Feb. 24--It was a given that NFL Network would have some sort of coverage of the annual scouting combine in Indianapolis. The network needed programming to fill the downtime between the Super Bowl and training camp.
But even Mike Muriano, NFL Network's senior coordinating producer, admitted to wondering if the network's combine coverage was going straight to a televised-sports black hole during its early days in the mid-2000s,
"We were sitting in the production truck going, 'Are people actually watching?' " Muriano said. "At the end of the day, we're covering guys running around cones."
Never underestimate the desire of viewers to watch all things NFL. It is the reason NFL Network turned up the volume, eventually leading to nearly round-the-clock coverage of prospect testing at the combine this week.
If anything shows the vice grip the NFL has on viewers, it is the combine, the first big step leading to the NFL draft in Chicago. Dubbed the "Underwear Olympics," this stopwatch/tape measure event seems as tedious as watching a high school PE class do calisthenics.
Yet fans know those guys running around in shorts are the future of the league. Last year NFL Network's ratings peaked at 731,000 viewers during second-day coverage when the eventual top two picks, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, were on display.
Muriano points to another barometer that shows the increased interest in the combine. Ten years ago, a limited number of reporters covered the event. Now, thanks in part to NFL Network's coverage, credential requests are in the hundreds, he said.
"While football goes away on Saturdays and Sundays (after the Super Bowl), there is an appetite out there. Fans are starving for more football content," Muriano said. "What has surprised us is that (the combine) has become an important football event and not necessarily just an offseason event."
It's all about who's next in the NFL. Muriano recalls the uproar at the 2007 combine when Calvin Johnson ran a 4.35 40-yard dash, reportedly with borrowed cleats. Besides the well-known stars, Muriano likes focusing on the unsung prospects from smaller schools who often start to make a name for themselves at the combine.
"They have that wide-eyed look about them," Muriano said. "It gives you an appreciation for the process."
This year's combine won't have the "Who's No. 1?" debate between Winston and Mariota. However, Muriano expects plenty of intrigue with Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa, the possible top pick, and seeing which quarterbacks emerge from the pack.
Regardless of what happens, the combine will have a familiar finish. For the 12th straight year, host Rich Eisen will run the 40-yard dash in his suit. His run now has a charitable component with proceeds going to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The idea, Muriano said, is "to glorify and embarrass Rich."
Remote patrol: Here's another example of NFL draft craziness: ESPN says more than 120 media members took part in a conference call with Mel Kiper Jr. on Monday. Keep in mind, it is February. ... It's also spring training for Jason Benetti, the new White Sox announcer for the non-Ken Harrelson games. He will work 10 exhibition games, making his debut with Steve Stone for the Sox-Cubs matchup on WGN-9 on March 12. ... David Feherty goes full throttle at his new network home with NBC's coverage of the PGA Tour's Florida swing, beginning with the Honda Classic this week. ... Congratulations to a true pro, Linda Cohn, who worked her 5,000th "SportsCenter" on Sunday, by far the most of any ESPN anchor. Of her approach after all these years, she said, "There's always something new to talk about and give a fresh spin on."
