The NFL is once again looking out for the televised product when it comes to the draft.
According to a report, the league strongly encouraged teams not to leak their draft picks. Via PFT, here is part of a memo sent to teams this week:
“Teams are expected once again to withhold reporting names of all draft picks via any platform (social media, email, team web sites, etc.) until after the announcement by the Commissioner or his designee at the podium,” NFL Media czar Brian Rolapp wrote Monday in a memo to all teams, via Pro Football Talk. “We strongly encourage teams to emphasize to all personnel the importance of not disseminating the identity of a selection to any outside parties until it is announced. This includes other teams’ selections, as well as your own team’s.”
This is an issue because with the popularity of Twitter, reporters were able to share information about draft picks well ahead of time, effectively ruining any surprise element from watching on TV.
In the past, both ESPN and NFL Network reporters have agreed to hold off on reporting picks early in order to maintain the excitement of the TV show. The networks also cut back on TV cameras backstage to limit spoilers.
As someone who enjoys the spectacle of the draft, it’s much, much, much better to find out a pick when it’s announced on TV by the commissioner than by a tweet from a reporter a few minutes before the pick is announced. This is a television event; why not produce it for the greatest drama?
