Draft Debate: ESPN vs. NFL Network
If you follow the NFL, this weekend feels like Christmas. The spring entry draft features loads of analysis, college stars, and Mel Kiper’s hair. Or does it?
You tell me. Do you prefer the NFL Network or ESPN for football coverage these days?
I’ve been pretty hard on the four-letter network recently, but I also know they have me at hello when a football broadcast is starting. So after the Penguins crushed the Flyers to win round #1 of the NHL playoffs, I flipped over to ESPN to play their draft day coverage in the background. Chris Berman and Steve Young were there as always. Keyshawn Johnson and Mel Kiper flanked them.
After five minutes of the same old coverage, I realized that another option exists these days. I flipped over to the glorious NFL Network in fabulous HD. Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Jon Gruden, Steve Mariucci, Mike Mayock, and more broke it down. The coverage was like a fix for a crack addict. Now I’m good until August.
So let’s have it. ESPN or NFL Network?
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Life as Pop Culture Professor Clay Morgan
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Thanks for comments on our site. Unfortunately, being a Comcast customer I only have access to ESPN (don’t want to have to pay for NFL Network). So I would go with ESPN, but I’ve heard many good things about NFL Network and its coverage.
That a good point about Comcast. I had to pay an extra $10 or so a month for their “sports package” which also includes the NHL Network and some other channels I never watch.
I was always devoted to ESPN. Then, after I read Eisen’s book, I moved last year to the NFL Network. I’ve been much happier ever since. Also, I think Coach Gruden added a fresh angle to the team this year.
I haven’t sampled much of the NFL Network, but what I’ve seen I do like. That said, my allegiance is to the always faithful ESPN. This may be out of pure ignorance of what NFL provides, but if I’m anything, I’m loyal.
I do not watch much NFL Network, mostly because this time of year I don’t watch much football coverage at all.
I will say this much though: in terms of baseball coverage I prefer MLB Network to ESPN.
I’m not sure what this says about NFL Network, but at least in baseball I have found that the sport-specific network provides a much more entertaining show than ESPN.
Scotty Kimberly
–Remember The Sonics–
I agree, or as my Canadian friends would say, Bang On
i like ESPN HD better than NFL NETWORK HD because NFL NETWORK tends to broadcast in “HD” but it’s rather the tickers are in HD but the picture is in regular 480i. i love ESPN for their NFL Live segments and BOOMER!!! NFL network has rich and marshall faulk but the other cast gets rather annoying.
but
INSIDE THE NFL > NFL NETWORK > ESPN
I think both have done a good job thus far. I think at times Mayock and Kiper first point out the negatives of players rather than share their strengths, which is a little over the top. I’d give a slight edge to NFL Network because I think Gruden and Billick provide a little more analysis from a team perspective, something Herm Edwards doesn’t do quite as well at ESPN.
That true about Billick. He always drove me crazy as a coach, but the guy knows football. Gruden is cool too.
Unfortunately I don’t get NFL Net because of Time Warner, but I think ESPN’s coverage is brutal.
I just found out that COMCAST, the evil empire, will no longer carry NFL Network after this week. Ugh! I get hundreds of channels but only watch about 5 of them. Now Comcast is taking one away. Time to find a different provider. They are terrible, a ripoff to begin with before this foul up.
For my football coverage, I’ll take NFLN anyday. Also, I’ll take Mayock over Kiper or McShay anyday. ESPN’s draft layout is better, however. Still, I find myself arguing much more with ESPN’s analysis and shake my head in agreement a lot more with NFLN’s analysis.