5 Reasons to watch the Draft – including ESPN’s bickering
Gregg Rosenthal of NBCSports.com has five reasons to watch this weekend’s NFL draft. And the feud between ESPN analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay is at the top of his list.
2. Friction on the ESPN Set
A few years ago, I made an important decision that all football fans will face eventually. I choose to watch NFL Network’s draft coverage over ESPN. It’s the way to go if you want more information and less noise — more cattle and less hat. That doesn’t mean ESPN can’t provide high comedy during commercial breaks.
Watching Mel Kiper Jr. and insurgent Todd McShay battle over the last few months was like watching the icy transition from Joe Montana to Steve Young. Usually when ESPN stages debates, all the yelling is contrived. But these guys genuinely don’t like each other. After all, McShay is essentially usurping Kiper’s job and diminishing his face/hair time. After Kiper’s last contract squabble with the Worldwide Leader, McShay’s star began to rise. Now I get the sense that Kiper will snipe at McShay’s favorite players just to annoy him, and vice versa.
And if Kiper and McShay aren’t battling, you can always watch the New York fans heckle Chris Berman.
I’m not a huge Kiper fan, but I think he’s been better this year than McShay, regardless of the bickering. I think Kiper’s projections thus far have made more sense and while nobody knows if he’ll have more correct picks in the end, the wily vet seems to be outperforming the youngster.
But Rosenthal is right on one thing – NFL Network’s coverage gives you less of a headache.






These guys have the easiest jobs in the world. They praise and criticize picks that won’t be truly judged until three or four years down the line, and by that time everyone forgets what they predicted for the player. It would be an interesting study to keep track of the five first- and second-round guys that Kiper is high on and five that he’s down on. Then, as time goes on, see just how good he is at predicting NFL success. The same goes for McShay.
I agree – just like everyone grades the draft prospects after three years, I want someone to grade Kiper, McShay and Mayock!
I am with A.S. ………… Don’t we all have opinions ? And how much do they get paid ? Mel got some good hair right there – I don’t care what anybody says.