DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2013 NFL Season NFL Draft (2013) Complaints about the Draft "Show"

1. Chris Berman has got to go. He had his time but over the years it's gotten to be unwatchable TV for me when he's on... especially at the draft. Their were a couple of times that I was sure if their were no cameras Gruden would have looked at him and asked "What the blank are you talking about?" He has no flow to a broadcast anymore - just blurts out whatever pops in his head... and I'd say the vast majority of the time it makes no sense and doesn't come close to being funny. Trey Wingo or someone else needs to take over full time next year.

2. Am I the only one that can't stand the cameras backstage? I like not knowing who the pick is before the pick is made - be it Cleveland or Pittsburgh or Seattle or Whoever. I know everybody feels they have to get the scoop - well I don't need to see a dude I know nothing about talking on his cell phone. Just let the guy get picked then start the media barrage.

I don't know anything about the NFL Network since I have Time-Warner Cable, but I'm assuming their coverage does the same thing with the backstage cameras.

Anyone else feel the same way or am I alone in this? Other than the first round I watched maybe 30 minutes of the next two days - the only reason I watched as much as I did on Thursday was because I was at a bar and couldn't leave before the Browns picked. I used to love watching the draft all weekend - now between 3 days, Berman and the all intrusive cameras everywhere it's really losing me.

I found the entire thing rather annoying this year.

The lack of organization and production quality was atrocious. The constant parade of guest announcers, the fact that they felt the need to have the pool of "Green Room" players increased to what... 100?.. and then they had to all have their Prom moment where they were announced and paraded across the stage before the Draft had even begun? Pathetically annoying.


I was only able to bear watching Thursday night. I tried to watch a little on Friday, but it was just so bad that I turned it off and figured I'd find the info here.

I watched NFL Network, by the way. I've refused to watch ESPN for a few years now; and now that Gruden is on the air, I *really* refuse to watch. The dude makes me want to punch myself in the throat.

I'm glad I have the choice. Stopped watching BSPN's coverage of the draft years ago.

i never liked that they showed who was picked before it was announced... I think in years past they actually put up the name of who was picked before it was announced which i HATED... at least this year they didn't do that... but I agree... I don't need to see the guy on their cell phone crying... rather just wait and see who is announced...

I didn't watch much of the draft this year, just flipped over when it was the Browns turn... I enjoyed Gruden and McShay... the other guys I can do without

So violent.

I prefer NFLN as well over ESPN. I agree with some of what is being said. Sometimes I don't need to see someone on their phone with their head down crying before his name is announced. But I would hardly say it's unwatchable. I don't know what everyone is looking for in the draft- I pay close attention the first round, a little less in the second, then pretty much half pay attention while looking up stuff on the laptop or getting stuff done around the house.

I do think the Green Room thing is a bit over done. There were too many guys, and while it used to be for the top picks in the draft, they are bringing in guys now who didn't even get drafted. Get 10 of the best, have them walk out and pick up their jersey, and leave it at that.

I haven't watched ESPN's draft coverage for years for the sole reason that Chris Berman is involved.

NFL Network is the way to go if you can. This year wasn't as good as usual because they felt the need to add the annoying Michael Irvin to the mix. But rounds two and three were great when they had only Eisen, Mayock, Davis, and Billick together.

For me Charles Davis and Mike Mayock are the two best draft guys on TV.

Agreed. I love listening to Mayock especially.

NFLN is better in rounds 1-3, Saturday ESPN was better. NFLN spent too much time rehashing the 1st 3 rounds. You miss picks and they didn't hardly talk about the late round picks.

Trey Wingo should replace Burman for the full draft.

I wish Rounds 1 and 2 were on the same day. Perhaps start Friday at 6 and go until 1 am. People can stay up late because it is the weekend yet the NFL still gets prime time coverage. Then all day Sat rounds 3-7. This needs to be done over 2 days.

I agree that they spoil the surprise of the pick.

I watched on Thursday evening. What bothered me was the "pick was in" showed on the screen. So ESPN goes to commercial leaving you hanging there. I jumped over to the NFL Network, same thing. they went to commercial also. I checked a few more times and the same thing. we had traded down and i shut off the tv. Are these stations syncronizing their commercials?

This is a great topic, there should be more topics like this Everytime the stupid TV producers RUIN a great thing in sports!

What does BSPN stand for, I got to know, does it start with bull? I never knew what the P stands for anyway,
Entertainmen, sports, ?, Network, I can't watch it anymore so I'm spared the Berman downfall.

I wish they would give Esiason more time, he usually supports both Ohio teams and often gets a comment in that makes the other guys look stupid , He's probably on CBS, I'm not sure.

I turned the Berman carnival off...it was nauseating to watch. I just used the draft tracker on my Droid X....and switched to the NFL.com video when the Browns were on the clock.

As soon as the NFL network was available, I quit watching ESPN. It's just a horribly produced show.

I just wish they never changed it to a 3 day event. Especially going on thursday night. It doesn't have the same feel or excitement as it did in the past. Plenty of people work on friday, thus not as many parties. I know they want probably like it that way, but to me it's stupid.

I don't have NFL Network, so I can't comment on that. I just know that I had the volume at the lowest it could possibly go where I could hear who the pick was, but could easily ignore the announcers.

If you listen to those guys, you'd be convinced that every single player is the second coming of Barry Sanders in every possible way.

The NFL network version could be seen on NFL.com as well as TV.

I didn't really have a problem with the coverage, I'm pretty good at tuning out boring conversation so those guys don't bother me. Just give me the pick and highlites of him and I'm good.

I do agree with others about the camera showing the guys getting the phone call and tipping off the pick. Although the tipping of the pick isn't the part that disturbs me, it's watching a grown man cry. I understand most of them come from poor neighborhoods and it's an emotional moment but I don't need to see it.

