ESPN blew the 2006 draft coverage in a major way...

[theeaterofshades]

Here is what I submitted:

I am thouroughly disgusted with this year's draft coverage! The problems were the following:

1) Trades: after the first few trades, it was like you stopped trying to even cover what happened beyond "oh, a trade."
2) Mel Kipper/Mort: Not enough of the analysis of the picks as they happened or who should go for the next pick. This was a staple of past coverage, why wasn't it again?
3)Michael Irvin, Tom Jackson, & Suzy Kolber: Please don't ever allow them near the draft again. They added nothing of importance. In fact Jackson and Irvin actually distracted from the few times when Mel/Mort actually were trying to do their roles. Also, not everyone on the network has to show up on tv, keep it to a limited group.
4) The bright spots were William Henderson calling out all of ESPN. Now that was entertaining and well needed after the horrible mess we were subjected to this weekend. Joe Gibbs' opening comments also were fantastic! He stuck it to Sean.
5) Lack of remotes at draft HQs. Where were they beyond NYJ and MIA?
6) Too much Fluff. Cut the fluff we want a crunchy draft. Facts, figures, real insights...

[MJZiggy]

Send 'em your thoughts!!

[gureski]

Alright...I must've missed what Henderson did. I saw several of their spots with Henderson, Green, Holt and I think Salsberry but I didn't see the spot where everyone is saying he ripped ESPN. Someone tell me what happened? Like I said, the coverage was so bad that by day 2 I shut the damn thing off and only turned it on when it was the Packers picks.

[gureski]

bump...what did Henderson say that lit up ESPN?

[swede]

As I saw it. commentators, including Jaworski and some old dude, were ripping on Favre for being uncoachable and letting the team down in the offseason by not attending min-camps--thus leading to all the picks. Jaworski said he'd studied every pick and that Favre kept repeating the same mistakes, leading him (Jaws) to the conclusion that Favre was ignoring the coaching staff.

Hendo started disagreeing rather quietly, but then seemed to get a little pissed off. He realized that it was up to him to have Favre and the team's back so he kind of told them, in a civil way, that they were full of shit. He seemed to fill the TV screen with his presence, daring any one to come at Favre that way again.

[Partial]

I really don't think he pwned them too bad. He just said Kiper said he was the biggest reach in the draft and that he turned out alright, so the viewers should take what he says for what its worth. He said Favre had a rough year, and the team looks forward to getting to camp and getting started. He said the vets would welcome the rooks with open arms. A very well-spoken statement and a true class-act.

[Homer Jay]

bump...what did Henderson say that lit up ESPN?

If you want to read the comments from this board as it was happening go to page 3 of the topics, find the topic, "running thread of 2006 live draft thread", find page 101. About 2/3s of the way down that page begins a good description of whoopin William gave ESPN. I've looked everywhere I can think of and can't find a link. I'd love to see it again.