Category Archives: NFL

NFL.com La Canfora top pick tipper in second round

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I was following ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s tweets to see if he would continue to reveal picks in the second round of the NFL draft. Thus far, the answer is no. The master tweeter has been relatively quiet on the tip front.

Then I got a tip to follow Jason La Canfora of NFL.com. Viola, ladies and gentleman, we have our top tipper for Friday. La Canfora has been way ahead of ESPN and NFL Network all night.

Since I live in Chicago, I was focused on the Bears’ pick at No. 45. Well, La Canfora reported it was receiver Alshon Jeffery a full six minutes before the pick was formally announced on NFL Network. In fact, La Canfora tabbed the Bears selection prior to the network revealing the Chiefs’ pick at No. 44.

Interestingly, people now are mad at La Canfora. “One follower said: Looks like Jason La Canfora is out to ruin the draft for everyone.”

Another said: “I wonder how many followers Jason La Canfora is going to lose tonight.”

And finally, just to show people notice, there is this tweet: “your’e kinda slacking today @AdamSchefter Jason La canfora is beating you with every pick today.. whats goin on man.”

Indeed, makes me if wonder if Schefter decided to tone down the tweet tips because of complaints from his followers.

Fun times, this Twitter.

 

 

 

 

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Rumor: NFL to shut down all worldwide social media for round 2

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How powerful is the NFL? Well, there’s a rumor floating around that the league will shut down all forms of social media throughout the world during the draft, beginning with the all-important second round tonight.

According to an unconfirmed report, there are the only exceptions: Tweets by Rob Lowe concerning Peyton Manning; and simply anything related to Tim Tebow.

Otherwise, there will be a worldwide blackout. Take that, Mark Zuckerberg!

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I’ve been told I need to come up with bold headlines to drive traffic. Besides, I wouldn’t put it past the NFL to pull it off, given all its clout and money.

The league and networks have quite a franchise to protect. A combined 25.3 million viewers tuned in Thursday to ESPN and the NFL Network’s coverage. The rating set a new record and proved once again that we have nothing else better to do.

I’m sure what happened involving Twitter sparked considerable discussion within the league and its TV partners. As I’ve written throughout the day, much of the drama disappeared with tweets from numerous outlets revealing upcoming picks well in advance of the formal announcement on the networks.

Will the trend continue for round 2? Earlier today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter told me he will keep on tweeting if he has the information despite complaints from some of his 1.56 million followers.

Let’s see how early we learn who the Rams take with the first pick of the second round prior to the 7 p.m. (Eastern) start.

Now the big question: How did you feel about Twitter and the draft? Here’s a sample from some of the responses I received:

Aaron: Schefter is a beast. I follow him on Twitter but avoided looking at my phone in order to enjoy the broadcast. Maybe next year, the NFL will adopt the movie theater policy and request all viewers to turn off all electronic devices.

Ada: It is a double-edged sword. Beating people by 2 minutes doesn’t increase his credibility. Would not tweeting it hurt?  Sounds like he believes it does.

Matt: It seems like the league would have a rule against leaking picks. Maybe Goodell wasn’t prepared to face the awesome might of the Twitterverse.

Shari: It’s not the Oscars. Unless you’re being drafted, anyone so deeply invested in draft suspense can stay off Twitter.

Eric: Did not bother me at all. We watch the draft for analysis by Kiper’s hair and trades.

More thoughts? Let me know.

 

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Twitter removes draft suspense for ESPN, NFL Network

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How far were ESPN and the NFL Network behind Twitter for the draft? Let’s put it this way: I just heard Roger “Hug-Me” Goodell announce the Bears selected Gale Sayers.

If you were on Twitter last night, you knew the upcoming team’s selection several minutes before the NFL Commissioner went up to the microphone to formally announce the pick. And is he the most affectionate commissioner in sports history? I mean, could you imagine Bowie Kuhn handing out so many hugs? Definitely not Clarence Campbell.

Twitter took all the suspense out of the draft. It felt like that cell phone commercial where the annoying users already posted the video to Facebook.

The league and the networks had hoped to preserve the suspense of the draft by not showing players on their cell phone talking to teams prior to the official announcement. Now they’ll have to figure out a way to shut down Twitter.

Various outlets on Twitter were disclosing a team’s pick. Heck, even Seattle owner Paul Allen was tipping off picks.

