Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston’s camp on Thursday "declined to grant ESPN the first post-draft interview" because they were "upset at the network's overall coverage of the top pick prior to the draft," according to sources cited by Richard Deitsch of SI.com. Instead, Winston "spoke with the NFL Network’s Steve Wyche around the time Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota was being selected at No. 2" by the Titans. The Winston interview "aired on the NFL Network after the fifth overall selection." ESPN's Tom Rinaldi "eventually interviewed Winston but that interview never ran during the draft telecast," instead airing on SportsCenter "after the opening round of the draft concluded" on Thursday. Deitsch: "Why that decision?" Sources said that by the time ESPN "got the interview, it was six or so picks into the draft," and the net's execs "decided it made no sense to show an interview then with the top pick" (SI.com, 5/3).
ANALYZING ANALYSTS: ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer Seth Markman said of the net's Draft coverage, "Adding Louis Riddick for Day 1 worked for us. Having a front office guy for Day 1 gave us a different perspective." Deitsch added that something to "watch for in 2016" is Riddick "being a permanent part" of the TV coverage. Markman: "It’s just too early to talk about assignments, but he impressed all of us and I think it will be hard not to have him back. He will be a hard guy to move" (SI.com, 5/3). Meanwhile, THE MMQB's Andy Benoit wrote, "I think I like draft analyst Jon Gruden better than MNF analyst Jon Gruden. Draft analyst Gruden shows his critical side, which is his most entertaining and informative side" (MMQB.SI.com, 5/3).
LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS: In Chicago, Ed Sherman noted with the exception of the opening montages "featuring scene-setters that were odes" to the Draft's host city, Thursday's coverage "remained focused on the business at hand: franchise-altering selections with the first round." Both ESPN and NFL Network "had highly-produced opens that had a distinct Chicago feel" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/2).
