NFL Draft Has Faster Pace, But Some Upset Nets Tipped Picks

Goodell Feels Faster-Paced Draft Was More Entertaining For Fans

FAST PACE: The first round lasted just 3 hours and 33 minutes, and SI.com’s Andrew Perloff wrote Goodell “was beaming at the podium when he announced that this was the shortest first round since 1990." The only people who did not "seem happy are the TV people scurrying all over the place looking very stressed” (SI.com, 4/26). In Boston, Christopher Gasper wrote at times it “seemed like the lightning round.” Even after trading down from No. 7 to No. 10, the Patriots made their selection just an hour and 13 minutes after the draft started. Patriots coach Bill Belichick said that the team’s trade “would have been tough to pull off if New England hadn’t laid the framework for the deal the night before” (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/27). Atlanta Constitution writer Steve Wyche: "The main thing it did is it sped up the watching process. I don't think in those draft rooms it really changed too much." ESPN.com's Michael Smith: "It just made it a better watch television-wise" ("2008 NFL Draft," ESPN, 4/27). SI.com’s Ross Tucker wrote, “The increased speed of the draft has been enjoyable … limiting the agonizing time in between picks that had been such an annoyance in years past” (SI.com, 4/26). However, in West Palm Beach, Charles Elmore wrote under the header, “Faster Pace Fails To Increase Draft Drama.” Elmore: “Was a faster-paced NFL Draft more fun to watch? Well, it had a curious effect: It sucked the drama out of the first round because teams made many decisions in advance and stuck with them” (PALM BEACH POST, 4/27).

Some Writers Criticize Nets For  Taking Suspense Out Of Draft

WHILE YOU WERE GONE: ESPN missed the live selection of Boston College OT Gosder Cherilus by the Lions at No. 17 and Virginia Tech OT Duane Brown by the Texans at No. 26 due to commercial breaks (THE DAILY). USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand reports both ESPN and NFL Network "sometimes missed live coverage, as they aired ads, of [Goodell] announcing picks at the podium." NFL Network Exec Producer Eric Weinberger said, “The speed of this has been wild.” Hiestand notes the NFL “notifies both network producers of picks about a minute before they’re announced so they can cue up their highlight packages … although the on-air types aren’t notified so their responses will seem natural” (USA TODAY, 4/28).

ULTERIOR MOTIVES? Meanwhile, SI.com’s Peter King wondered, “Why is the lead item on the ESPN scroll during the first hour of the pre-draft show about Brett Favre appearing on the cover of the Madden video game? Other than pimping a sponsor, what remote news value does that have?” (SI.com, 4/27). 

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