Isaac

For those that don’t get NFL Network, you are missing out because for the brief stretches that they actually show the combine, it is very cool. However, you aren’t missing much because their coverage is a shell of what it should be. I have no idea what the producers are thinking, it’s as if they are of the opinion that no one would actually be tuning in to WATCH the combine, therefore we better show them everything else we can come up with to prevent them from turning the channel.

For starters, why do they start their coverage at 11 am when the combine has already been going for hours? They miss the entire first group each day. And their main show ends long before the combine's over. Why not show it all? The certainly don’t have anything better on (it’s not like this network has so much original programming that they can’t fit it all in). I realize that they want to rebroadcast it 50 times, but they could easily put together a 2-3 hour summary show for that.

But that’s a minor point because even when their “combine” show is on, they are rarely showing the combine. The vast majority of the show is essentially the same pre-draft pieces and yapping that they will be doing nightly through April. The emphasis is on:
- watching the TV personalities yap (for the life of me, why can’t they yap off-camera)
- interviews
- pure puff pieces (a la the Olympics)
- game highlights (usually the same highlight reels that most of us will have memorized come April)
- endless replays of the combine highlights
- players that aren’t working out (yes, they spend long stretches showing players in sweatshirts while other players are doing drills)

This leaves precious little time for actually showing the combine, which they do with only moderate success. The most maddening moments are when they show a significant player preparing for a drill, but then go to commercial break and never show it. Perhaps worse is when they show a timed drill, but then go to break and never give the time. Often they don’t even bother telling you who is doing the drill. Sometimes they mention the player’s name but are so caught up in some yapping session that they don’t talk about him at all. There are stretches when they do the obvious -- they introduce the player, talk about him, show the drill, and talk about what it means ("that guy needed to do better there"). These stretches are awesome, enlightening, and perhaps encompass something on the order of 5% of the broadcast (that’s generous).

As an example, they did an excellent job of giving background on the impressive TE Michael Allan from Whitworth and also building up the gauntlet drill. Well, the gauntlet drill finally gets going and Allan is first (alphabetical), but they are in the middle of an interview with Ryan Kalil. The interview was good, so fine, they miss the live drill of Allan -- but they never showed it!!

Now, I realize that there are too many players and drills for them to show it all, and that would admittedly be a bit dull. So fine, pre-plan this a bit and go to commercial during some of the lesser known player’s runs and show us any good stuff that was missed after the break. Show the puff pieces during the dull drills (“this is a bit dull, so let’s review some of the highlights of the day” -- is that so hard?!?) Anyone that hasn’t seen their coverage would likely assume this is what they do, but it is quite the opposite. The producers do not view their combine coverage as anything approaching a sporting event that their viewers are actually interested in seeing -- to them it is a produced show -- it is time to be filled. It’s infuriating and a real shame, if they’d just do the obvious and cover the damn event, it’d be unique, enjoyable, and educating. Instead they feed us the same stuff that they’ll be giving us night after night after night -- I don't mind that material, I enjoy their shows, but not during the fricking combine!!

It really is a shame. If anybody has any sense to share and a contact at that network, please send it their way.

Keegs

I tried watching it one day and didn't get it.

It seemed NOTHING like last year's show on the combine.

Last year there wasn't much talking and just running video of the workouts.
this year they spent an hour talking about 3 guys' bench press.

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Isaac

My memory is horrible so I didn't want to include this in my rant, but yes I recall last year being so much better.

GHOSTOFSAMGASH

it is annoying and i watched some this year and a lot last year. it seems like they do it probably for the less informed fans, we all know about most of these guys, but most of the other people only care about potential 1-2 round picks, which sucks

BelichickFan

It was pretty bad - and Mike Allen looked like a lumbering hunk of *****. My biggest problem was on all the QB/WR throws they rarely said who the WR was. Just like ESPN, too much flash not enough substance. I want Kiper and Mayock not puff pieces.

Tunescribe

Did you e-mail this to the NFL Network? If not, you should. I'd be interested to hear if you get a response. By the way, is there not a worse commentator than Marshall Faulk?

Box_O_Rocks

I e-mailed them last year to tell them how much they sucked, focusing on their yap sessions and ignoring the field. This year it's twice as bad. I suggested they record the drills using interns off screen to identify the prospects and explain the drill, then broadcast them overnight when they do nothing but repeat Total Access endlessly. I guess it's hard to sell advertising for anything but Rich Eisen's drivel. Thanks for the rant.

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cubedoggy

I've watched the NFL Network since it's first day of broadcast back in November of 2003. It is sad to think now how much potential I saw in it back then.

Where it used to broadcast programming that broke down plays, now it shows games that have been on ESPN Classic, etc. for years.

Where it used to have guys like Seth Joyner, who talked w/ the authority of understanding both the modern game and its players; now it features guys like Marshall Faulk and Steve Mariucci, who temper every comment w/ the reserve of wanting to get back onto the field.

And then there's Schefter---Al Davis' opinion aside, the guy's a putz.

The problem I see is not that the network is being dumbed down for the common fan, but that it's trying to do what every other TV network does---appeal to the people looking for buzz.

I had hoped there'd be less glitz, and more shows on how defenses work, how offenses work, how special teams plays are designed; you know, the GAME.

My wife and I watch Total Access every night and have together almost every night since Nov. 2003; it's our "must-see-TV." We are the NFL Network audience.

It's too bad the network is moving away from us.

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Seymour93

Not surprising really.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_Network

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PatsFanSince74

remember, this is being brought to you by a Network that thinks bryant Gumbel is a great play-by-play announcer. There are four downs, Bryant and the ball ain't stuffed with feathers.

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