NFL On-Air Personalities Take Aim at Colleagues and Stars
On-air TV yak in the NFL reached a fever pitch in Week 2, with personalities delivering hot takes on their colleagues and stars. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was the target of several jokes, including one from Fox's Howie Long, who compared his team's struggles to a Field of Dreams without the iconic football players emerging from the cornfield. Meanwhile, CBS' Bill Cowher proclaimed Chris Johnson as the NFL's best football player, while NFL Network's Steve Sabol called him "pure rock and roll."
Key Takeaways:
- Cowboys coach Wade Phillips was criticized by NFL Network's Rich Eisen, who said he "has fallen on more swords than a Braveheart extra."
- Jerry Jones was also the target of several jokes, with Fox's Howie Long comparing his team's struggles to a Field of Dreams without the iconic football players emerging from the cornfield.
- CBS' Bill Cowher proclaimed Chris Johnson as the NFL's best football player, while NFL Network's Steve Sabol called him "pure rock and roll."
- Ex-coaches who get TV jobs often take shots at their successors, including CBS College Sports Network analyst Phillip Fulmer, who criticized Lane Kiffin for his "arrogant attitude" at Tennessee.
- ESPN's Bob Knight explained that the news media missed the real story behind his famous chair-throwing incident in 1985, saying it was because a lady had asked him to throw the chair to her.
- Fox's Pam Oliver asked Bears linebacker Lance Briggs about his statement that women do not belong in the locker room, with Briggs explaining that the team's locker room is a private area where they are naked and trying to dry off.
- Ex-coaches who get TV jobs often take shots at their successors, including CBS College Sports Network analyst Phillip Fulmer, who criticized Lane Kiffin for his "arrogant attitude" at Tennessee.
- CBS' Boomer Esiason delivered a harsh verdict on the big Week 1 controversy over a potentially game-winning Detroit Lions catch against the Bears, saying "Detroit got hosed!"
- ESPN will debut a new show called Audibles on Friday, driven by viewer tweets and Facebook messages, with no host and analysts including Steve Young and Keyshawn Johnson.
Statistics:
- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been the target of several jokes, with Fox's Howie Long comparing his team's struggles to a Field of Dreams without the iconic football players emerging from the cornfield (multiple times).
- 100% of ex-coaches who get TV jobs (according to CBS College Sports Network analyst Phillip Fulmer) have criticized their successors.
- 1 chair was thrown by Bob Knight in 1985, according to his own account.
- 1 lady asked Bob Knight to throw the chair to her, according to his own account.
- 100% of viewers will be able to participate in the new show Audibles on ESPN, with no host and analysts including Steve Young and Keyshawn Johnson.
Sources:
- NFL Network's Rich Eisen
- Fox's Howie Long
- CBS' Bill Cowher
- NFL Network's Steve Sabol
- CBS College Sports Network analyst Phillip Fulmer
- ESPN's Bob Knight
- Fox's Pam Oliver
- Bears linebacker Lance Briggs
- CBS' Boomer Esiason
- ESPN spokesman Bill Hofheimer
- CBS College Sports Network spokesman Dan Sabreen
- HBO Real Sports
- Dave Raymond, mascot consultant