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Beat Reporters Won't Show Restraint In Reporting Picks Early During NFL Draft

While neither ESPN nor NFL Network reporters will tip off team picks on social media during tonight’s NFL Draft coverage, do not look for other NFL reporters across the country to show such restraint. The consensus among a group of just more than 10 national and beat reporters surveyed by THE DAILY is that they will reveal a team’s pick as soon as it can be confirmed, as they have no restrictions from their respective news outlets. The Buccaneers hold the first pick, and Greg Auman, the Tampa Bay Times' beat reporter for the team, said he "may be tweeting spoilers," but he also might "put out a tweet before the draft” to warn people who would prefer to hear the pick from the podium. Auman: “It's easy to just mute a specific account for a weekend or unfollow and follow back on Sunday.” Jeff Zrebiec, the Baltimore Sun's Ravens beat reporter, said if he "heard definitively who the Ravens were picking while they were on the clock, I'd report it." But Ravens fans might not find out their pick until it is announced, as Zrebiec noted Ravens officials are "pretty tight-lipped when it comes to leaking picks." Indianapolis Star Colts beat writer Stephen Holder: "It falls under our standard that’s applied to all matters: If you have news, report it." Philadelphia Inquirer Eagles beat reporter Jeff McLane, when asked via Twitter if he would honor an NFL request to refrain from reporting picks before they are announced, tweeted “I don't work for the NFL. My job is to report the news.”

WON'T BACK DOWN: Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman also noted his platform will not prevent him from tweeting picks. He said it is "not my responsibility to help the NFL” maintain suspense and added that many fans go to social media seeking out early selections. Freeman: "The draft is a huge Twitter event, like 'Game of Thrones,' and everyone sits around on their phones and TV and observes, comments and rips." Packers beat man Tyler Dunne said his outlet, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, will tweet information from one of its own reporters or from a national outlet without hesitation. "We're not beholden to an NFL Network or ESPN broadcast -- they're not our bosses," he said. "So if a national reporter or one of us on the beat gets the pick, we'd certainly tweet that out to our followers." Meanwhile, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer yesterday acknowledged that he will not be in a position to tip picks via Twitter. Glazer tweeted in part: “I DONT WORK FOR TWITTER!! Am hosting #foxsportsradio 1st rd tryin to give more insight than anywhere else.” SI’s Richard Deitsch earlier this week reported that CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, similarly to Glazer, will be part of a live online show and therefore unable to tweet picks before they are announced on-air.

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