So Marcus Mariota has now supposedly supplanted Jameis Winston as the projected #1 overall NFL Draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the end of this month? Can’t say I’m surprised. When you have a choice between two Hesiman winning dual threat quarterbacks why wouldn’t you pick the apparently model citizen off the field? You know instead of the guy that all of America views as an immature, poor decision making brat at best, a rapist who was let off the hook at worst.
Sorry #FSUTwitter that’s how the entire nation outside of the state of Florida looks at Winston.
The best way to consuming the NFL Draft is also the best way to watch any big sporting event. When the big game approaches, it’s best to consume ZERO pregame hoo hah, no “keys to the game” bullshit, and especially none of that “my x-factor is” rubbish before hand.
All game previews and predictions, including my own, are bloviating punditry garbage; with absolutely no news value. NFL mock drafts are the same way.
That said, I’m not saying you shouldn’t still click/read/watch/listen. And I’m certainly not saying that I’m above consuming this stuff. You know I eat this crap up. I’m just saying you won’t learn anything practical or useful from any sports talk show ever.
Especially so with the Draft and it’s Marcus Mariota versus Jameis Winston debate. Here’s Deadspin’s take on the Mariota versus Winston ballyhoo and pointless punditry.
Ask any football writer—the beat guys, not the draftheads—what sort of coverage they hate the most, and they’ll tell you it’s draft speculation. Ask any football writer what sort of coverage gets the most sweet, sweet pageclicks, and they’ll tell you it’s draft speculation. People love this shit, as pointless as it may be (and it is supremely pointless, which absolutely does not make it any less enjoyable)….It can make you want to put your head through your monitor, but damn, it’s a good time…maybe this is just the Titans trying to trick teams into trading with them by convincing them that Jameis Winston will still be there at No. 2, and Jaworski being the useful idiot parroting their bad information. You know what? It’s probably exactly that. I can’t emphasize this enough: the draft run-up is dumb and fun and the dumber it gets, the more fun it is.
So it’s going to be Mariota #1 now.
If it’s not Winston.
Or something like that.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and Instagram (@paulmbanks)