![]() on Saturday, my mind was so fogged I couldn’t find a story I was ready to update in our computer system.įatigue may have been exacerbated by the stress of the coronavirus stay-at-home order. He missed a Browns’ scout’s video conference when his eldest daughter needed him after his wife left to run an errand. Part of that may have been a result of earlier deadlines, moved up before the coronavirus. The lack of driving 35 minutes each way to Berea didn’t minimize the exhaustion Ulrich felt afterward. ![]() But the conferences were amazingly smooth and glitch-free. Rather than dress up for a post-day one video analysis, I put on my best hoodie from Vail, Colorado. ![]() ![]() Many learned how to turn off the video when not in use. One veteran beat writer had to figure out how to activate the audio for his questions, another discovered the Zoom phone app. War Room 2.0 /aCh3GYPVCG- Arizona Cardinals April 24, 2020įor the media, there were adjustments. On Saturday morning I counted 115 pairs of shoes and boots in my walk-in closet, most in the original boxes, and Stefanski agreed the moniker fit. I told him I thought I’d only be using Zoom for conversations with friends, not work, and when I set up my account there were security concerns. “Can you explain ShoeFiend first?” he asked. On Friday night before answering my question on Missouri defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, Stefanski saw ShoeFiend light up on a screen tagged with names and news outlets. I apologize if I don’t have all the décor as some others do.” “If you took this virtual background off, you’d see lots of boxes in this house. Luckily, I have those guys on mute,” Stefanski said of ESPN’s dig about his chair. Stefanski seemed to enjoy the interaction even though he was working from a disheveled house as his wife and three children prepare to move to Northeast Ohio from the Minneapolis area. The answer went viral, but without the video it would have been tough to pick up the playfulness of Delpit’s response. When asked by Ulrich whether playing through a high ankle sprain last season affected his tackling, Delpit said, “I’m so tired of hearing that I can’t tackle, I might tackle you for asking that question.” Zoom calls with the seven draft choices gave more context to the new Browns’ answers and better insight into their emotions after being selected.ĭelpit was the most pumped, unabashedly honest and excited. On Saturday night, there was a feeling on both sides that one part of the COVID-19 social distancing measures could have shelf life beyond the crisis. The Browns’ public relations staff performed masterfully in managing video conferences. Berry remained his measured, close-to-the-vest self.īut the remote format proved much better than expected. aGV940aTdB- New England Patriots April 27, 2020īrowns fans and media didn’t glean any personal nuggets about General Manager Andrew Berry, overseeing the draft in Cleveland while his family remains in Philadelphia. ![]() The new video chat background you didn't know you needed. The joyous celebration of Antoine Winfield Jr.’s family after the Minnesota safety learned he’d be playing with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. While New Englanders may be checking the cost of an Alaskan Klee Kai puppy, there were many more visuals and nuggets to savor.Ĭardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury’s posh Paradise Valley, Arizona abode. The star of the draft was Bill Belichick’s dog Nike, perched in front of one of two laptops at the New England Patriots’ coach’s Nantucket home. But the NFL’s virtual draft that concluded Saturday provided not only a welcome diversion for sports fans during the coronavirus pandemic, but pulled back the curtain on a league that goes out of its way to maintain appearances and cloak its humanity. Prospects weren’t boated past the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas after their names were called. Stefanski defended using an uncomfortable dining chair at his desk after being razzed on ESPN. LSU safety Grant Delpit wanted to reach out and tackle Beacon Journal Browns beat writer Nate Ulrich.Ĭoach Kevin Stefanski needed an explanation for my ShoeFiend Zoom name. ![]()
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