ESPN and the NFL Network reached an agreement to not tweet out picks before they happen during the 2013 NFL Draft. That won’t stop Jason La Canfora of CBS from doing what he feels is his duty, however. He told Ed Sherman that if he has a scoop, he won’t hesitate to let the world know.
2013 NFL Draft rumors: Jason La Canfora will tweet selections
If you’re still hoping to be surprised during the NFL Draft, you may want to unfollow Jason La Canfora this weekend.
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“We’re not a broadcast partner for the draft,” La Canfora said. “I will be trying to get the information out as quickly and accurately as possible. What event is made more for Twitter than the NFL draft? If the teams have the information; if the guys in the production truck have the information; if the commissioner has the information; why wouldn’t passionate football fans want it as well?”
In fact, there are several reasons why fans wouldn’t want that information beforehand. Some may prefer the surpriseof hearing draft selections for the first time from the mouth of commissioner Roger Goodell as opposed to someone’s Twitter feed. A lot of fans want to experience the draft as much as they want to know who will be playing where next season. The agreement between ESPN and the NFL Network comes after both networks were inundated with complaints last year.
For La Canfora, tweeting the information he has is a matter of duty: “It’s very rare to have a job like this and you’re charged with stifling information. It goes against every instinct.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter has similar qualms about the Twitter restriction. He also spoke with the Sherman Report, saying he didn’t fully understand the uproar last year.
There were big trades going involving picks. Eight of the top 10. Am I supposed to ignore that. Not say anything? This the world we live in. To a lot of people, it’s a Twitter world. I’m sorry about that, but I’m reporting what I’m getting. These are big trades to me. Am I wrong or right?
This year, Schefter says that he won’t be tweeting out every pick, but he has been given the green light to send out information if it is, for example, “a quarterback or a bold move.” It will be his discretion to determine what a “bold move” constitutes, so there is still a strong potential for agonizing spoilers on draft day, even from the World Wide Leader.
There are few things in this world more determined than a reporter with a scoop. While it is admirable that networks are taking steps to preserve the draft experience for fans, more than likely you’re going to want to log out of Twitter if you’re still hoping to be surprised come draft day.
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