Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. going eighth overall to the Atlanta Falcons was the surprise pick of the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, and NFL Network draft anchor Rich Eisen was there trying to make sense of it in real time on live television.
In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show on Friday, Eisen explained his approach to covering the Penix pick on NFL Network, keeping the conversation “respectful” to Penix while speaking to the audience’s shock at the selection.
“It went from Dumb and Dumber, ‘you’re saying there’s a chance,’ to reality in a split second. That was wild. We were all looking at each other as it happened sort of like, ‘really? OK,'” Eisen said. “And it’s one of those moments, obviously, on a broadcast where a needle’s ripped off a record. But you have to also be as respectful as possible, because Michael Penix Jr. didn’t decide to be drafted under these circumstances in the same way Kirk Cousins didn’t decide to be drafted the way he was drafted in D.C.”
Cousins was drafted 102nd overall the same season Washington drafted Robert Griffin III. Now, he joins the Falcons on a big contract the same year they draft Penix.
For Eisen, the move was to let his reporters provide intel while highlighting Penix’s talent and qualities as a quarterback. Analyst Kurt Warner had a high grade on Penix, rating him more highly than No. 3 pick Drake Maye. So Eisen let Warner break Penix’s game down to balance the surprise around Atlanta’s choice.
“Penix is so talented, he’s worthy of the eighth overall pick in the draft,” Eisen explained. “You have to understand why Penix is being drafted eighth overall, he is worthy of that pick, while also being aware of the unique circumstances at that time.”
A shock pick surprises fans at home, but it forces broadcasters to jump into action and make sense of it on the spot. Eisen believes NFL Network did a good job balancing the two, even if he was just as shocked as anyone when it happened.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.