Putting a Bow On the Draft: What Do You Think of the New Draft Format?
by Christopher Gates on Apr 27, 2010 6:02 PM CDT
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For the first time in its history, the NFL Draft was stretched out over a three-day time period, rather than the two days we had become accustomed to in the past. From a ratings standpoint, it was a raging success, with more people having watched the draft this year than ever before. A record 8.3 million viewers watched the first ever prime-time broadcast of the draft when it happened on Thursday night. . .a figure which crushed not only everything on cable, but the majority of what the networks put out that night as well. All in all, over the three day broadcast, 45.4 million viewers watched the 2010 NFL Draft.
I personally felt that there were pros and cons to the new format that we've been given. For starters, the first round being broadcast in prime time gave it a new air of excitement and interest that seemed to be a bit lacking in past years. (Granted, a lot of that got blown up when our Beloved Purple traded out of the first round, but for most of the night it was still there.) While the draft was more or less for the hardcore fan before, putting it on in prime time seemed to put it more into the mainstream than perhaps it had been in the past.
However, I think that the negatives outweighed the positives, strictly from a personal standpoint. For starters, with the time the draft started, the first round concluded at right about midnight on the east coast. Now, that's fine if you're a fan of the Rams or the Lions or the Buccaneers or another team that picked fairly early in the evening. You got to see your team pick, and that was that. However, if you're a fan of the Jets, Vikings, Colts, or Saints, that's quite a bit of time to try to stay awake, particularly on a Thursday night. Now, the hardcore viewers are going to stay up and watch it, anyway (and, in all likelihood, spend the next day at work surfing the internet for coverage of their team's selections). I was on leave this past week, so it didn't really affect me personally, but there's a very good chance that it could in the years to come. . .because you know with the ratings it received, this new format isn't going away any time soon.
It's not that I'm against the three day format, per se. . .but if you're going to do this over three days, why not do it over Friday-Saturday-Sunday instead? Seriously, what is there on Friday night, ratings-wise, that is going to trump the NFL? It's not like you're going against American Idol or CSI: Boise or something. And it would still allow your hardcore fans to go on the weekend-long football bender that we had become accustomed to over the years and not have to worry about ticking off our bosses with unrivaled levels of non-productivity on Friday.
What did you folks think of the new draft format compared to the old one? Do you like the three day format better than the two day weekend drafts that we've gotten in the past? Is Thursday-Friday-Saturday something you're alright with? Go ahead and feel free to discuss it below.
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Liked it
I live in CA so it wasn’t tough to stay up for the draft. I thought adding that extra day would make for overnight trades. The Vikes probably thought that too haha. I think this year’s draft was also a little more exciting than previous years with all the trades, the Tebow selection, and Clausen’s slide
I thought it sucked
Gone are my weekend long lounge sessions with buffalo wings, beers, and blu… percy harvin’s favorites. I had to request work off Thursday night to watch the draft and didn’t even get to see my beloved Vikes select a player. Talk about blue balls…
I want to go back to the old format, but much like a fair college football playoff, that seems to be a pipe dream at this point.
by why am i in omaha on Apr 27, 2010 6:30 PM CDT reply actions
agreed
Wasn’t a fan, mostly because I really enjoyed spending an entire lazy weekend watching the draft from start to finish. This spread out thing is great for making money but it makes it harder to get into it (waiting 24 hours for the 2nd round was not cool).
But like omaha said, there is no way they will go back to the old format when they are making so much more money this way.
Totally Agree
This was not created for the fans. And sadly it will not change back now that they’ve found a new cash-cow.
The worst part of it all (since I don’t get NFL Network (which I heard had better coverage & commentators)) was being stuck with the blowhard twins, Berman and Kiper! 10 minutes of blah, blah then 10 minutes of commercials than 2 minutes of the pick and highlights then it started all over again.
Added to that is what others have said about losing a day of football, snacks & brews.
I will NOT be watching this next year or any year after that in this format. Thanks NFL! Once again money money money wins over giving folks what they want.
Fri-Sun
I agree that that makes more sense than Thu-Sat. Even though they made some $ on Thu. night, I can only imagine that Fri-Sat made less $ than Sat-Sun would.
