Wednesday Walk Around the League

by Ed Valentine on Dec 5, 2007 12:06 AM EST in News Comment 6 comments

Let's take a Wednesday Walk Around the League and see what others are talking about.

• Times are tough in Washington. The Redskins are dealing with the unfortunate death of Sean Taylor. The team is, in reality, not as good as had been hoped. And, it is beginning to look like the iconic Joe Gibbs can't get it done any more.

From the Washington Times.

Soon, a different kind of sadness might fill the hearts of Redskins fans. They will have to come to grips with an unhappy reality: Their team is not very good -- yet again -- and might not be good again for some time.

Worse, their icon, their Hall of Fame coach, can't do it anymore.

This might wind up the worst year ever for Redskins fans.

Fact is, Gibbs should probably never have tried to come back in the first place. He was away, and completely separated from the game, for too long.

• Pats Pulpit is ranting about the behavior of the broadcast crew during Monday night's New England-Baltimore game.

Last night, the thin veils were torched during the pregame. An entire broadcast team outwardly and blatantly rooted for one team to lose.

Not only were Mike Tirico, Tony Kornheiser and Ron Jaworski rooting for New England to lose, they invited in an obviously biased guest when the entire rest of the season they brought in a mindless celebrity with whom to mindlessly banter.

But last night, ESPN brought in former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula specifically to rail against the Patriots, and Shula was all-too-happy to oblige.

They cheered loudly when bad things happened to New England. Shula was pounding Kornheiser on the back. But when the tide started to turn, Shula grumbled and then "had to catch a plane."

I have to disagree. Yes, I know Kornheiser was rooting for the Ravens. But, he's there to put on a show. I thought all three guys were into the game. They were animated, energetic and lively. And I had no problem with Shula stopping by. He's an obvious guest.

Fact is, the broadcast reflected the desires of most NFL fans. I don't think the '72 Dolphins are the only ones who would like to see the Pats -- who really aren't likeable any longer -- go up in flames.

Besides, if you watch ESPN regularly you know they generally have an ongoing love-fest with the Patriots. Most of the time you would think ESPN is really the Patriots publicity department.

Get over yourself, Pulpit! ESPN deserves plenty of criticism, but not here.

• The Miami Dolphins are questioning their team's coaching staff. Sun-Sentinel

• Travis Henry wins appeal, avoids year-long drug suspension. Yahoo!

• Were the Houston Texans right to draft Mario Williams No. 1 instead of Reggie Bush in 2006? Maybe. Real Football 365.

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Comments

For the first time since I started coming here

I disagree with you. I honestly felt the same way about the broadcasting team on ESPN the other night. Kornheiser I don't even count, he is a buffoon who I tune out like the drunk girl in the club. I mean let's face it, that is not a good broadcasting team to begin with, and I still haven't figured out what I did to make Jaworski mad, because he is always yelling at me. Maybe it was the LT poster on my wall way back when. But considering the alternative, anything is better than Joe Theismann

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 5, 2007 8:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

What fun would it be if we always agreed? I would say the trio is not good, but at least Monday night they were energetic instead of half asleep like they normally are. If you read the Pats Pulpit rant I just think he went too far.

by Ed Valentine on Dec 5, 2007 9:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"Destiny's Children"

"The Great Escape"
"Tom Terrific"
"Survivors!"

These are some of the headlines from various media outlets that I saw after the Pats victory. I can't believe they're actually complaining AGAINST ESPN, considering that the lead story in SportsCenter every night is some rotation of: "Will the Patriots go 16-0?", "Will Tom Brady break Peyton's TD Record?", "Are the Patriots the greatest team ever?"

It's hilarioius to think that ESPN is railing against the Pats. ESPN is, after all, the Red Sox/Celtics/Pats al-jazeera network.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Dec 5, 2007 9:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

ESPN Crew

I think that the ESPN MNF broadcast crew is the best on TV right now, at least for pro games. But with that said, I noticed that Tirico, in particular, was making his calls significantly more dramatic for the Ravens than the Pats. Granting that he was just following the story, I don't think he had his best night.

His call on the Boller INT was embarrassingly flat, compared to the tone he had adopted in the second half.

But generally speaking, that's a great team. Unlike Kornheiser and Theismann, Kornheiser and Jaws have great chemistry. And I learn a lot whenever Jaws is breaking down plays.

by nygiants5811 on Dec 5, 2007 11:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jaws

I agree on Jaws. He's one of the better color commentators, although its really not saying much because as a whole NFL broadcasters are terrible.

If I'm going to break them, I'm going to break them both. - LT

by potroast on Dec 5, 2007 12:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jaws

I think Jaworski will get better and better. I don't mind this MNF team but I wish they had a better play-by-play guy than Tirico. He's Mr. Dullsville. Even on his talk show, it's dull, dull, dull. Another day, another time we will go through NFL commentators and see who Big Blue View Nation really wants to listen to.

by Ed Valentine on Dec 5, 2007 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs