NFLN PTtD Mayock vs. Matt Hayes

[Roy P]

I was watching the NFL Network (surprise!) and their show Path To The Draft today. Matt Hayes was on today, I have no idea who he is, but he was jumping Mike Mayock at every turn. First, he got on Mayock about Clausen and his possible 'leadership' issues being overblown. Later on he was pumping up Brandon Graham and trashing Carlos Dunlop and Jason Pierre-Paul. Oh and he was downplaying Derrick Morgan as being a player who was 'lost' during the game. While I happen to agree with Hayes on several of his points, I thought he was a total dick. It seemed like he was a 'guest' who came into Mayock's house as the NFLN draft Guru and started pissing on the carpet. I sort of got the feeling that he was trying to make a name for himself, and I suppose since I'm talking about it, he succeeded.

Mayock has a fine line that he must walk as a draft analyst. Not only does he need to voice 'his opinion' but he has to lay out what other teams are thinking. While I agree that Dunlop, Pierre-Paul, and E. Griffen have a lot of risk and I wouldn't draft them in the first round, there are teams who will believe that they are going to be the best available pass-rushers and draft these guys in the first round in hopes of coaching them up and getting some production.

That's one of the reasons why I like just making a draft board for the Texans only. I don't have to take into account all teams, schemes, coaches, systems, and personalities.

I was just wondering if anybody else saw this exchange today. Controversy can lead to ratings. I've never seen this Hayes guy before, and perhaps that was the idea. Instead of having everyone just go along with Mayock, they bring in an antagonist. Again, I didn't think he was wrong in his opinions, just didn't agree with his tone or demeanor.