It pays to be kind to ESPN’s high-profile talent. DiPietro and Rothenberg sent well-known pumpkin pie fan Mel Kiper Jr. some whipped cream recently and on Monday, he promised to reward the good deed. Kiper promised to work the name of the show into his analysis of the NFL Draft on ESPN Thursday night.
Dave Rothenberg says he knew it would be a possibility. In the past, Kiper had said he would do it during the 25th pick with the Giants on the clock. He wanted to know if Kiper had a contingency plan if the Giants trade out of the first round.
“Not sure,” the NFL Draft expert admitted. “I still have to think about that possibility. That’s a TBD, but I will have to get it in there somehow some way.”
Even if the Giants are on the clock, Kiper said there are some moving pieces to contend with. He won’t be the only one breaking down picks and prospects. He has to make sure that his colleagues Booger McFarland and Louis Riddick are willing to work with him to get the name of the 98.7 ESPN New York morning show on the air.
“As long as Booger and Louis don’t talk about the Giants for the entire time, that will be the case. I’ll let Booger and Louis know to give me at least a minute.”
Kiper also shed some insight into his own media schedule around the draft. He explained that he always turns down radio and other media requests on Friday morning after the first round. Kiper says that is usually the only time he gets a chance during the draft to talk to sources inside of team war rooms.
