FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Bigalke said 04/27, 04:49 PM
This really depends on one's level of fanhood, Nomarfan... while I myself watched not a minute of draft coverage, it can be beneficial for these reasons:

1. People are losing their mind for ANYTHING football this time of year. The draft is their best shot at getting NFL action for months...

2. For those fanatics who NEED football to sustain them through the day, the draft offers ample analysis from every conceivable angle... especially because they have plenty of time to do so...

3. Many people don't WANT to leave their couch on a Sunday. The draft helps fanatics keep their couch spot in shape for the REAL football season, when I am sure even YOU will be, "drooling mindlessly with a beer in hand"...

4. The internet has spawned mock drafts, fantasy football, and other statistical analyses for fans. Watching the draft coverage gives a fanatic the best possible opportunity for success in these pursuits.


For the casual sports fan, the draft can appear nothing more than a lot of bluster. But there can be drama... from guys like Brohm and Quinn and Rodgers sliding down the draft, to Eli refusing San Diego, to Leaf/Manning debates, the draft offers football fans something to digest.

Bigalke said 04/27, 08:49 PM
Recognize that this throwdown did not say, "Is the ENTIRE NFL draft worth watching?" By your own admission, the draft is worth watching when your favorite team is up to the podium... so you already concede that there is some value in televised coverage of the draft.

The reason I used the term "fanatic" is because it is used to denote those ardent, hardcore NFL fans from the casual sports fan. To these fanatics, the Draft is the kickoff to start speculation about the new NFL season. From giving new variables to fantasy-league games, to new hope for struggling franchises, there is something in the draft to captivate every football fan's attention...

The caveat here, Nomarfan, is that we aren't talking about people wasting a full 60 hours watching the draft. I agree that such overload is usually reserved for owners/GMs...

But blindly asserting that the NFL Draft offers NOTHING worth watching is a power statement to make; one which, by your own admission in the first argument, is patently false. Whether a fan wishes to tune in to see just the first round, or bunkers down for the entirety of the coverage, the NFL Draft can offer entertaining viewing for ALL levels of football fan...

Bigalke said 04/28, 06:55 PM
Okay, Nomarfan, you want middle ground... but then you try to argue not that the draft is NOT worth watching but there are things more worthwhile to be doing. This is inevitable... it would be better to plant a tree or volunteer in the community than watch the draft. But, for those seeking passive entertainment (i.e. something where they don't have to do anything to be entertained) the Draft offers such an avenue.

There are other means by which people can hear about draft picks -- text-message services, the internet, the radio. But none of these can give the type of in-depth analysis all in one place as well as television can. Statistical junkies can get their numbers while simultaneously keeping up with future pick projections, trade news, etc. Casual fans can still glean more knowledge from television than they would blindly searching around the internet. Football fanatics can satiate their spring craving to start getting hope for the upcoming season...

Whether one tunes in merely for the opening round, the entire draft or only their favorite team's picks, the Draft is worth watching from a news and an entertainment level...