Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. The 2011 NFL Draft will air on three consecutive days on two different networks. The fates of 200 young men ride on which team feels that they are worthy to play in the NFL.
The NFL Draft will kick off at 8?p.m. on both ESPN and the NFL Network. Coverage continues Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at noon.
The top players will make the trip to New York so they can have their pictures taken with commissioner Roger Goodell. Both ESPN and the NFL Network will alternate interviews of the top draft picks.
With all 32 teams involved, the NFL Draft brings in big ratings. And the billion dollar fantasy sports industry also feeds off the information that will be provided from Thursday through Saturday.
ESPN will offer coverage on all platforms, including ESPN Radio, ESPN3 and ESPN Mobile.
The ESPN team will, as always, be led by Chris Berman. He will be joined by draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. and “Monday Night Football” analyst and Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden on ESPN’s main set.
Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will report from an additional set location at Radio City Music Hall, while “Monday Night Football” reporter Suzy Kolber will conduct interviews on-site with draft prospects.
ESPN will dispatch reporters to team sites across the country, including Colleen Dominguez (Arizona Cardinals), Bob Holtzman (Cincinnati Bengals), Sal Paolantonio (Carolina Panthers), Mark Schwarz (Washington), Michael Smith (New England Patriots) and Ed Werder (Denver Broncos). Jeremy Schaap will cover events hosted by the NFL Players Association during draft weekend.
The NFL Network will have live cameras at all 32 team sites so they can go live to any coach or front office person it wishes.
Rich Eisen will host and will be joined by analysts Marshall Faulk, Mike Mayock, Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin. Eisen, Mayock, Charles Davis and Brian Billick share the set Friday. College coaches Bret Bielema (Wisconsin), Butch Davis (North Carolina), Brian Kelly (Notre Dame) and Nick Saban (Alabama) join Eisen, Mayock and Davis for rounds 4 through 7.
Fox Sports Radio also will have coverage of the draft action airing Thursday night from New York.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
