ESPN's Trey Wingo for the first time this year is hosting all seven rounds of the net’s NFL Draft coverage, part of the added responsibilities the veteran broadcaster is taking on following a reshuffling of NFL roles in Bristol. "I don’t see it as (more) responsibility," Wingo said. "I see it more of like the excitement of figuring out how we're going to navigate those crazy first few hours." Wingo replaces Chris Berman as Draft host this year. Berman, who had been in the Draft host's chair since '87, is transitioning into a new role at ESPN. "It was important to Chris that his replacements on all three of the things he was doing for us were all ESPN people," ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer Seth Markman said. "He’s such a longtime supporter of this company, and really one of the founding fathers." Markman added, "I feel lucky that Trey is so ready to be that voice now. He deserves this opportunity." Wingo noted his contract did not change as part of his expanded role. Wingo: "I’m under contract for a couple of years. I’m completely happy with the way things are going here, and if things change, I’m certainly going to be open to that to. But things are great for me right now here."
KNOWN MEMORIA: ESPN does not have any planned tributes for Berman during its Draft coverage, nor will he make a guest appearance. Markman said, “What we did at the end of the season really spoke for itself as how we felt about him.” He did add that ESPN will likely mention Berman and his career at some point during the net's three days of coverage. The respect and admiration Wingo has for Berman was evident as he talked about his colleague. “When we first talked to the NFL in the late '70s, early '80s about doing the Draft, their response was, ‘Why would anyone want to watch that?’ One of the reasons people wanted to watch it was because of Chris Berman,” Wingo said. “He made it more than a list of names being called to the podium. He made it interesting. He made it funny. He kept you entertained. My goal is to make sure that doesn’t change. Whatever we do going forward is based on the foundation that Boom laid many, many years doing this.”
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: After two years in Chicago, the NFL Draft stops in the City Of Brotherly Love this year. Markman said, “You will see the fabric of Philadelphia throughout the three days. We’re shooting a ton of scenic material from the city. It’s two-fold: to cover the actual draft but also to give people a sense of where we are and where our location is and why Philadelphia is such a great, vibrant host city for this event.” Added Wingo, “You do get a real sense of a vibe with the crowd being that big and that into it.” The NFL has earned high marks for taking the Draft to different cities, and the league could continue to do so as soon as next year. The league is expected to announce next year’s site in the near future. Among the potential hosts mentioned by Wingo and Markman as good fits are Green Bay, L.A., Dallas, Baltimore, Denver, Seattle, DC and Boston. “It’s become an event,” Wingo said.
UP FOR WHATEVER: Preparing for the Draft does have its difficulties, as unforeseen events pop up, such as the Laremy Tunsil saga from a year ago. “The draft, to me, is the only true reality television show there is,” Wingo said. “Because none of us knows what’s going to happen. You could have made a lot of money betting last year that we were going to have to use the words ‘gas mask’ and ‘bong’ in the first round with what happened with Laremy Tunsil. No one would have said, ‘Oh yeah, that’s going to happen.’ No one knows what’s going to happen.” Markman added, “We always have to be on our toes. ... You can only prepare for so much. We like to think we’re prepared and ready to go, but there’s always going to be that live TV element to this.”
