Patriots Protest? Boston Ranks Dead Last In NFL Draft TV Ratings
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots were not involved in the first round of this year's NFL Draft, and neither were their fans.
Mike Reiss reported that the Boston market ranked dead last in viewership of ESPN's coverage among the 56 markets where ratings are measured.
For ESPN's coverage of Day 1 of the NFL draft, the Boston market did a 1.5 rating, last among 56 metered markets.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) April 29, 2016
Reiss noted that last year, ESPN's draft coverage of the first round drew a 3.7 rating in Boston.
It may go down as the most successful protest since "DeflateGate" broke, but it's more likely tied to a lack of interest than any planned revolt. Not only was the Patriots' pick stripped, but the Patriots would have been forced to relinquish any pick if they made a trade to acquire a pick earlier in the first round. That stipulation rendered the night meaningless for anyone interested in the Patriots' fortunes, hence the plummet in the ratings.