Tom Brady won’t be enjoying his honeymoon once he starts yelling from the NFL broadcast booth on Fox’s “America’s Game of the Week” in 2024.
Expectations for his performance to justify the $375 million the Foxes paid Brady on a 10-year contract were extremely high. It’s not a question of “if” he can do it. For that kind of funding, he “expects” to have his broadcast game together from the start.
Brady isn’t the first star quarterback to be hyped. A few years ago, before retiring, former Saints quarterback Drew Brees agreed to a multi-year contract with NBC Sports. Brees reportedly ended up replacing Cris Collinsworth (who wasn’t ready to retire) as NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” analyst.
Succession planning was a complete failure. Brees, who does double duty as NBC Notre Dame analyst and “Football Night in America” studio presenter, gave a somewhat stilted performance. Brees abruptly split from NBC at the end of his first season.
By building anticipation, NBC Sports was blamed for Brees’ television demise. Signing seven-time Super Bowl champion Brady to a huge contract raises expectations that can’t be lowered. Is there anything Fox can do to prevent Brady from becoming the next Brees?
There are no guarantees. In September, Brady told his podcast partner Jim Gray that he would be taking a break in 2023, in part to “see football from a different perspective.” Watch football from the perspective of a TV analyst and fan. While this is a step in the right direction, it is not enough. Neither are weekly podcasts or (if he’s there) playing games on a monitor in the studio.
If he hasn’t done so already (and it looks like he didn’t, because someone would have seen him), Brady should be in a booth at the stadium rehearsing the game, taped live. This allows him to practice his skills of guessing first, interacting with play-by-play people and producers, interacting with rules analysts and getting his point across quickly and succinctly. Also responsible for managing remote controls and overall control chaos in the broadcast room.
However, no one can teach character. No former player or coach can fully adapt to this, but if Brady displays his intensity on the field while being likeable, honest and engaging in the booth, his chances of success will increase exponentially.
Ultimately, it will be the quality of Fox’s 2024 NFL schedule that draws attention. Still, Brady is a polarizing star in some media circles. This “quality” can attract the casual eyeballs of those who either love him (and want him to succeed) or hate him (because they’re tired of him being celebrated) and specifically watch/hear his stammering tongue.
Either way, it doesn’t matter. As long as they’re watching.
sports nation conceding goal
Confusing decisions are normal on television sports.
When we last looked, WPIX-TV’s Sports Nation was a rich program that included news, opinion and credibility. Last week, Suit hired veteran radio voice Joe Benigno to join anchor Marc Malusis.
Why? Replicating an out-of-control talk radio vibe? Or turn “SN” into a show dedicated to complaining about being a Jets fan? Or spreading the latest NFL conspiracy theory?
After all, JB recently insisted on air that the Raiders helped beat the Jets last Monday night “because the NFL wanted the Raiders to win.”
Considering the Raiders and their late leader Al Davis were constantly at war with the NFL and even sued the league, would Roger Goodell and company be willing to give current owners Mark Davis and Russ It’s highly doubtful that Vegas would offer any help.
Sanders takes center stage
Prime Video airs a new documentary on Tuesday (November 21) that chronicles the career of Detroit Lions great Barry Sanders, who led the NFL in his prime in 1999 at the age of 31. People left the sport surprised.
The most refreshing aspect of the film is the grace and dignity of Sanders’ character and his commitment to sportsmanship.This is what all budding people must pay attention to
we the people
God had more work for Don La Greca to do.
On Monday afternoon on ESPN-98.7, DLG rebuked Rex Ryan for referring to the Jets as “us” on his weekly morning show “DiPietro and Rotenberg.”
La Greca should continue this overhaul the next time he works with Knicks broadcast analyst Monica McNutt. McNutt also referred to the Knicks as “us.”
WE would ask DLG to suggest the same to his Rangers radio partner Dave Maloney, but he’s already gone too far. Maloney’s status as a cheerleader is irrevocable.
roses rule the garden
What comes first?
Mark Jackson disagrees with MSG Network’s backup role for Walt (Clyde) Frazier on Knicks telecast? Or Leon (The Sphinx) Rose, who is stuck in a trade because of some bad history with Jax when he coached in Golden State and a current Knicks assistant?
The latter scenario is suggested in a recently released report. If the answer to the second question is “yes,” it shows how much influence Knicks president Rose has over MSG Network.
Not only does Rose, who doesn’t talk to any non-MSG media, control the top-down flow of Knicks information from the subservient Knicks broadcasters, but he can influence decisions about MSG lawsuits when it comes to hiring Knicks broadcasters like Jackson, who will be a great asset to the production.
According to reports, in this case, Rose will not allow Jax to fly on the team’s chartered flight or stay at the team hotel. So, does that make Rose first-team president/travel agent?
Around the dial
Did you already think Prime Video/Fox Sports anchor Charissa Thompson was comfortable admitting that she made up coach quotes as a sideline reporter 15 years ago because she believed there was a statute of limitations for making up nonsense? … When you’re the announcer for a team as incompetent as the Giants, it helps to have perspective and a sense of humor. Giants radio analyst Carl Banks gave an example during the Cowboys’ 49-17 win over Faded Blue. Banks: “The best thing you can say about (quarterback) Tommy DeVito is he doesn’t look terrible as a starter.” … In his recent YES podcast, the senior Sportsman Russ Salzberg says covering losers is like jumping down a street filled with negativity. “Everything went wrong. Everything was bad,” he said. “Let’s fire this guy. Let’s fire that guy. That’s the easiest thing to do. Because then people are going to scream and be disgusted by it.” Especially on X… Sal Lika Sal Licata seems to have this nasty situation under control, at least when he’s bragging into a WFAN microphone. On Wednesday, Licata dismissed a caller who criticized his show, which also stars Brendan Tierney. “Aren’t you going to tell us how to run our show?” Licata yelled. why not? Aren’t Licata and other venomous tongues constantly telling managers and coaches how to run their teams?
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Player of the Week: Fox NFL Sunday
To lend a helping hand. Sending Fox’s NFL pregame team to a military location every Veterans Day is an enriching experience. It lifted the spirits of those in attendance and others watching at home. Last week’s pregame performance against the Air Force Academy was no different.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: Sean McDermott
Fire Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. It’s inevitable that he made Dorsey the backup for all the problems on a 5-5 team. McDermott can’t fire himself or Josh Allen, the incredibly overpaid quarterback with one more win than the constantly maligned Zach Wilson.
bilingual
Que Saquon Barkley Said: “Loyalty means nothing.”
Que Saquon Barkley Meaning: “To NFL owners, we are all ultimately just a number.”