The NFL draft is now behind us. Thank goodness. Never in the world of sports have there been more self-proclaimed experts who have such valueless opinions than what we saw and heard last week. Even in talk radio, callers who call for information now give it as if it is gospel.
Show host: Let’s go to the phones where S.K. (Show Killer) is standing by.
SK: Hello, is this me? Am I on the air?
Show host: Go ahead, S.K.
SK: Hey, man, love the show.
Show host: What’s on your mind?
SK.: Yeah, I wanna talk about the draft …
Show host: Go right ahead.
SK: Hello?
Show host: Yes, you are on the air.
SK: OK. I think the Rams should take Ardumbass Smith in the first round.
Show host: Really? Why should they take him?
SK: Well, I have been watching some film on him and he has a great burst, stays under his pads well and has a high motor. Plus, I know someone who knows the guy who lives next door to the cousin of the guy who gave him a haircut once. Plus, I heard the lady who went to school with the lady who set him up with his first lemonade stand. She said the lady said he was really cool.
Show host: Hmmm. You have seen film on him?
SK: Well, I think it was him on Sports Center. I think it was him. It was kinda late and I was trying to eat some White Castles.
Show host: So, you are not sure?
SK: Yes, I am sure they were White Castles
Show host: So you really have not seen any film? Have you watched more than one game, either in person or on TV?
SK: Uh, not really. But I do have Direct TV.
Show host: Do you have any other real information about this Ardumbass guy?
SK: Yeah, I heard some guys on another station talking like this guy could be a sleeper in the draft, and I just wanted to float that one out there so when he is picked I will call you back and remind you that I said it first. What do you think?
Show host: I think it’s time to move on. I think I am supposed to say thanks for your call here …
SK: OK, thanks for taking my call. Can you leave me on hold so I can hear what you have to say?
Show host: Sure. Click!
That is what it was like last week, and it has not been any better this week. The new question is: “What do you think of the Rams draft?”
I’m sorry to answer a question with a question, but, how should I know?
Some of the names sound familiar only because we saw them play on TV in college, and some analysts will talk up some of these players to the point where we think they should be taken in the first round just because.
I think that Jimmy Clausen now would have a different opinion of that, when it seemed like he was destined to go in the first round, if not early in the second. Wrong on both counts.
The bottom line is this. The NFL spends millions on scouting and evaluating players. They have reams of information about these players that is not always shared with others.
Some callers give you the indication that they are in some dark room with the eight millimeter film projector, taking notes. They don’t know what to look for other than some cute slang they heard some washed up player use in order to make himself sound smarter.
The Mel Kiper Jr.’s of the world have paid their dues and should be respected. There are others who have forged their way into the business of evaluating players and have made a good living at it. Most just wait for someone else’s publication to come out and take it from there.
With the draft, the only thing you can do is wait three years and come back and see if these players have made a real impact. In the meantime, lets go back to the phones …