NFL Network, ESPN to reduce draft tip-offs

[Quesadilla Joe]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...headline_stack

Let's fast forward to next Thursday, opening night of the NFL draft. With the Indianapolis Colts on the clock, time ticking away, the speakers crackle to life: "The pick ... is in."

Before we hear a peep from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the camera cuts to Andrew Luck, huddled over a phone, smiling from ear to ear.

In this case, nobody is surprised, but as we move through the first round, these tip-offs affect the drama of the event.

Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch first reported Wednesday that the NFL, NFL Network and ESPN are discussing ways to avoid revealing top draft picks to viewers before they're announced.

The NFL subsequently confirmed it won't show draftees on the phone in the green room before the announced pick on the first night of the draft.

"It's also in effect for NFL Network and ESPN, which may broadcast from other locations such as a player's house or an agent's office," league spokesman Brian McCarthy told NFL.com on Wednesday.

It's a start, but problems extend to the draft's later rounds as well.

"Every team, scout, GM, etc. has access to the NFL draft's pick database, which is updated once a card is turned in. Much earlier than on TV," tweeted Rotoworld's Josh Norris, who also served time as a scouting intern for the St. Louis Rams. "As soon as you read, 'The pick is in,' (teams) already know who is selected. Amazing how far behind TV gets on the 2nd and especially 3rd days."

Issues remain, but it's a start.

[PhillyChiefFan]

Good, bout time. There's something about the room going quite when Goodell walks up to the mic.

[Sofa King]

Originally Posted by Frosty

The draft coverage on both networks (though ESPN is worse) has gotten so bad over the last few years. Instead of talking about the draftees, the talking heads will just yammer on and on about some side story (like Favre a couple of years ago). I have found it much more entertaining to have it on in the background and spend my time on CP's mega draft thread.

Without a doubt.

That or they spend 75% of the show talking about the first couple draft picks, or just CONSTANTLY reviewing what has already happened.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by Frosty

The draft coverage on both networks (though ESPN is worse) has gotten so bad over the last few years. Instead of talking about the draftees, the talking heads will just yammer on and on about some side story (like Favre a couple of years ago). I have found it much more entertaining to have it on in the background and spend my time on CP's mega draft thread.

So your saying 4 hours of Manning/Tebow, Tebow/Manning?

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

sweet

now get everyone not named Kiper off the set too...I want Mel and nothing but Mel for 100 hours...

instead I get yammering self-loving idiots like Gruden and Young

Mel sucks ass because he is soooooooo overrated !!

[suds79]

So much for no tip offs. :P

ProFootballWkly: #Colts have told Andrew Luck that he'll be the No. 1 pick, per @AdamSchefter. No surprise there.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by sportsshrink

Mel sucks ass because he is soooooooo overrated !!

YOU suck ass because you are sooooooo overrated !!

[rico]

I like seeing their reactions to receiving the phone call, but would like to not know when they announce the pick. Maybe they can show a segment of their reaction after the pick is announced...

[Dayze]

Thanks god. Just let the commish read the card, the cut to the draftee in the green room .

It's driven me nuts for years. And it seems like the last three years have been especially bad. I switched to watching nfln a few years back because I'd scheffter's dumbass

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by Cassel>Manning

Also ESPN has said that they will have only one commercial break during the first round of the NFL Draft.

"The Chiefs are now on the clock. Well folks, we're going to go to commercial for the only time until the 1st round is over"

[The Bad Guy]

What is the big deal? It's like a 25 seconds before he reads it anyway.

[Direckshun]

I'm with The Bad Guy. I don't really care. I just want the pick to be a good pick.

It doesn't matter anyway. So long as there's a man named Adam Schefter, and so long as that man has a twitter account, we're going to know every pick before it happens.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Coogs

So your saying 4 hours of Manning/Tebow, Tebow/Manning?

You know it's going to happen, especially on ESPN. You could play a drinking game where you take a shot every time Berman mentions Manning but I'm afraid you would die of alcohol poisoning before Denver even picked.

[Quesadilla Joe]

It just spoils the moment. It's like when you are watching a stream online and reading a gamethread and the people with the TV broadcast spoiling what happens before you see it. I think not knowing who the commish is going to say just adds to the excitement of draft day.

[philfree]

I like the draft better when it was held over two days. Getting up on Saturday going down into the basement with a cup of joe and making a day of it was more fun to me then this three day night time crap. I'm sure they're making big bucks from the advertisers but I still prefer they old way.

[Micjones]

I'm not a fan of this decision.
Seeing initial player reactions is kinda cool to me.

And this only adds maybe 30 seconds of suspense.