ABC's Robin Roberts this morning announced she will "host Round One" of ABC's coverage of the NFL Draft on April 25th. Roberts said she "can't wait to talk to the players about their big night (and) breakdown the key picks with ESPN's stellar 'College GameDay' team." Roberts added she is "looking forward to rejoining my old teammates." ABC's Michael Strahan asked Roberts if she will have a "jersey with your name on the back" similar to what first-round picks receive on-stage ("GMA," ABC, 3/18).
READY FOR PRIME TIME? ESPN.com's Mike Reiss noted the "immediate reaction" after Odell Beckham Jr. was traded to the Browns was that a Browns-Patriots "SNF" season opener "would have more appeal" than other options. However, it is possible that game "would have too much appeal to be the pick." The thought is that the season opener is "going to draw a huge audience regardless of the opponent so the networks might prefer to save it for later in the year." Reiss predicted Jets-Patriots could pick up "more momentum for that spot" with the Jets' addition of RB Le'Veon Bell (ESPN.com, 3/17).
MUSICAL CHAIRS: In N.Y., Andrew Marchand cited sources as saying that ESPN will move Tedy Bruschi to “Sunday NFL Countdown” to fill the vacancy created when Charles Woodson was "let go after a three-year run on the program." ESPN execs are "still gameplanning as they reimagine the program’s format," and there could be "additional changes to the main team" (NYPOST.com, 3/15).
