Grading The Networks And Analysts as NFL Teams- Part 1

That’s a very vague and confusing title, but here’s the deal. I’m going to take each Network’s coverage and compare the analysts to the winning and losing teams in the draft. Why? Because no one else is doing it (and I have nothing better to do on a Monday). Up first….The NFL Network.

Being that I don’t have the NFL Network at home I was forced to head out into the cruel world that is my parent’s basement to catch some of the coverage. Yes, it is true…I blogged from my parent’s basement….sadly, I was clothed.

(I’m just going to get this Simmons moment out of the way early….The highlight of the draft for me was when Houston drafted Amobi Okoye. My father calmly calmed him Bambale Osby (F-Maryland) at least 4 times. When I corrected him for the fourth time he just said, “Okay, Ombobby or whatever his name is.” Classic.)

Check out the reviews after the jump…..

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

NFL Network Grading:

Rich Eisen- Green Bay Packers- C-

Eisen, just like the Packers, is overrated and a complete annoyance and distraction to his employer (The Packers and Brett Favre to the entire League). Just like the Pack, Eisen tries to make a splash and actually be funny, but always comes off as smug and uninterested. I compare this to the pick of Justin Harrell. Taking him at 16 was waaaaay too high, and there are now rumors that Cleveland was offering them a 2008 1st rounder and a swap of picks in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round picks. That’s just dumb to pass up for someone you could have taken much lower.

For a team that had about 1,000 picks they were pretty average….just like Eisen always is.

Mike Mayock- Baltimore Ravens- B+

Here’s the thing about Mayock….he’s 2x better than Mel Kiper Jr., but gets absolutely zero press. I liken this to the Ravens versus the Redskins in the Baltimore/DC Metro market. The Ravens have been destroying the Skins in every facet of the game….better product on the field, better with the fans, better in the draft, and better at developing players. All you ever hear about are the Skins woes…even last year when the Ravens had a great chance to make some noise in the playoffs.

Mayock is smarter and more knowledgeable than anyone out there. He gives more analysis when a pick is made, and thinks all the decisions through. This is pretty much the reason the Ravens have developed so many All-Pros over the years.

Dick Vermeil- Chicago Bears- B

Vermeil is the smarts of the group. He sees his spots and takes advantage of them by providing relevant coaching and football knowledge. This reminds me of Chicago because they always seem to be in the right spot at the right time when it comes to the draft. Things just fall into their lap…for example Greg Olsen and Dan Bazuin.

Marshall Faulk- Jacksonville Jaguars- C

Marshall is a rookie in the network game. He really needs a little bit more experience and time to grow before you start critiquing him. I liken him to the Jags because after a few rebuilding years they are just now starting to turn the corner, but this year they just had an average draft. Like Faulk, JAX tried to make a splash, but stretched on a lot of picks. They did pick up a good number of extra picks, so hopefully like the Jags….Marshall will build on this for next year.

Deion Sanders- Dallas Cowboys (surprise!)- C+

Always rumored to make a splash and be crazy, but in the end they are really overshadowed by the nonsense. Deion seemed to be reeled-in a bit for the draft along the same lines as the Cowboys. They made a good trade with Philly and also drafted a guy named Deon, but in the end the picks were pretty lackluster. (Anothony Spencer was an average DE for a bad Big-10 team, and the fact that Kiper thinks he could win ROY is just nonsense.)

Charles “Mangina” Davis- The Jets- D+

Charles is the team that you know is going to be horrible going in. They promise that they are going to do right this year, but you’re just waiting for the train-wreck to take place. The Jets didn’t have a lot of picks, but they wasted the ones they had. I think Revis was way overvalued. He played in an inferior Big East Conference, and just looked extremely slow on game film. Being a Michigan fan I also know that David Harris was burnt down the field early and often. Those picks aren’t going to help you against the Pats anytime soon…..just like Charles Davis isn’t going to help a broadcast anytime soon.

Adam Schefter- San Francisco 49ers- B+

Adam Schefter destroyed his ESPN counterpart Suzy Kolber in the reporting arena. Schefter is a great up-and-coming writer, and has gotten stronger every year. The 49ers appear to be doing the same. After years of poor drafting they are finally piecing together an amazingly talented and young team. The 9ers are Schefter are ones I’ll be keeping an extra eye on during the season.

(P.S.- Schef broke the Randy Moss trade on Draft Day as well)

Overall I think the NFL Network did a much better job with the main players than ESPN. The NFL Network is the Moneyball version of an NFL broadcast. They don’t have the same money or the same “talent” (word used loosely), but they turn out a great product for the dollars.

NFL NETWORK GRADE: B

(ESPN’s review coming later today)