Better option is Friday to Sunday
I liked the old format better because there was less waiting involved but agree that the new format is here to stay cause of the $. Thursday is just an awkward night if you feel like drinking and/or staying up late.
by CanadianViking on Apr 27, 2010 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions
i liked the old format
i think the fri sat thing worked perfectly. And i was really cheesed when i waited such a long time to see the vikes pick and instead they traded out, that is why the old format is better. There is almost a 100% chance that you will be selecting in either the first or second round (poor chicago)
I think...
… they should move the 7th round to Sunday. Increase the drama of all those still waiting to be picked.
Go Nevada Wolf Pack!
I loved it
Thursday for the start? Sounds good to me. Saves me a day of waiting. And it perfectly coincided with me getting off work. Soon as I got home and had the computer situated, we were picking. I think it made it more interesting too, since there was a bit more intrigue, with fans wondering what their teams would do in the 2nd round, especially if their team traded back into it.
Options for the draft
I thought it was more exciting when the teams moved briskly. They should make it a 10 minute limit instead of 15. If the advertisers want extra days for picks, give us less wait time in between. Also consider an extra round if they are going to stretch it an extra day.
Fri-Sat
I liked holding it at night, but they really need to start it on Friday. I live in SoCal and took off early from work on Thursday to watch the first round. I was pissed when the Vikes traded back since I couldn’t take off work on Friday too to watch the Vikes pick. Plus it started earlier on Friday than it did on Thursday which makes zero sense to me.
I do have to say that the coverage on ESPN was a technical nightmare. Multiple times they came back from commercial to the hosts talking among themselves, many times the hosts didn’t seem to know when to talk and when not to. It was like ESPN was doing it for the first time. Berman has got to go, he brings nothing to the broadcast.
TOOOO LONG
Make it more exciting. Cram the whole thing into one Sunday extravaganza. Start at 9am and end at 9pm. Make them work fast as a game is played. Cool to see mistakes and boons…Best prepared best draft just like a real football game.
Didn't like it...
got in the way of hockey playoffs ;) Really, it kills the whole draft party/gettogether. Saturdays were easier for such things.
I don't care when the draft is either way,
but if they decide to show the actual games on weekday nights instead of Sunday in the name of better ratings, then that’s when I’ll start getting salty.
Just imagine the commercial revenues that were made $$$$$$$$$$$
I HATE “FREAKIN” COMMERCIALS!!!!!!!!!!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$
MGR4FUN
Why the hell can’t Roger Goodell just leave it as it was? it was perfect this guy hasn’t done 1 thing I like so far
"If at first you don't succeed - Skydiving isn't for you"
Didn't mind it to much
Sort of annoying but it does give teams a bit more leeway on trading and I enjoy a good trade as the next fan does.
What I’m worried about is who the heck this Christopher Gates is. Sounds like a Packer fan to me… Maybe he should channel his inner Gonzo…
It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...
This was my first draft I've seen on TV
In the past, I have just read about it…
I think it would be better if they started it on a Friday and finished up on a Sunday.
Why not, right? Finish off a draft on a Sunday like most games start at noon on Sunday?? Maybe have the draft start at noon (Central Time), just like some regular games.
Maybe have the Saturday start same time as Sunday & take the Friday’s and start them about 7pm (Central Time).
Friday is round 1 only, and what most people prefer to watch and care about the most. The rest would be more-so for the rest of the hardcore draft watchers.
Thursday
The biggest ratings night on TV is usually Thursday. That’s why they had round 1 on that day.
by medicineball on Apr 28, 2010 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
It took sooo longggg
Next year, I may just read about it on the paper the next day…
Or check in online later in the evening….
10 minutes.. Seems like an hour would go by and we’d be on pick # 5.
Me too
I have a feeling we will be in the mix to draft a franchise quarterback in the first round next year, so I can’t promise I’ll be away from the television for next year’s draft, but I am going to pull away a lot faster next year. This year’s draft was like a marathon except with more dullness.
by medicineball on Apr 28, 2010 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions
It sucks nothing to debate
Way to much waiting time, and didn’t have the spark as past drafts that made me appreciate the NFL draft. I thought this year was garbage.
Favre + 3 = ❼ = Vikings= 2009-2010 NFL Champions= New Stadium=Greatest Fans and Team!
by UnBannedVikingholic on Apr 28, 2010 8:59 AM CDT reply actions
Round 1: Friday Night
Rounds 2-4: Saturday Morning
Rounds 5-7: Sunday Morning
"We have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights for lordship. Here, in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down from Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Odin gave them, which their Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of Europe, ay, and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that the werewolves themselves had come."
