Subzero717":iwd4rs4o said:
TeamoftheCentury":iwd4rs4o said:
The deal with the draft is that there are other factors that are a draw. The victory of the human spirit, watching kids achieve something very few actually do. Not being just about ourselves, but delighting in the success of others. .
I agree with this line of thinking 100%. If it were that simple. Where I don't like the draft part is when a windbag that's never played a down or worked in a front office shreds the kid on national television as a "reach" and points out that he is too short, not athletic enough, didn't score high enough on his wonderlic, Brings up personal things about his past. Whether it be a blog or Mel Kiper doing it to 3 of our very first picks of our franchises best draft. Heck even Bill Polian was ridiculing Bobby Wagner when we selected him.
The other as pointed out by NYCoug is the endless nauseating coverage from the outlets and blogs. How many Bleacher Report mocks are there? What is the meaning of any of them? Between the end of college football to draft day without a snap played they will have dozens and dozens. I'm sure everyone here has read the Sherman interview on this very topic and he articulates better than I ever could.
I would respond with advice, your choice to take it or not. Here it is: Don't let them spoil your enjoyment, if you like the draft. If they bother you, don't let it. Not sure what else to say. Everyone knows the reason there are so many mock drafts and all. Everyone is trying to be noticed, etc. Whatever. That's the media age we live in.
Some of that drives the popularity of the draft. Because everyone has their "opinion" (ie: Evan Boehm sucks, Boehm is the toughest Center in the draft, Boehm is a 2nd round talent - "Nah, nah, nah... he's a late round/ UDFA.") Some people enjoy it because they care more about being "right." I actually enjoy it because I actually understand the apparent needs of several clubs (esp the Hawks) and like to see how they go about addressing it. To me, it engages the mind (which is sort of hilarious to see how those who don't "get it" ridicule the entertainment value.)
The back and forth with the mediots is part entertainment (if you keep that in check), but there are some really trying to be honest in their assessment. This is the age where "everyone gets a trophy." Well, the truth is there's stiff competition. So, there's a lot of evaluation and proving to be done. Talk is cheap. Show it on the field. So, I don't mind a little caution. I don't know that I've heard too many just rail on a prospect that is draft-worthy without also pointing out their strengths. But, even if they are... prospects probably love it or use it as motivation. Good. They should. Hope it fuels them even more. They probably laugh at the commentators. They're getting drafted. That says something. So, as much as they scoff at anything, the player can take satisfaction knowing that and NFL team felt differently.
The draft is fun to watch with others who "get it." It's esp fun to watch with fans of several other teams. It's like hanging in a barber shop. It's an event where I don't mind engaging socially because there's a lot of in-between time to do that.