If you watched the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft last Friday night then you probably remember former Vikings running back Ed Marinaro talking for a really long time before finally announcing a pick.
The only reason why Marinaro, who is also an actor who starred in TV shows like Hill Street Blues and Blue Mountain State, finally made the announcement was because a producer walked out on stage and pointed at the notecard and basically said READ THE PICK, BUDDY. WE HAVE STUFF TO DO HERE.
Here’s Marinaro, who treated the moment like it was an open mic at a local Chuckle Hut, making the pick:
Longest draft pick announcement of all time? 😅@andrewbooth21 | @Vikings
📺: 2022 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/ffomuLCq2K
— NFL (@NFL) April 30, 2022
Yeah, that was way too long.
Marinaro talked to the Pioneer Press about the moment, saying:
“I was sort of surprised,” Marinaro said. “I thought she was going to give me a Will Smith slap or something. But I got the hint.”
He added:
“I said (to a draft representative), ‘What do we do? Should I say something fun,’ and she said, ‘That’d be good,’’’ Marinaro said. “So that’s kind of what I did. I got caught up in the moment when I got out there when the fans were screaming, and it was a little overwhelming. I felt like the Pope up there with all those fans. I really didn’t think about the time. They didn’t say to me, ‘You’ve got 60 seconds.’
“I just went out there and tried to have a good time and bring some humor to the thing. For the most part, I think the fans enjoyed it. When (Ramsburg) came out and told me to read the card, I think they were booing at it.”
I think the fans were booing for a different reason (these drafts are long enough!) but whatever. Hopefully future guest announcers can learn something from this and keep things short!
