Media on Draft Day

Most of my family and friends think I am a strange person. Not only do I watch the whole NFL Draft, but I actually switch between the two TV stations that broadcast the event. Both ESPN and the NFL Network covered the festivities live, and each treated the affair like a world news event.
ESPN had Mel Kiper, John Gruden, Tom Jackson, Michael Irvin, and Chris Berman. The NFL Network had Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Steve Young, and Mike Meyock. Below are my observations from the first night of the draft.

Although both shows looked identical, (as far as scenery and number of members at the desk), the NFL Network came out a bit better and more comfortable to watch.
NFL's Mike Meyock impressed me the most. He was articulate, and concise. He really knew his stuff, and did much better than ESPN's Mel Kiper. Both know college players inside and out, but Kiper kept getting overshadowed by John Gruden, who talked and talked with such authority that you thought he was the "God of Football." Gruden was really annoying and if you ever watched Monday Night Football, he was a carbon copy of himself. He bragged about the talent of each player like it was the only pick of the draft. Each and everyone (32 times). At times he disagreed with Kiper, and shook his head, as if he was the only one who knew the game of football.

Tom Jackson threw in his remarks every so often, and Michael Irvin, who I can't understand half of the time said some things that left the panel quiet for a few seconds (seemed like a few minutes). Chris Berman seemed lost. At times there were big gaffs in the show with timing and wrong cameras, and you could see he was upset. At times he was a deer in headlights. Once the camera panned on him at the wrong time and he abruptly made hand gestures as if cutting his throat and shooing the camera away.

Berman's counterpart, NFL's Rich Eisen acted calm and collected. He didn't add much, but kept the flow going with his experts on the panel. Steve Mariucci was okay, but I never seem to learn much from him. He tries not to offend anyone and his information came out bland. I was really impressed with Marshall Faulk. You could tell that he had studied and came out with a lot of true gems about the college players. As far as Steve Young, he was okay too, but if he would have gone to the restroom during the show, nobody would have missed him.

Mel Kiper was the only one who came out against Tim Tebow. He is sure that Tebow will not make it in the NFL, and that the Bronco's made a big mistake. He did not hold anything back on this subject, and you knew exactly how he felt. Good for him that he spoke his mind and did not go with everyone else who didn't want to hurt Tebow's feelings or be controversial.
All in all, Mike Meyock was the best on the first night. I could have listened to him all night, and I learned just enough from him not to be overwhelmed. John Gruden was the worst, with his loud, supremacy attitude. He really got on my nerves and I now blame him for my headache after the whole thing was done.
If you have a choice on which program to watch on night two, I suggest the NFL Network.
Bob