Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
The mad blogger has returned for a record 5th time today. It's a show night at Agganis, so I am still at work. In our ramp up to draft day, I want to touch on a very important topic. Which ESPN draft analyst do you like better: Todd McShay or Mel Kiper? To be perfectly honest, I grew up with McShay and played baseball with or against him all my life, so he's my guy. He's also pretty darn good at his job. It also looks to me that ESPN is showcasing McShay more each year in an attempt to force out Mel Kiper. Kiper has been the NFL draft guru for years, and still has the same hair when he started, but has come off as an arrogant jerk lately when dueling with McShay. I used to love Kiper, but just can't really stand him anymore. I still read his articles and pore over his mock drafts, but come one dude, get a haircut. I can't be the only one sick of seeing that fro.
Now don't get me wrong, they both do a very good job. I know there's long hours reviewing tape, but the majority of their work is done on the phone or interviewing GM's, coaches and scouts in person. That's the secret behind the job. They're fantastic at taking information that was given to them and reporting on it as it's their own opinion. Granted, both of their football IQ's are about 100 times higher than mine, but it's not like they're qualified to run football operations at an NFL team. There's a reason why these guys do what they do, and it's certainly not looks for Kiper. I am not trying to rip these guys for being very good at their jobs, but want to be realistic as to what their responsible for.
In conclusion, Todd McShay has far surpassed Mel Kiper's usefulness to ESPN. He's the young gun who has the drive and ambition to smack Kiper in the mouth. My prediction is that Kiper's on the NFL network in 3 years. There's only room for one draft guru at ESPN.
McShay all the way ... Kiper seems to be threatened by the young version of himself back in the hayday ... Kiper's smug on TV now and he's always trying to get in a verbal spat with McShay, although ESPN could be telling these guys to duke it out on air, who knows.
ReplyDeleteMcShay is on the rise, he's smart and seems down to earth ... Kiper's fighting for his job, his mock draft better blow away McShay's or ESPN may force him to shave his bird's nest hairdo.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it Kiper who said in 2001 that the Patriots made a huge mistake in taking Richard Seymour instead of David Terrell? And that the Patriots would go 0-16. Of course they won the Superbowl that year. I thought I read it on his Wiki profile, but it is no longer there.
ReplyDeleteAlthough when I googled Mel Kiper, I did come across another blog which listed mock drafts of his in past years. Between 2001-2006 if he was the GM of the Patriots, here is who he would have selected with the teams top pick each year:
Marlin Jackson (CB)
DeAngelo Williams (RB)
Daryl Smith (LB)
Kwame Harris (OT)
Marcus Tubbs (DT)
Ty Warren (DT)
Deuce McCallister (RB)
Very mixed results, but not entirely bad. Although there are a few names I have never heard of on that list.