Is anyone really fed up with ESPN's awful coverage?

I quit watching those D A 12 years ago because of that crap. Only time I watch ESPN is for games.

 

the worst it was so bad i called direct tv today so i can watch nfl network for the rest of the draft....... I like Mel K but he had to fight to get a word in, espn has too many guys doing the draft berman young jackson mel + gruden

 

I like Mel, he's usually interesting and entertaining. But I think that he had his tail between his legs all night because his touting of Jimmy Claussen blew up in his face.

 

They obviously weren't prepared with any info on Odrick. All the Clausen/Bradford "stroking" on knee-pads consumed all their prep-time...

 

I liked it better than NFL Network's coverage solely for Jon Gruden.

 

Also, Jamarcus Russell...

I think that single-handedly ruined his career.

 

i agree

 

flip that around and say that I like NFL network coverage solely for Mike Mayock.

 

I thought it was their worst job of coverage that I can remember.

There were too many people sitting at that table each fighting to get a word in edgewise.

I would have gotten rid of either Jackson or Young and put them on Round 2 of the draft.

 

I don't buy that ESPN the network hates the Dolphins. But I do agree with you that the coverage by them last night was some of the worst sports broadcasting events I have ever seen. Alternating between talking over each other and uncomfortable silences. Berman, who I have never liked, was gawd awful, especially when compared to the job Eisen did on NFLN.

ESPN was so bad, I actually started feeling bad for them. NFLN did a much better job. Once I get over my hatred of all things Cowpukes, Irvin was not too bad. Mayock has his usual self. Whether you agree or disagree, he does a good job. Eisen is a pro.

 

Mayock makes the NFL network coverage.
The best part is they bow down to him, and really let the expert get the analysis in. He does a great job.

Plus NFL network was reporting every pick before the commish even sniffed the podium. I wasn't sure if this was a plus or a minus, but definitely relief at crucial picks.

Eisen also did really well "moderating" the event.

 

I flipped back and forth between the 2 and really spent most of the time on NFL Network. I really like Mayock and Eisen and the rest of the group are interesting without being overbearing. The one thing that really hurt the NFL Network is the loss last year of Schefter because that pudgy replacement is as likable as a dishrag.

 

ESPN had more player highlights and the friend I watched it with wasn't familiar with alot of the players so we watched that. Every time we switched it back to NFLN it was just Michael Irvin babbling about some Cowboy stuff or Marshall Faulk calling Jason Pierre-Paul "Pierre St. Paul". I thought both programs have flaws.

NFLN got the trade details much faster than ESPN though.

 

I have to say the ESPN commentators for the most part just looked lost.

Like others said, I think its partly due to having 5 people trying to weigh in on the picks as they happen, but after the pick they've got typically 2-5 minutes to weigh in. And they were just awful at filling up the remaining time when their pre-planned speeches fell short of the next upcoming pick.

You could tell they were just scrambling all night. It was an embarrassment.

 

I flipped back and forth too between ESPN and NFL Network. Can't say that either one really provided great coverage. I did like Mayock and Gruden, so I kept bouncing back and forth. But, I think both networks lagged on the picks. I even got notice of one pick on my phone before either network had it (which BTW there's an NFL Draft app for Verizon BlackBerry users). Maybe the first primetime coverage threw everyone off their game. I sure hope its better tonight.

 

Also, I think the NFL Network coverage was slightly better, but I liked ESPN's ticker much better. That was another reason I kept flipping back and forth.

 

I've been going with NFLN the past few years.

I only had one TV this year, so recorded both, stayed with NFLN and switched to ESPN on commercials or to rewind and see what they had to say about something. Or just to see Gruden.

I have to say.....every....single...time I turned over to them, something wasn't right. Uncomfortable silences, people talking over each other, hell one time they were all in the dark about a trade that just went down. "What? What's the trade terms? [calling off camera while off topic production package is showing] Who's trading!?" It went on for waaay too long. Young: "Well, if it was for [insert player], it might be good."

Meanwhile NFL Network was discussing the deal like normal.

The whole thing just seemed a mess for ESPN. The NFL Network really kicked their *** from a production standpoint. Even though it sucks that Gruden is not there anymore, and they did indeed lack highlight packages for many players, NFL Network was just flat better IMO.

