Kiper's Last ESPN draft?

[Grams]

POSTED 11:28 p.m. EDT, April 27, 2007

MEL GETTING PUT OUT TO PASTURE?

There's talk in league circles that the 2007 draft could be the swan song on ESPN for Mel Kiper, Jr.

If true, it's ironic. Kiper helped make the draft into the event that it is. Now that the draft is bigger than Kiper ever could be, ESPN has plenty of other human assets who can do the job.

They've been gradually working Todd McShay of Scouts, Inc. into the mix, and we've sensed some non-contrived tension between the old guard and the young turk when Bristol puts the pair in a split screen.

A couple of years ago, Kiper and ESPN almost parted ways after Kiper's contract expired. We suspect that whatever occurred behind the scenes got both sides to the mindset that this contract would be the last one in a long relationship.

per profootballtalk.com

Draft won't be quite the same without him, but I am not sure I will miss him

[awtysst]

Originally Posted by Grams

POSTED 11:28 p.m. EDT, April 27, 2007

MEL GETTING PUT OUT TO PASTURE?

There's talk in league circles that the 2007 draft could be the swan song on ESPN for Mel Kiper, Jr.

If true, it's ironic. Kiper helped make the draft into the event that it is. Now that the draft is bigger than Kiper ever could be, ESPN has plenty of other human assets who can do the job.

They've been gradually working Todd McShay of Scouts, Inc. into the mix, and we've sensed some non-contrived tension between the old guard and the young turk when Bristol puts the pair in a split screen.

A couple of years ago, Kiper and ESPN almost parted ways after Kiper's contract expired. We suspect that whatever occurred behind the scenes got both sides to the mindset that this contract would be the last one in a long relationship.

per profootballtalk.com

Draft won't be quite the same without him, but I am not sure I will miss him

i don't know. It will be tough to have a draft without Kiper. I mean he IS the NFL draft in many ways. I think McShay is there as a New school to the Old school of Kiper and that it works pretty well. I think ESPN should keep em both.

[TexanSam]

Kiper would just end up working for NFL Network anyway.

[Specnatz]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

Kiper would just end up working for NFL Network anyway.

I am sure he would get paid big time to switch. would not be a good move because when you mention draft it is who you think of.

[gwallaia]

Were my ears messed up or did Kiper twice say that Travis Johnson was our 1st round pick in 1995?

[ledzeppelin229]

Originally Posted by gwallaia

Were my ears messed up or did Kiper twice say that Travis Johnson was our 1st round pick in 1995?

I heard it too...at least one of the times. I don't really see how someone confuses 1995 and 2005.

[texasguy346]

Originally Posted by gwallaia

Were my ears messed up or did Kiper twice say that Travis Johnson was our 1st round pick in 1995?

I recall hearing the commish calling it the 2000 NFL Draft once during the first round.

[Ole Miss Texan]

some guy also said that we went defensive tackle 2 years in a row now. last i checked mario was DE. babin was a de, and travis johnson is the towel boy.

[Buffi2]

Originally Posted by ledzeppelin229

I heard it too...at least one of the times. I don't really see how someone confuses 1995 and 2005.

It is a getting old thing. I've been known to confuse 2007 with 1967. Ya gotta be patient with us old folks. Sometimes we are a bit muddled.

[Specnatz]

Originally Posted by Ole Miss Texan

some guy also said that we went defensive tackle 2 years in a row now. last i checked mario was DE. babin was a de, and travis johnson is the towel boy.

I thought I was just losing my mind when I thought I heard this.

[SheTexan]

Originally Posted by gwallaia

Were my ears messed up or did Kiper twice say that Travis Johnson was our 1st round pick in 1995?

Nope, I heard that too. BUT, it was pretty obvious none of those guys wanted to talk about the TEXANS anyway. Doubtful they did much homework.

I won't miss him. He is incrediably boring!! JMO!!

[Trap_Star]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

Kiper would just end up working for NFL Network anyway.

Originally Posted by Specnatz

I am sure he would get paid big time to switch. would not be a good move because when you mention draft it is who you think of.

not gonna happen....2 words: MIKE MAYOCK...

[kastofsna]

i got 5 words: MEL KIPER AND MIKE MAYOCK. on the same set. watch the egos clash. it's going to be good.

NFL can't let Kiper go, though. he IS the draft.

[TexansSeminole]

If I had as much air time as Mel Kiper I would be right about way more prospects than him and I don't even consider myself very good at it.

[TexanSam]

Someone should bet Mel Kiper to change his hair...

[beerlover]

Kipers been doing it too long, if he was really good some team would be impressed & put him on the payroll. Maycok for instance has impressed some teams & may in fact be hired in that capacity. When nobody cared & the internet/draft sites where few & far between Kiper built his niche, put in hours & hours of research to learn every prospect & teams intentions before each NFL draft, so he will always be considered the God Father of the NFL Draft, but I also sense he is suffering from burnout, fresh veiwpoints & relunctance from the new heads of states around the NFL to share information

[Trap_Star]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

Someone should bet Mel Kiper to change his hair...

thats like asking Geraldo to get rid of that thing he calls a mustache...

[badboy]

Originally Posted by ledzeppelin229

I heard it too...at least one of the times. I don't really see how someone confuses 1995 and 2005.

Well, was he? lol

[threetoedpete]

Originally Posted by beerlover

Kipers been doing it too long, if he was really good some team would be impressed & put him on the payroll. Maycok for instance has impressed some teams & may in fact be hired in that capacity. When nobody cared & the internet/draft sites where few & far between Kiper built his niche, put in hours & hours of research to learn every prospect & teams intentions before each NFL draft, so he will always be considered the God Father of the NFL Draft, but I also sense he is suffering from burnout, fresh veiwpoints & relunctance from the new heads of states around the NFL to share information

Well I don't pay for ESPNs coverage. so I've been out of their loop for some time now on Kiper. Will say I thought the NFLnetwork's coverage was very good. No one has ever handled the green room with more class and dignity than Deion Sanders did this year. I know they give the emmey to Criss Collingsworth every year, but Sanders has my vote this year. He has worked himself in to one of the better NFL features men in the bussiness.

I disagree with your assement Kast. Mayock is a films guy. Kiper is a scouts/GM mouth peice. They would not be able to coexsist on the same set. And Mayock has a temper. Unless you're saying you would like to see Kiper embarressed on an annual basist, I do not think it would make for very good TV. I think it would be a very volital mix. I thought the play from Palmer and Mayock was just enough. Davis and the big guy were just enough to offer a nice twist with their features. Risen was lost. But i figgured he would be. If it's not on the prompter, he's not going to get it. I wonder what his wonderlick score would be ? I hope that they don't monkey with what they had this year. I refuse to give the baseball network any of my nfl money . NFLnetwork did a very good job.