Goodell during next Thursday's first round will be announcing the picks from his homeGETTY IMAGES
Many observers are predicting the NFL Draft will "draw record viewership," as sports fans are "starved for something, anything, new and consequential," according to Kevin Draper of the N.Y. TIMES. Over 11 million viewers watched the opening round last year, and those tuning in this year will see a draft "like no other," shot on "low-quality cameras in homes, full of static camera shots and more likely to encounter technical glitches." But perhaps this draft will feel "more organic." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during next Thursday's first round will "announce the picks from his home." Draper notes the league has "invited 58 prospects to be part of a 'virtual green room' and is reportedly outfitting each with a camera." ESPN reporters will be “'embedded' with teams, but instead of doing the usual stand-up shots outside team facilities, they will be standing in their spare bedrooms." NFL Network will "simulcast ESPN’s production," with Rich Eisen and other NFL Net analysts to "appear on this hybrid telecast." ABC for the second year in a row will have its own telecast, "aimed at more casual" fans (N.Y. TIMES, 4/14). THE ATHLETIC's Ross Tucker wrote the draft has the "chance to be even better than what we have grown accustomed to." Tucker: "Most of the stuff you’d imagine would be eliminated is the stuff I can’t stand and never liked anyway. My hunch is a lot of people feel the same way" (THEATHLETIC.com, 4/13).
THANKS, ROGER: In Orlando, Mike Bianchi wrote to Goodell, "Thank you, most of all, for ignoring the carpers and complainers and going ahead with your regularly scheduled NFL draft in a couple of weeks." Some in the media have "strongly questioned" the decision to "move forward with the draft." But it is "actually the one major sports event in this country where you CAN actually do it from your own home." Bianchi: "Thank you for giving us something to think about, talk about and get excited about as we sit quarantined in our homes" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/12).