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and now that Gruden is on the air, I *really* refuse to watch. The dude makes me want to punch myself in the throat

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I turned it on to catch what they were up to and they had just started to talk to Sean Payton about his selection and the first question out of Grudens' mouth was "Hey Shaun, where's your visor man?"

I turned it off.

Everybody's speculation on good picks bad picks completely runs the gamut and I'd much rather read what this board has to say then the so called experts. Honestly.

Getting together with the neighbor men -- a Titans fan, 2 Brownies and a Bengal, at the Cincy's house was good enough for me. We all agreed the show is hard to watch anymore. The switch to it being a primetime, first round only, event is particularly aggravating.

I watched it on NFLN all three days. I much prefer Mayock and Eisen over anyone else, although Charles Davis I find a little annoying. The one complaint I did have with them, was their use of Butch Davis on the third day of the draft. Jeeeeez...talk about someone who should NOT be commenting on NFL drafts. When he left, Bret Bielema (Univ of Wisconsin coach) came on, and he did a great job as a guest commentator.

I don't care. I watched the NFLN presentation, not the BSPN one.

I'll chime in on this, why not?

I hate the Thursday night start, totally killed the entire possibity for a draft party among my usual suspects. Some of those guys loose there attention to the draft after the 1st round big names so there was no point trying for friday or saturday.

I don't mind the crying, but i do mind the spoil. I realized this year that i do miss the moment of announcment of each choice. the "Doh" or "yes, not my guy" moments.

I'll go easier on the commentators, they have to fill alot of space for quite a long time of live tv.

I do prefer the NFL guys, but when i occassionally flipped over to espn they seemed to give more video on each pick whick I wish NFL network world do and actually expand on. Who cares if we can't stump the truck if you only get 10 seconds on the kid anyway. Unless he is top round then you get three days on him, plus all the months leading up to the draft. draft days 2 and 3 should be more about each of those picks. It's there big day too. Frankly those are the guys we as fans need more info on anyway. The networks seem to miss on the informing part and go right for the flash.

...,...go right for the flash.

What else is new in this world today,...

Welcome Aboard,...I don't believe I have never heard Mel Kiper utter a single word ever worth remembering.

I started off by watching ESPN on Thursday night, but quickly switched over to NFLN due to Mel Kiper. Guy can grate on one's nerves after awhile.

Agree with everyone who doesn't like to see the players crying on the phone beforehand. I can't stand to see grown men cry along with every single pick giving Goodell a man hug.

I mostly watched it on nfl.com at my computer, but I caught the early part of the first round at the bar (ESPN). Mayock was by far the best analyst to listen to, and the NFL network coverage was in general better but I thought Jamie Dukes was pretty intolerable when they went to that group.

#2, you're absolutely right.. the first I want to know when someone is drafted is when the commissioner (or a guest) announces it.

And forgot to add again... BERMAN MUST GO!

I bounce between NFLN and ESPN, but 80 percent of the time its NFLN.

I really really disliked Saturdays coverage. I understand not showing every pick, but when ESPN started re-hasing Cam Newton, again, I turned it off for good.

I don't mind guest announcers, as long as they are honest about their knowlege For the most part they were insightful. I liked Butch and Bret Beilman, and just hated the Notre Dame coach.

The announcers (excluding the specialists) have a depth of of knowledge of about 50 picks. And the coverage is generally pretty good through about halfway through the fourth round. Beyond that... it falls off significantly.

I got Kiper and Mayock mixed up the other night in the chat. It's Kiper I can't stand: his hair is wild and crazy, but his voice is even more annoying. Mayock is very watchable, as is Rich Eisen.
Chris "I'll Never Be Your Beast of" Berman used to be one of my faves, but no more. Gruden's act has gotten old fast, I can't stand listening to him. He portrays every draft pick as a future hall-of-famer.
Aside from Botch, NFL Network is definitely better than ESPN these days for draft coverage.

I also agree the Thursday night thing is not working. They should have rounds 1 and 2 the same night (Friday), then finish the whole thing on Day 2. Or just go back to Saturday/Sunday.

After the trade down, I got all my Browns draft info right here on DawgTalkers.

I dind't realize that NFL Network was showing the draft live on their website. I would have watched it there.

I did watch it on ESPN, because I have TWC cable service at my mother's house, so I can watch ESPN online for free. (and legally)

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I agree with this as well.....especially when it happened in the 3rd round. Come on!

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actually, to me, it's more understandilbe for the non blue chip guys that aren't surefire draft pics like the first rounders.

Well, in all fairness we were eating at Chili's when I saw this and was only partially paying attention. He might have just been drafted by Cincy and this caused the tears to flow......

I just wish the announcers would have stopped talking lock out.

Look if your watching the Draft, your obviosuly a football fan, being that we already know about the lock out, I just wanted to enjoy a little football without hearing about lawyers & court rooms

Why was ESPN at commerical almost every time the Browns were on the clock????

Mayock is the best right now.

I watched NFLnetwork....... the only thing that annoyed me was the Adrian Peterson commercial. They must have played that like a hundred times.

I like Berman, glad to know i didn't miss anything if he is declining.

I vote for going back to a two day draft. Start Friday night a bit earlier and just go later. Draft day parties are tough with a thursday night start.

Personally, I would like the ESPN graphics coupled with the NFLN broadcasters. I think that would be the perfect mix..

I also would prefer they go back to the old 2 day Draft format. Make the first day Friday if you want but cut it to 2 days.

A Draft day party is much more fun if you don't have to worry about getting up early the next day. After they look at the TV ratings I think they may drop the Thursday start. At least I hope so.