Among his tweets:

Dallas takes Claiborne at 6

Tampa takes S Barron #7

I’m sure the league will ask Allen to cool it. However, it will be much more difficult to stop the information flow of an upcoming pick prior to the announcement from reporters who want to get it out now.

Early on, while the TV guys were speculating on who Cleveland would take,Twitter followers already knew it was running back Trent Richardson at No. 3.

That’s when I first noticed something was amiss. Pretty soon, it felt like being at a poker table where somebody was tipping cards.

Finally it dawned on me: Is the suspense being phonied up here? For instance, Chris Berman & Co. were trying to build up the drama about whether Cleveland would take Brandon Weeden with the 22d pick.

But if you were on Twitter, you already knew the Browns took the Grandpa QB. In fact, it was out there for several minutes.

Surely, ESPN’s producers had that information. Surely, master tweeters Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter knew it was Weeden.

But over on the main stage, Berman, Gruden and Kiper were acting like anxious kids waiting to see what’s inside the box. Seriously, they didn’t know?

OK, I’ve been told the producers usually know of the pick, but don’t reveal it to the guys on stage. However, this situation is different, because now many, many more people know because of Twitter.

The whole dynamic creates a huge problem. Viewers expect authenticity. There’s nothing worse than phony drama.

The networks and NFL have embraced the new age of social media, especially Twitter. It’s been very good to all.

But not last night. Twitter beat them all to the punch. Or more specifically, to one of Goodell’s hugs.

 

 

 

 

NFL draft: Getting ready for the big night

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It is one of the most anticipated nights of the year, begging the question: What took the NFL so long to move it to prime time?

The NFL draft begins in all of its glory Thursday night. ESPN and the NFL Network will be on an endless clock.

Happy Mel Kiper Jr. day to all.

Here’s some coverage of the coverage to get you ready:

Richard Deitsch at SI.com has an interesting piece examining the behind the scenes at the draft. He writes:

At the NFL Network, Yook said six staffers are involved in finding footage and  double that who work to create graphics packages. “It starts with individual  footage of 150 players by the Senior Bowl and by the time we get to the combine,  I want that number to be as close to 300 as possible,” Yook said. “The goal this  year by the draft was to have footage on about 500 players and 1,800 total video  clips, and I think we will hit that.”

Deitsch also has a story saying broadcast cameras will no longer show first-round draftees on the phone with their teams before being selected. Good move. From the story:

“The league, the NFL Network and ESPN have recognized that it has probably  tilted too far in taking some of the suspense out of the draft,” said ESPN  senior NFL producer Seth Markman, who is overseeing his first draft for the  network. “Part of the problem in this world of instant news and social media is  that you can’t hold the news. But I think we do need to find a way to find a way to bring back some of the suspense of the commissioner making the announcement.”

Fang’s Bites has the details of NFL Network’s coverage with its lineup. He has the complete 2,155-word release. He writes:

NFL Network showing it can throw just about anyone and anybody on its Draft coverage this week, is doing exactly just that. Headlined by Rich Eisen, Mike Mayock, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Charles Davis, Michael Irvin, Michael Lombardi, Jason LaCanfora, Deion Sanders and Melissa Stark.

And Ken has all the info for ESPN’s coverage. The net was a bit more restrained with its release at 1,915 words.

Anthony Olivieri has had enough. He has overdosed on the draft talk. He writes in LostLetterman.com:

A source familiar with the situation told me that the NFL draft is one day away.

Thank God.

I can’t read another thing about the torque on Ryan Tannehill’s release, Robert Griffin III’s ceiling or what countless people think of Morris Claiborne’s elite ball skills. Yeah, the phrase is bad enough.

Did you know that Andrew Luck is really smart? He might even be the next Peyton Manning.

Sorry, that’s not the case for me, Andrew. I can’t wait for tomorrow night.

 

 

 

Different draft for Bill Polian on ESPN

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Bill Polian never was a threat to pull a Bill Tobin during his long run as a general manager. Unlike another former Colts GM, he insists he didn’t dwell on what Mel Kiper, Tobin’s nemesis, and the other draft experts were saying.

Last week, I asked Polian a few questions in advance of his first NFL draft as an analyst for ESPN.

There’s so much out there in the way of speculation and analysis about the draft. Did it ever have any effect on you as a general manager?

Polian: When I was a general manager, I paid very little attention to it. I was paying attention to getting our board right and doing things necessary for us to have a good draft. I was concentrating solely on that. So I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it, very honestly.

