NFL Network NFL Draft Round 1 Report Card

C Grades

Michael Irvin and Steve Mariucci – Irvin was a mess at times and hard to understand. His contributions are minimal, but once in a while he wakes up and delivers with a good point. Marriucci brings energy to what would otherwise be a dangerously low-key panel. He’s entertaining and offers good perspective, but he and Irvin are both completely overshadowed by Mayock.

Deion Sanders – Seriously. I hate on Deion a lot. He phones it in too often. But the reality is that it’s almost impossible to be a “good interviewer” when you’re talking to guys who are in the midst of the biggest moment of their lives. “How do you feel?” is usually a terrible question, but there aren’t a lot of other options in this spot.

He adjusted well on the fly, though, recognizing the stories that mattered and pushing at the types of things people at home would have wanted addressed. Blake Bortles was a surprise pick third overall, and Sanders’ only two questions for him had to do with how surprised he must have been.

He also did a tremendous job (relatively speaking) with Sammy Watkins, asking him about moving from Florida to Buffalo and dropping an interesting tidbit on him being the highest pick to come out of Fort Myers.

“You’ve got the number,” he said to wrap up the interview with Watkins. “Call me if you need me.”

And just like that, we were reminded that it was Deion Sanders and not a professional.

D Grades

Marshall Faulk – Sometimes I forgot he was on set. He also seemed to be in an angry mood throughout the evening for whatever reason.

F Grades

That commercial – This is what happened on NFLN’s broadcast at exactly 8:05 p.m. ET:

Commissioner Roger Goodell: “The Houston Texans are now on the clock.”

Eisen: “And there you have it. There is the war room of the Houston Texans. We are going to take a quick commercial break here on NFL Network — fit it in there — pay some bills. Promise you, you will not miss the pick. Could it possibly be Johnny Manziel? Will it be Jadeveon Clowney? Could it be Khalil Mack? We’re back with more in a moment.”

That’s right, NFL Network went to commercial break 20 seconds into the draft.

Ever notice that most network television shows deliberately delay their initial commercial break so that viewers have a chance to become immersed in the story? By refusing to do that despite competing head-to-head with ESPN, NFL Network showed extreme arrogance here. I guarantee you many fans changed the channel at that exact moment, and I promise you that at least a chunk of them never switched back.

https://twitter.com/BAp_Meech/status/464557256370315264

Cuts to Warren Sapp and Kurt Warner back in Los Angeles – Thirty seconds after Jadeveon Clowney was drafted first overall, NFLN made the strange decision to have Mayock throw back to Warren Sapp in their Los Angeles studio. It was awkward, first because Sapp has been quite critical of Clowney and you’d think they’d at least let the guy get his new Texans hat on before starting with the criticism, but also because NFL Network already has six analysts inside Radio City Music Hall.

Later, when Blake Bortles was drafted by the Jaguars, they did the same thing with Kurt Warner. In both cases, it was like they wanted to stir things up by bringing in critics who were doing their best not to awkwardly stomp on these guys in their big moments.

We have plenty of time to check in with Sapp and Warner later, and after the broadcast, and tomorrow. And throughout the summer.

N/A

Ian Rapoport and Daniel Jeremiah

For the second year in a row, NFLN under-utilized its information guys. Jeremiah has so much to draw on and so much info, while Rapoport is the most connected guy of the crew, but they didn’t go to them until 8:41 p.m. ET and rarely after that.

Overall Grade: B+