft coverage. I love Mayock and the whole NFLN crew. Their insights are great. I value their opinions.

But REALLY! Do you really have to go down to a random nerd that you picked off the street before the commish gets up there? Do you really have to spoil the pick by showing off your network's inside sources like that?

I think I can speak for the football nation everywhere that we don't want some guy that probably has never caught a football in his life to smugly tell us what the pick is going to be as if he has incredible knowledge and is a bigtime insider.

Let the commish tell us the pick and build the drama a bit. It makes for terrible TV when you spoil the pick right before it happens.

I can't imagine that there is a single person in the world who is sitting there on draft day, waiting on the pick and says "OH BOY, Laconfora is about to be on. This guy is CONNECTED! I'm so glad he's going to let me in on this secret, because I can't bear to wait another 15 seconds to hear the commish tell me who is going to be picked!!!"

Ok, end of rant.

 

[Max Power]

I was too annoyed with NFLN showing the players getting the phone calls before they were announced to care about Lacanfora.

NFLN and ESPN were both just all around bad this year. If the NFL is serious about making this a 3 day event and shown in prime time, they really need put some more effort into it.

Not loving the changes.

 

[fruity pebbles]

they are competing against ESPN. If they know the pick they're going to say so or people are going to go over to the station that breaks all the draft news.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

NFLN probably feels like they have to scoop ESPN.

I don't like that they do that either, but it's really pretty minor.

 

[Sweet Love]

I switched to ESPN after pick 5 or so, just based on the fact that there was no draft ticker on the screen. ESPN has the thing even going during commercials and NFLN can't get one going at all. If you have a bone to pick with them, I would think that would be it.

 

[BeTheMatch]

I switched to ESPN after pick 5 or so, just based on the fact that there was no draft ticker on the screen. ESPN has the thing even going during commercials and NFLN can't get one going at all. If you have a bone to pick with them, I would think that would be it.

NFL Network had the ticker going all night - on commercials too.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

There should only be a half dozen to dozen more players that will have a camera in front of them for tonight so the phone call thing should come to an end pretty quickly. Both LaCanfora and Schefter are releasing the picks on Twitter a couple of minutes before the announcement too.

 

[GregR_2]

A little while ago I was thinking about the showing of players on the phone with the team who picked them. I think the draft would be far more enjoyable if they let the suspense build up, and the commissioner announcing it was the first you knew for sure who had been picked.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

A little while ago I was thinking about the showing of players on the phone with the team who picked them. I think the draft would be far more enjoyable if they let the suspense build up, and the commissioner announcing it was the first you knew for sure who had been picked.

 

[Eraser]

I got a kick out listening to Sirius and watching the draft on NFLN at the same time...... Sirius would unofficially announce the picks before NFLN would return from commercial break.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Have to say I was liking ESPN's coverage more last night. Gruden and Schefter were the difference for me. I'm one of the few it seems that likes Steve Young too.

J

 

[Dave Larkin]

One of my pet peeves of the NFL Draft is the pick being spoiled by the player being on the phone seconds before. Luckily it only happens in the first round usually, so today and onwards should be fine.

 

[fatness]

A little while ago I was thinking about the showing of players on the phone with the team who picked them. I think the draft would be far more enjoyable if they let the suspense build up, and the commissioner announcing it was the first you knew for sure who had been picked.

One thing they could do to improve this is to cut way down on the distance Goodell has to walk to get to the podium and make the announcement. Right now it takes so long for him to walk out that they cut away while he's doing in. Why not have him hidden from view within 10 feet of the podium so the picks are announced quickly?

 

[PatrickT]

I prefer the NFL crew, I just wish it didn't include Irvin, he's like nails on a chalkboard to me. Deion I can stomach, but Mayock trumps it all, love that guy. "Let's stop talking about it, and get started!". Love it!

I'm still undecided if I like or don't like the pre-release of draft picks, but I think I'll just like it, since there's no way in hell they'll stop doing it.

 

[Fiddles]

replace steve young with mayock and were good

totally agree about la confora. hes awful

 

[Jason Wood]

This whole breaking to the analyst (whether it be LaConfora, Schefter or Mort) seconds before we hear the pick is absurd. Plays into our society becoming all about instant microgratification. Especially when it was obvious they were guessing. Most egregious example last night? Cutting to Schefter when the Eagles traded up and Schefter saying, without any hint of uncertaintly, that the Eagles moved up to select Earl Thomas. He was completely speculating, yet ESPN acted as though he was confirming something. Worst part is that we were SECONDS from finding out the actual answer so what was the value in rampant speculation there?

 

[Joe Bryant]

This whole breaking to the analyst (whether it be LaConfora, Schefter or Mort) seconds before we hear the pick is absurd. Plays into our society becoming all about instant microgratification. Especially when it was obvious they were guessing. Most egregious example last night? Cutting to Schefter when the Eagles traded up and Schefter saying, without any hint of uncertaintly, that the Eagles moved up to select Earl Thomas. He was completely speculating, yet ESPN acted as though he was confirming something. Worst part is that we were SECONDS from finding out the actual answer so what was the value in rampant speculation there?

Agree with that Jason.The race to get the scoop 3 seconds before the competition can be absurd at times.J

 

[Yellow Line is Unoffcial]

This is laughable, you people are watching to see the picks, yet #####ing you are finding the out a little early. You are watching because you want to know the picks right? Would you watch NFLN if ESPN had every pick five minutes eariler? NO!!! All of you that are griping about finding out early would be up in arms about how slow the picks are on NFLN.

