Maybe I’m showing my age. Maybe I’m just over it. Maybe it was just too much this year. I don’t know, but I just couldn’t get into the 2019 NFL Draft. Believe me, I get that I’m completely in the minority according to the numbers.
NFL Communications issued a press release Monday, with a headline, “2019 NFL Draft reaches new heights and record numbers: 47.5 million viewers and 600,000 fans in attendance making it the highest rated, most watched and most attended ever.” Numbers don’t always tell the story, considering you had a choice of NFL Network, The ESPN family (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes), ABC and all of the aforementioned web platforms. If you wanted it, you could find it. For others there was no escape from it.
I give the league a lot of credit as a marketing entity. They really controlled the overall message from the very beginning. Roger Goodell was booed loudly when he welcomed everyone to Music City. The booing continued even with Titans’ QB Marcus Mariota, Hall of Famers Tim Brown and Mean Joe Greene up there with him to deflect some of the attention away.
Everything seemed very choreographed and on point. The message seemed to be, “The NFL is pure, family entertainment. It loves kids, the military and its Hall of Fame players.” It was like a bad magician who tells you to “look at this hand, see its waving, but don’t look over here!”. Ignoring all of the issues that the league has on its plate.
It’s a pretty big plate too, but it was kept in the oven and completely ignored during the four-day commercial.
Did the NFL control the broadcasts? The NFL Network never once made reference to the Chiefs ongoing situation with Tyreek Hill. Even after audio surfaced of Hill discussing injuries to his 3-year old son. Even after Chiefs owner Clark Hunt told an audience during a draft party, he was “deeply disturbed” by the audio. It brings up a totally different argument about how to handle information detrimental to your owner, the NFL. For accuracy sake, ESPN mentioned Hill on a couple of occasions during its telecast.
Hill isn’t the only cloud hanging over the league. Colin Kaepernick, Kareem Hunt and ongoing issues concerning concussions and CTE to name a few.
Listen, I get it, you don’t want to air someone’s dirty laundry at a birthday party, but in this case, we’re all aware of the filthy stuff and it’s hard to party. I also understand that the NFL is not the only league dealing with adversity, but it comes to the surface now because of the big stage the league is on during its annual draft.
Now as far as the coverage of the actual draft:
There was one star that shined brighter than all the others. The NFL Network seemed worried about losing Mike Mayock to the Raiders as the team’s new GM.
Fret not! Daniel Jeremiah took the ball and ran with it, unblocked into the end zone. His approach was fresh with just enough “snark” to make him an enjoyable adversary to those that were also on the set with him. His information was good, his opinions were credible and researched. I enjoyed his insight and the way he presented things.
There was an awkward moment on ABC involving Lee Corso. He and the rest of the College GameDay crew of Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard were going through the 11th pick in the draft, when Corso, started packing up his stuff and stood up to leave. Davis saw Corso getting ready to depart. “Taking off on us?,” Davis asked. “Yeah, I gotta go,” Corso said. “See you guys. I’ll see you guys in the fall.”
Before the draft began, the 83-year-old continued his tradition of placing items on his head to show his favorite for the day. This usually involves the head of a mascot costume from the college team he thinks will win. Before round one, Corso put on a big head of Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Corso left four picks before the QB was selected. ESPN says that Corso was expected to only work part of the draft so it was a planned exit. Still, very strange.
After the dust settled, the broadcasts were as good as they’ve been in the past, but I felt they were still a bit tilted toward the NFL messaging program.
There is transparency in the other major sports leagues. Whether it be a GM talking about a rebuild in baseball, or the commissioner openly questioning established rules governing pace of play or the DH. Or the NBA firing owners for transgressions that make the sport look bad. That type of open dialogue is so critical to credibility in everyday league business and its broadcasts The NFL could and should learn the lessons from its colleagues.
Andy Masur is a columnist for BSM and works for WGN Radio as an anchor and play-by-play announcer. He also teaches broadcasting at the Illinois Media School. During his career he has called games for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. He can be found on Twitter @Andy_Masur1 or you can reach him by email at Andy@Andy-Masur.com.
