Love him or hate him, one of the very first people you think of when you think about the NFL Draft is the one and only Mel Kiper Jr.
Sure, he may have lost a few miles off his fast ball in recent years, but Kiper has been one of the most prominent draft voices for decades now.
Being the face of ESPN’s draft coverage for as long as he has, Kiper sure has seen a lot.
Times change. Trends change. Virtually everything changes one way or another … Except Mel.
One of the biggest changes from when Kiper started doing draft coverage to now is undoubtedly technology, and in particular cell phones and how they’ve taken over the world.
However, if you thought Kiper would be crazy enough to fall for the cell phone fad, you’d be foolishly mistaken.
Former ESPN analyst Todd McShay – who also served as both Kiper’s friend and at times feisty rival – revealed on Barstool’s “Pardon My Take” that Kiper does not own a cell phone.
Instead, Kiper navigates the modern world with not one, but “four or five” landlines in his household.
“I’ve got to work through it, and I’ll always bust him on that,” McShay said on the podcast.
“And the problem is, you call the house, and Kim will pick up and be like, ‘Hey.’ I’ll talk to Kim for 10 minutes before I even get to Mel.”
McShay elaborated on the (now) rare setup, describing how he must contact Kiper’s wife, Kim, via text to arrange a call with Mel.
“And then Mel will pick up from a different landline,” McShay continued. “It’s not like a cell phone at home. It’s back in the ’80s where you hear another phone … ‘Hey, Todd, how are you? What’s going on?’ It’s definitely a throwback to my childhood.”
The duo, known for their intense debates on top draft prospects, shared years of collaboration as ESPN’s premier draft analysts.
However, McShay’s tenure with the network came to an end in June 2023 during ESPN’s infamous layoffs.
In a recent message on X, McShay expressed gratitude for the support he received during draft season and hinted at future endeavors, though he confirmed his absence from TV coverage due to contractual limitations.
Meanwhile, the 63-year-old Kiper is still going strong as the face of ESPN’s coverage.
He’s held the role since 1984 and doesn’t show any signs of letting up – or changing.
The 2024 NFL Draft rolls on through Saturday.
What are your thoughts on McShay’s comments?
Are you surprised? … Or do you think that’s just Mel being Mel?
What are your thoughts on him as a draft analyst???