 

[BeTheMatch]

This whole breaking to the analyst (whether it be LaConfora, Schefter or Mort) seconds before we hear the pick is absurd. Plays into our society becoming all about instant microgratification. Especially when it was obvious they were guessing. Most egregious example last night? Cutting to Schefter when the Eagles traded up and Schefter saying, without any hint of uncertaintly, that the Eagles moved up to select Earl Thomas. He was completely speculating, yet ESPN acted as though he was confirming something. Worst part is that we were SECONDS from finding out the actual answer so what was the value in rampant speculation there?

They weren't guessing on NFLN. La Canfora had every single pick right, which I agree is stupid, but if you're going to do it, at least get it right.

 

[shader]

This is laughable, you people are watching to see the picks, yet #####ing you are finding the out a little early. You are watching because you want to know the picks right? Would you watch NFLN if ESPN had every pick five minutes eariler? NO!!! All of you that are griping about finding out early would be up in arms about how slow the picks are on NFLN.

That's not a bad point you make. That being said, it seems like it takes the suspense out of it. Imagine if before they announced the Best movie award at the oscar's, they took you to a panel where some reporter said "It looks like the Best movie winner will be Avatar. Let's go to the podium for the official announcement". It just takes all the fun out of the announcement and makes it pointless. It's just a bad job on the production side of things. It doesn't matter and they won't change because people will watch anyway. And heck, maybe the fact that Leconfora is such a dork is playing into this with me.

 

[B. Nugget]

Did anyone think Mort looked flustered all night? I only watched ESPN coverage here and there, but every time they showed him he stammered through his thoughts and then Schefter would seemingly steal his thunder with a cool, know it all demeanor.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Have to say I was liking ESPN's coverage more last night. Gruden and Schefter were the difference for me. I'm one of the few it seems that likes Steve Young too. J

JB,What do you like about Steve Young?Thanks

 

[smashingsilver]

Have to say I was liking ESPN's coverage more last night. Gruden and Schefter were the difference for me. I'm one of the few it seems that likes Steve Young too. J

JB,What do you like about Steve Young?Thanks

I enjoyed that Young was doing his best Paula Abdul impersonation last night. When you combine that with Gruden calling out coaches on the air (unwittingly) and Berman going purple and waving the "cut" signal at the producer, it made for some wonderful comedy.

 

[Sweet Love]

I switched to ESPN after pick 5 or so, just based on the fact that there was no draft ticker on the screen. ESPN has the thing even going during commercials and NFLN can't get one going at all. If you have a bone to pick with them, I would think that would be it.

NFL Network had the ticker going all night - on commercials too.

Really? I swear I did not see it prior to pick 5 or so, so I switched over. I can't imagine I missed it, so I wonder whether they just turned it on after the first few picks??

 

[CanadianNFLJunkie]

One of my pet peeves of the NFL Draft is the pick being spoiled by the player being on the phone seconds before. Luckily it only happens in the first round usually, so today and onwards should be fine.

I'm shocked none of these young guys have a sense of humor and start talking on their phones to their buddies and fake a tear or two and babble on and on to screw up the coverages. heck I'd be doing that for sure.

 

[Quadrax]

turn off the tv and listen to sirius nfl radio channel 124...

pat kirwin, tim ryan, adam shine and gil brandt have by far the best coverage out there...

 

[Raymell McKigney]

what about our very own Cecil Lammey and the GM Jr coverage with Russ Lande?? I think this trumped the lot of them.....the in depth analysis from a former pro scout and the non stop focus on FOOTBALL is just awesome. None of the fluff we have to put up with on NFLN/ESPN. I'm so glad I ended up listening to GM Jr and had the sound down on NFLN...perfect combo for me.

 

[D'OHtis]

Did anyone think Mort looked flustered all night? I only watched ESPN coverage here and there, but every time they showed him he stammered through his thoughts and then Schefter would seemingly steal his thunder with a cool, know it all demeanor.

I think Mort's been flustered the day Schefter walked into that door. Whether he'll admit it or not, I'm sure going from 'the guy' to 1B (to Schefter's 1A, if you will) @ ESPN had to sting a lot.To this day, I don't know why Mort's at ESPN. Contract perhaps?

 

[bweiser]

what bugs me is watching ESPN and having them show 'the pick is in' in the graphic, then cut to a freaking commercial. jesus, show me who the pick was. i don't need to hear dan marino announce it. just tell me who the hell it is.

 

[cstu]

NFLN...310-840-4635

And this just reminded me, their office is here in LA but we can't see the channel on cable (Time Warner).

 

[3C's]

A little while ago I was thinking about the showing of players on the phone with the team who picked them. I think the draft would be far more enjoyable if they let the suspense build up, and the commissioner announcing it was the first you knew for sure who had been picked.

They should do like American Idol. Commish: and with the 5th pick of the NFL Draft, the Chiefs select...right after this commercial break. Agreed though. Have the experts speculate on the pick but definitely do not trump the announcement of the pick.

 

[Reacher]

One of my pet peeves of the NFL Draft is the pick being spoiled by the player being on the phone seconds before. Luckily it only happens in the first round usually, so today and onwards should be fine.

I'm shocked none of these young guys have a sense of humor and start talking on their phones to their buddies and fake a tear or two and babble on and on to screw up the coverages. heck I'd be doing that for sure.

I can even tell them what to say."I just saved $400 on my car insurance by going to GEICO!"