http://www.gbnreport.com/
October 15
(10:00 AM): Draft world shake up: Kiper on outs at ESPN... According to sources at ESPN, the cable network will not be renewing the contract of long-time draft guru Mel Kiper after a 22-year run. According to the source, Kiper would not agree to extend certain standard non-monetary provisions of his contract. For his part, Kiper is being quoted as saying he was unaware of any final decison and that talks are on-going. Kiper, who along with the late Joel Buschbaum was the original draft guru, though, has been downplayed at ESPN since the beginning of the season. For example, his name has been replaced on the banner of featured ESPN NFL columnists by Scouts, Inc. for weeks now. While he had his detractors, no one was more instrumental than Kiper with his no-nonsense approach, 'tell me what you really think' observations, and slightly ridiculous hair, in elevating the draft from a curiosity among sports fans to perhaps the single most popular non-sporting sporting event out there today.
