Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald did a quick piece breaking down what is new with NFL TV. I thought it hit all of the high points, so here it is:
A quick assessment of the biggest changes in an offseason
filled with turnover and tumult on the NFL broadcasting front:
Ron Jaworski replaces Joe Theismann on ESPN's Monday Night
Football: From an X's and O's standpoint, nobody dissects
strategy better than Jaworski. The issue is whether he will do
a better job interacting with Tony Kornheiser than Theismann
did.
Kornheiser said he's determined to be more than simply "OK"
in his second year in the booth. But he'll need Jaworski to be
far more responsive than Theismann was.
NBC adds Keith Olbermann, Tiki Barber to Football Night in
America: These are two enlightened moves — the best made by any
network this offseason. Barber — polished, articulate and
opinionated — will be a huge upgrade over Sterling Sharpe, who
couldn't stop interrupting and shouting over his colleagues.
Olbermann's sharp opinions, clever writing and witty
narration of highlights will elevate a pregame show that
dragged badly at times last year. And in Olbermann, Bob Costas
and Cris Collinsworth, NBC has three of the sharpest minds in
sports television.
Fox moves its pregame show back to Los Angeles: Wise move.
Viewers — and the announcers — were constantly distracted by
fans shouting over Jimmy Johnson & Co. in stadium parking lots.
The move back to L.A. means Joe Buck returns to doing just one
job (play-by-play) instead of juggling two. And capable Curt
Menefee becomes the program's permanent host. Also, Barry
Switzer joins the cast as Jimmy Johnson's sparring partner on a
"Coach's Corner" segment.
CBS adds Bill Cowher: This is only a pit stop for Cowher,
who likely will return to coaching in a year or two. Two
questions: Will the five-man set be too crowded, especially
considering how often the analysts interrupted each other last
season? (Probably.)And will Cowher say anything remotely
controversial that would risk angering another coach, player or
owner? (Probably not.)
That's why the best ex-coach analysts are the ones who don't
intend to return to the sideline.
ESPN dumps Michael Irvin, adds Emmitt Smith, Keyshawn
Johnson and Bill Parcells. Johnson has the most potential of
this group, but is hardly can't-miss. Though Johnson has TV
presence, he must prove he has substance, too. (His work on the
draft and SportsCenter's embarrassing "Who's Now" series didn't
have anyone nominating him for a Sports Emmy.) If Johnson is
unprepared and doesn't offer real insight — not just
superficial fluff — viewers will know it immediately, and his
act will wear thin.
Smith, who was mediocre in work for NFL Network two years
ago, lacks Irvin's charisma but gained appeal to Disney
executives with his performance on ABC's Dancing with The
Stars.
ESPN will rely heavily on Smith, who will appear on both the
Sunday and Monday night pregame shows. Parcells won't work on
Sundays but will be analyst on Monday Night Countdown, joining
Chris Berman, Tom Jackson, Johnson and others on a set in
ESPN's Bristol, Conn. studios. A second set — featuring Stuart
Scott, Smith and Steve Young — will be based at the game site.
Albert moves up: Besides the Jaworski/Theismann one, there
was only one other significant change in the booth: Kenny
Albert, who has become a first-rate play-by-play man, replaces
Dick Stockton alongside Daryl Johnston on Fox's No. 2 team.
Stockton moves to the No. 3 team with Brian Baldinger.
Albert, who has begun to show a sense of humor in recent
years (like his father, Marv), would have been better served
alongside Baldinger than Johnston, whose commentary seldom
rises above pedestrian.