What will be your approach? Will you be critiquing picks?

Polian: Tony Dungy mentioned it to me in a conversation very recently, and I think it’s right on. We, meaning he and I who have had great experience in this business, can bring to viewers a great perspective. This is the way things happen in the draft room. This is the way things happen in the lockerroom. This is how you build a team, etc. I’m less concerned about opinion than I am about explaining what I know actually goes on. I look at it from a educational standpoint rather than from an opinion standpoint.

Does it feel strange not preparing for a draft?

Polian: I must admit that it does. There are things that I’m doing now that I never would have dreamed of doing during draft preparation (laughing). It’s different, but that’s good, because I’m learning new things and learning to appreciate how people deliver information here, and how it get packaged and programmed. So it’s new and interesting and exciting. But it is very different than what I’m used to.

 

Classic: ‘Who the hell is Mel Kiper?’

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The NFL draft is tomorrow, and much like the tradition of telling “The Christmas Carol” every year, we must recall the most memorable moment in ESPN’s draft history.

Bill Tobin’s rant of “Who the hell is Mel Kiper” is a classic from the 1994 draft. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the original video from the former Colts’ GM going off the one with big hair.

But I did find a couple of other interesting videos.

For starters, here’s the segment that started it all. At around the two-minute mark, Chris Berman throws it over to Kiper to get his assessment of the Colts selecting Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts.

Kiper comes out firing, saying “Give me a break.” Then he buries Tobin with his immortal line: “This is why the Colts are drafting second every year and not battling for the Super Bowl.”

However, what’s forgotten in this segment is that Joe Theismann completely supports Kiper.

“This is one time I have to agree with Mel,” Theismann said. “It doesn’t make sense to me. I can’t understand the pick.”

Theismann, though, was a former player. So Tobin didn’t aim his barbs at him. Instead, he went after Tobin.

Tobin, meanwhile, continued to rant about Kiper when he later met with reporters. SportsCenter ran a full two minutes of Tobin’s press conference (an eternity), which begins around the 40-second mark.

“What do you want to talk about first,” Tobin said. “Our players or that jerk in Baltimore?”

It went downhill from there.

 

 

 

ESPN uses unnammed sources in Saints eavesdrop story

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This just in: NFL season to be played with only 31 teams next year.

As if there wasn’t enough bad stuff flying around New Orleans, John Barr on ESPN’s Outside the Lines reported today that Saints general manager Mickey Loomis had the ability to eavesdrop on opponents from 2002-2004.

There’s a story and video on ESPN.com. From the story:

Sources familiar with Saints game-day operations told “Outside the Lines” that Loomis, who faces an eight-game suspension from the NFL for his role in the recent bounty scandal, had the ability to secretly listen for most of the 2002 season, his first as general manager of the Saints, and all of the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The sources spoke with “Outside the Lines” under the condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisals from members of the Saints organization.

The story could spark more debate about using unnamed sources. However, here’s the key point in my mind: Knowing how ESPN operates–or any elite news organization for the matter–they have to be excellent sources for ESPN to go forward with this kind of a blockbuster story. And note the plural here.

Barr’s story isn’t being attributed to one source. There are multiple sources who confirmed the allegation. That’s important.

Naturally, New Orleans has issued a vigorous denial. Barr and ESPN could find themselves under fire about the sources of their information.

Should be interesting to see where the story goes from here.

 

Atlanta turns down HBO’s Hard Knocks

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HBO and the NFL have a problem. They can’t find a team to sign on for Hard Knocks. At least not their first choices.

The latest report is that the Atlanta Falcons said no to the all-access show. Albert Breer of NFL.com reports:

The decision was made by, among others, owner Arthur Blank, general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith. They were in agreement that the focus should be on football over the summer, and they didn’t want anything to distract from that.

Can’t argue with that. Previously, the Denver Broncos declined, and the publicity hounds at New York Jets headquarters also said no to an encore performance. The Jets already will have enough of a zoo-like feel with Tim Tebow in camp.

So who’s next? Awful Announcing suggests a Harbaugh-Harbaugh show.

The idea of Harbaugh 2 Harbaugh has been floated out with the Ravens & 49ers taking on dual starring roles, so perhaps HBO goes in that direction for the show.  The Ravens were the first team to partake in Hard Knocks in 2001 so the franchise has experience.  And let’s face it, Jim Harbaugh has never met a camera he didn’t like.