I'm a suspense guy and really enjoy not knowing until the commissioner announces the pick. So I'm not sure I like NFLN showing the guys on the phone with the team. But I think that's simply a byproduct of the the NFL's new format of having 15 plus prospects there in person, which was really cool. With all those guys sitting there in plain view, it'd be hard for the cameras to simply ignore what's going on. They've got to show it.

At least it's not like ESPN spying on the selection cards in previous years. That was just ridiculous.

As for the new draft format itself, I really enjoyed it. It was great when they started brining all those players, All Time and 2010, to the stage. They had the Make A Wish kid announce his Steelers' pick. We had the Commish calling that one lineman "Silverback".

It just had a fresh, invigorating vibe to it all. It was big like always, but they had some fun up there on stage. I don't care about red carpet stuff, but it was not bad. More than anything, it's a sign of just how big the NFL Draft has become. That it's taken the next step (imagine that). And yet it wasn't at all pretentious inside and they had fun.

And now we have yet another night to look forward to!

 

ESPN was downright horrible. I almost with I had ponied up and pay the extra 5 or 10 bucks a month for the package that includes it.

Muck nailed a lot of the problems. Once coming back Berman was waving his arm to get the others to stop talking. Guys talking over each other. Not sure if they couldn't hear the producers when they were throwing it back, or just not paying attention, but that was some of the worst TV production I've ever seen.

 

Get rid of Steve Young and all of those problems go away. There's nothing worse than having to listen to a guy whose so in love with listening to himself talk.

I loved Kiper ripping Tebow and Gruden showing his PO'd Chucky face turning away. Unfortunately there was not enough of that which is the entire point of having Kiper on there.

 

almost every player steve young likes has something in common with steve young. He loved John Beck because he was a mormon. He loved Aaron rodgers cause he had to backup a legend in favre. he loved tebow cause hes left handed.

Seriously, some of the dumbest reasons to like a player ever.

 

Steve Young is the worst...constantly interrupting people

 

That's why I watched NFL Network's coverage. Its been much better than listening to stupid Mel Kiper & notorious Dolphin Hater Berman.

 

The number one thing I noticed is that the NFL must have banished ESPN from team facilities during the draft. Not only did they not have "war room" video - they didn't even have a reporter OUTSIDE a facility.

 

Remember Steve Young is a lawyer now, so that is what he has been taught to do.

 

Didn't stop them from sending someone over to McCoy's house...

 

again, that's the lawyer in him

 

OBJECTION: Hear-say!

 

Heck, they were at all the players homes. I guess they had to go somewhere. The closest thing that had to a team facility was Ed Werder standing in front of a Broncos banner.

 

i watched espn some for gruden, but i wanted nfln the most. i cant stand mel kiper or berman but like gruden. on nfln i dont like deion or michael irvan, but nothings perfect. marshall was good on there.

 

I watched both. I prefer Mayock to Kiper, but I really liked Gruden. I absolutely hate his MNF announcing, but he has been freakingly hilarious in all the pre-draft and draft stuff.

 

Berman is always terrible no matter what he's on. I watched NFL Network most of the night only turning it to ESPN on the short commercial breaks from NFLN. If only Mayock and Gruden could do a draft show...

 

today ive noticed on the espn channels the have polls to rate for every pick but for some reason they left the fins out at #28

 

I only watched NFL's Newtork last nite and BTW, they went to comm before our pick to.

What was funny is the fact that two of my friends were over, one is a Titans fan and the other is a Packers fan and it went to comm before they picked also

 

Agree, I love Mayock but find it hard to stomach Michael Irvin. I hated when he was on ESPN several years ago. He is so loud.

 

ESPN is pretty terrible. I am getting pretty tried of Mel Kiper jr and his stupid hair cut too. Year after year saying the same dumb things. I think any one of us would be just as good, if not better up there.

 

That's a really good point. I noticed it too.

All in all, it seemed like NFLN overtook ESPN this year.

 

Yeah, like last year on NFLN.

 

Rich Eisen, Mike Mayock and John Gruden would be lights out.