More On-Air Friction Between Mel, McShay

As the 2009 NFL draft approaches, ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay could be edging closer to blows. In their latest on-air debate, Kiper and McShay debate whether and to what extent signability should affect the Lions’ decision with the No. 1 overall pick. Kiper aggressively argues that, if the Lions think quarterback Matt Stafford is the best guy in the draft, the Lions should draft him and sign him without regard to the concept of whether they can get him signed to an acceptable contract before he holds out for the entire year. In our view, Kiper’s position shows that his obsession with the draft has prevented him from developing a broader sense as to the business of the sport. Even if the Lions are in love with Stafford, they need to leverage him against other players in the hopes of getting a favorable contract signed. McShay holds his own, even as Kiper accuses him of being “negative.” McShay isn’t being negative, he’s being realistic. At one point, Kiper proves McShay’s point by admitting that teams won’t trade up to the top spot because of the money involved in signing the No. 1 overall pick. Meanwhile, Kiper seems to be convinced that Stafford should be the first pick, despite a chorus of draft experts (including Mike Mayock of NFL Network) who question whether Stafford will thrive at the NFL level. The problem, however, is that by the time we know whether Stafford can play successfully in the NFL, we all will have moved on to the next looming wave of draft picks. If Stafford is a stud, Kiper likely won’t be congratulated. If Stafford is a bust, Kiper won’t be called out. And if Kiper is called out, he’ll simply blame the Lions for their inability to use their “20 assistant coaches” (a phrase that Kiper used multiple times during the clip at issue) to develop the player. One league source summed up perfectly that lack of accountability that applies to Kiper, McShay, and Mayock: “In the end, all three guys can say and write what they want because they’re not getting fired if they’re wrong. That’s the bottom line.”