It’s All About the Media
This week at the NFL Combine, players are giving us (and NFL big-shots) a preview as to what they’d be like in the NFL. It’s a grueling week of physical exams, workouts, and - most importantly - dealing with the media.
Yeah, I know that an athlete’s performance during the season, Senior Week, and the combine mean a lot. Don’t get me wrong, I think all of the schools are looking for stars who will play well for them for years. That said…it’s also about the media.
In fact, I’d venture to say that it is ALL about the media.
The top players this year are great, but take a step back and look at the field in general. Is Glenn Dorsey really the best option in his position? There are hundreds of Div-I and Div-II players that could do well in his place. Dorsey just happened to be on a watched team, and yes, he did well this year (and that’s an understatement). But say the media didn’t focus on him at all - would he still be a top draft pick?
I’m not just picking on Dorsey either. Is Jake Long really the best offensive tackle? Yes, he’s good…but the media has also loved him. What about Ryan Clady? Most think that he’s the number two raft pick in that position, but if you ask Clady, he should go first. What if Clady, a Boise State player, played for a team that got more media attention? Boise State, even when they have a good year, isn’t high on the list of teams to cover. Michigan is. Is it all about the media? Move a step even farther back…are Long and Clady the two guys who will do best in that position in the NFL, or are there tons of “sleepers” out there who will outshine them eventually?
I’m not the only one who thinks that media is extremely important. Look at Eric Young from Tennessee. He can’t work out this week due to an injury last season, but he still went to the combine just to do the physical and the interviews. He knows that if he gets people talking about his name, he’ll potentially do OK in the draft. But if he just didn’t show up…stick a fork in him.
Do we, as the media, dictate a player’s overall success? I’m just a humble blogger who has a few readers here are there, but even us little guys add to the hype around certain players. It’s a huge responsibility. Whom to talk about…which stories to pass by…
And, if the media is a huge influence in the draft, doesn’t that put the power in the hands of you guys - the fans? After all, the media gives fans what they want.
Again, I’m not saying that talent and skill has nothing to do with it. But what do you think - is the media hype surrounding certain players falsely inflating their draft worth?
Tags: Draft, media, NFL DraftRelated Stories
POSTED IN: NFL Draft
2 opinions for It’s All About the Media
Sharon
Feb 26, 2008 at 12:47 pm
The NFL is about winning games, but they are also about putting people in their seats every week. You can’t do that if your players don’t have fan support, and you can’t get fan support, as a player, unless you get some media attention. So yes, I agree with you.
Allison
Feb 27, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Sharon,
Yes, that is definitely an aspect of it - money. Pro sports teams want players who can make it!
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