-from Bram Stoker's Dracula
That I could handle... With a reasonable start time for Friday
leaving open for all hardcore fanatics to sit back and enjoy watching it on a Sat/Sun
Move it all back a day and I'm OK with it
I hated the fact that the first round was on a “work night” because I’m so busy during the week and I missed a good chunk of the first round. I know the NFL made a ton of money from the switch so they won’t go back to the old format any time soon. But how about moving it all back a day so the first round is Friday night? I’d be on board with that.
(Yes, basically the same thing that NMVike said, except the rounds would remain the same.)
by Eric J. Thompson on Apr 28, 2010 11:40 AM CDT reply actions
Didn't Like it.
The first night is such a build-up. Excitement and anticipation are everywhere for the folks that follow the draft. But to try and recreate it for the second night just didn’t do it for me. Maybe because of the disappointment that the Vikes didn’t pick on night one. I don’t know. But If it were Friday and Saturday I would have liked it better.
"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?"
Joe Kapp
Forward Thinking
Regardless of if it works, I love the thinking of the Vikings front office. I really think a big reason they made that trade was so they could be atop the draft board on Friday and Satuday. They figured they would have all the time in the world to do their research and make sure they got the guys they wanted. To thier credit, the vikes front office always seems to be ahead of the curve in regards to cap management, contract structuring, free agent policy and now drat format changes. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back mr front office guys.
No kidding, right?
I was thinking to myself….
Okay, they traded down to an early 2nd round pick. Teams will potentially scramble and maybe package PICKs together to grab that spot.
But as others have stated, the lower the pick, the lower the value.
We would maybe not have gained much unless it was something along the lines / similar to this.
2nd pick of 2nd round for 20th pick of round #2/#3/& #4.
Two Thumbs Up, on the new draft format!
Brett Favre is the Greatest QB in NFL History!
Brett Favre will be back in 2010, 100% Guaranteed!
New Draft Format
I much prefer the weekend draft. This year, I had one buddy that was able to make it over to watch. In years past, I have had 8 or more people over. We would grille some brats, eat some snacks, and try to guess who was going to be drafted next. It was a great time! This year, just when the draft starts to get going…….we’ll see you tomorrow night for rounds 2 and 3. It sucked!
Hate it, Hate it and did I mention that I hate it?
The draft used to be such a large event for me, but the way they spread it out really takes away alot of the luster. I used to take that Saturday off from work nearly 5 months in advance just to watch it. Me and my friends would all get together, grill and have some drinks….it would a great day filled with hope for our pick and our upcoming season. This year was lame, not easy to get everyone together on a Thursday night. I wish they would switch it back, also just round 1 on the first day really sucks!
Pluses and minuses
Pluses:
Well, it was kinda fun going to work Friday and discussing hte first round picks and where teams would go from there.
I really liked the “First round on one day” deal. It added some extra drama to the second round and almost made it feel like another first round. Also added potential trade excitement…
Minuses:
Ok, having a little fun on Friday at work did not offset the fact that the draft was on a freakin’ Thursday, thus removing any chance of an actual Draft Weekend.
As has been stated before, it’s hard to get together with folks on a work night.
Overall, I like the concept… but I fully agree with NMMike…
“Round 1: Friday Night
Rounds 2-4: Saturday Morning
Rounds 5-7: Sunday Morning”
Gimme my Draft WEEKEND back!!!
by Loki Loves Purple on Apr 28, 2010 10:53 PM CDT reply actions
Didn't like it
Felt that I wasted my time watching the draft on Thursday.
Should of had rounds 1 and 2 together then perhaps 3 and 4 and then 5 through 7, if they want to keep the 3 day format.
Should have started the draft on Friday rather than Thursday also, they probably did this for ratings though as I am sure there are more people within the nation watchign TV on a thursday night than a friday but who knows…
It was interesting to say the least. One thing that they definitely have to change, well ESPN at least, is they need to get Steve Young to shut the fuck up at times. Ok dude we get your a good QB and have an opinion but he seems just so load and vocal and tries to just speak louder/over other people. Jaws, Gruden and McShay where the only ones really worth listening to imo. Boomer needs to learn some more cliches because he lives off his old ones from about 100 years ago.
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