Of course, if everyone says no, Awlful Announcing says, “There’s always the Jaguars.”

 

 

 

Examining your couch time with NFL in 2012

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There’s something wonderful about the release of the NFL schedule. I always picture those late November, December Sundays when it is cold outside, giving you the perfect excuse to park on the couch all day and watch football. Of course, I do the same thing on those beautiful Sundays in September.

Here’s my breakdown of how the NFL divided up the goodies among the networks.

NBC: The network gets 19 games this year, including a new Thanksgiving night telecast. And it’s a good one: New England at the Jets.

NBC should get off to a huge start with Dallas-New York Giants on Wednesday, Sept. 5 and then the Pittsburgh-Denver game on that Sunday. It’ll be all-Manning-all-the-time during the first week. Should do big ratings.

Best games for NBC: Besides the first week, its schedule is loaded: Detroit-San Francisco on Sept. 16; New England-Baltimore on Sept. 23; Green Bay-Giants on Nov. 25 and several others.

Landmine alert: NBC has the flex schedule beginning on Nov. 18, so it won’t get stuck with any late-season dogs. Prior to that week, it has Houston-Chicago on Nov. 11. Keep on an eye on that one if both teams underachieve. However, even then, Al Michaels always likes doing a game in Chicago.

ESPN: It gets a better slate than last year, when it had some atrocious games (San Diego-Jacksonville, St. Louis-Seattle) at the end. Still, I can’t say I’m thrilled about a Baltimore-Cincinnati/San Diego-Oakland doubleheader for its first Monday night of the year. It’s not exactly Pittsburgh-Denver.

Best games for ESPN: ESPN gets its first crack at Peyton Manning with Denver-Atlanta on Sept. 17. Chicago-Dallas should do a strong rating on Oct. 1; Philadelphia-New Orleans on Nov. 5 could be intriguing if the Saints hold up; and Atlanta-Detroit on Dec. 22.

Landmine alert: With no flex options, it has several clunker candidates. San Francisco-Arizona on Oct. 29; Jets-Tennessee on Dec. 17 has potential disaster written all over it; and Atlanta-Detroit could be a dud if the Lions revert to their old form.

NFL Network: It’s the first season of their new expanded 13-game package.

Best games for NFL Network: The NFL awarded itself a plum for its opener: Chicago at Green Bay on Sept. 13. You’ve got to like Giants at Carolina the following week; New Orleans-Atlanta on Nov. 29; and Denver-Oakland on Dec. 6.

Landmine alert: Unless Andrew Luck morphs into Peyton Manning really quick, I’m betting most people take a pass on Indianapolis-Jacksonville on Nov. 8.

Fox: The NFC network gets out of the gate quick with San Francisco-Green Bay as its first doubleheader game.

Best games for Fox: Giants at San Francisco in an NFC title game rematch on Oct. 14; New Orleans-Green Bay on Sept. 30; Giant-Dallas on Oct. 28.

Landmine alert: Any games with the 49ers. Are they are a one-year wonder? Fox obviously can switch off its highlighted doubleheader slots, but it would help the network if the 49ers remained strong.

CBS: With Denver’s first two games in prime time, the AFC network has to wait until week 3 to get a shot at Peyton Manning.

Best games for CBS: Denver-New England on Oct. 7 with Manning-Brady; Pittsburgh-Giants on Nov. 4; Pittsburgh-Baltimore on Dec. 2.

Landmine alert: CBS needs Manning to be healthy and playing like his old self. If not, CBS will see a lot of potential ratings points fly out the window for those Denver games.

 

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NBC wins: Manning, Broncos vs. Pittsburgh in Sunday night opener

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As predicted here this morning, NBC won the Peyton Manning sweepstakes.

It’ll be Pittsburgh at Denver on Sunday night during week 1 of the NFL season, according to several reports on Twitter. NBC should score huge ratings for Manning’s first game in a Broncos uniform. Also, it’s a rematch of last year’s playoff game, which Denver and Tim Tebow won in a dramatic overtime finish.

What ever happened to that Tebow guy, anyway?

According to Peter King, Baltimore travels to Cincinnati for ESPN’s first Monday night game of the season.

The entire schedule will be revealed on NFL Network and ESPN at 7 p.m.

Let the Peyton Manning countdown begin.