Beat writers to defy NFL's request to not tip draft picks

By Mike Cole

If you’re on Twitter and want to be surprised by the picks at Thursday’s NFL draft, you might want to mute the beat reporters you follow.

The rising popularity of social media in recent years has taken some fun out of the draft for those who want to be surprised when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell calls out the picks. Reporters have taken to reporting teams’ picks — usually via Twitter — before the names are officially called by the commissioner.

ESPN and NFL Network will both telecast the draft, and their personalities and reporters have agreed not to report the picks early. However, as Sports Business Journal points out, some NFL beat reporters won’t hold back.

Jeff McLane covers the Philadelphia Eagles for The Philadelphia Inquirer, and he was proud to say he might tweet “spoilers” on draft night.

"I, of course, will not. I don't work for the NFL," McLane tweeted. "My job is to report the news."

While ESPN and NFL Network will refrain from reporting the news before it becomes official, Bleacher Report is one outlet that won’t wait. Bleacher Report NFL writer Mike Freeman explained his thinking to Sports Business Daily, saying it’s “not my responsibility to help the NFL” keep the picks a secret until they’re announced.

“The draft is a huge Twitter event, like ‘Game of Thrones,’ and everyone sits around on their phones and TV and observes, comments and rips,” Freeman added.

It’s a bummer for fans who enjoy watching the draft with Twitter open, but for at least one night, it looks like putting away the phone or laptop might be your best bet.

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