Animated Kiper adds lots of spice to draft

Why has the NFL Draft become such an irresistible spectacle? Some of the credit - or blame - must go to ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who entertains viewers with his know-it-all commentary and slicked-back helmet hair.

Kiper is a cartoon character. Don't take him seriously and you can learn to like him.

After the Indianapolis Colts selected Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the top pick on Thursday, Kiper praised Luck as the best passing prospect since John Elway went No. 1 in 1983.

"No question, (Luck is) the best to come around in a long, long time. There's nothing to pick apart from his game. He's got it all," said Kiper, who is probably correct in that assessment.

But let's rewind some tape. In 2007, after the Oakland Raiders drafted a quarterback No. 1, Kiper quipped:

"JaMarcus Russell is going to immediately energize that fan base, that football team. Three years from now you could be looking at a guy that's certainly one of the elite, top five quarterbacks in this league. Look out because the skill level that he has is certainly John Elway-like."

Obviously, Russell turned into a spectacular bust and was out of the league by 2010.

Kiper's popularity, for lack of a better word, inspired ESPN to spawn a mini-Mel. The younger, fresh-faced draft analyst is Todd McShay.

"I can't remember being in such awe of a quarterback in my decade of attending combines and pro days," McShay said of Russell five years ago.

So maybe Chris Berman is not ESPN's biggest buffoon.

■ NEED A HUG? - The draft's first round was full of awkward and touching moments, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was in the middle of much of the awkwardness. And the touching.

After stepping to the podium to announce the picks, Goodell traded hand slaps and bear hugs with player after player. Unofficially, the average hug lasted about seven seconds.

Most guys would not hug their girlfriend for that long in public.

A really bizarre moment arrived when Goodell and defensive tackle Dontari Poe, drafted No. 11 by Kansas City, embraced face to face and touched noses, like a couple of Olympic figure skaters.

The photo is posted on Thebiglead.com with a caption describing it as "the kiss of the night."

■ BRADY BUNCH ADDITION - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has a new brother-in-law. Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis married his pregnant fiancee, Julie Brady, on the baseball team's day off last week.

The Boston Herald reported none of Youkilis' Red Sox teammates were invited to the ceremony, but Brady and his supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen were present.

"It was just at the house; we had immediate family. It was definitely the greatest of day of my life," said Youkilis, who also left Boston manager Bobby Valentine off the guest list.

COMPILED BY MATT YOUMANS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL