The biggest question now is where to turn. In the coming weeks, “The Patriot” will take a look at each program’s strengths and weaknesses to give you the best pregame show.
It seems as if the NFL Network’s “NFL GameDay Morning” would be the prime option for NFL pregame coverage. After all, it is the NFL Network, which suggests an endless knowledge of the league. But “GameDay” falls short when it comes to stacking up against the other networks in pregame coverage.
This isn’t saying the coverage is necessarily bad – it is by far the most thorough of all the networks– there’s just too much of it. “NFL GameDay Morning” starts at 9 a.m. and goes until the first kickoff at 1 p.m. That is four hours of hard analysis with more than enough information on every matchup and every player. It is truly made for the diehard football fan.
The fact that it is made for the diehard football fan, however, decreases its overall value. In order to get the total scope of information for the day’s games, the entire four hours must be watched. This is a stark contrast from CBS’ “The NFL Today” and Fox’s “Fox NFL Sunday,” where all the information needed for the day (and then some) is available by watching only an hour’s worth of television.
At no point during “NFL GameDay Morning” was there a quick rundown of the top stories, something that would strengthen the program greatly.
The four hours is an advantage when it comes to individual game previews, as the show can spend upwards of ten to fifteen minutes on a given game, while the usual one-hour programs are only allotted about five. More information is available to the viewer specifically about particular games, a feature the other networks lack. Also, there is more time for various montages and features about certain players because the NFL Network has access to the NFL Films Vault for any footage needed.
While the cast of “NFL GameDay” is star-studded, it lacks the cohesiveness of the other networks and has too many dominant personalities in one show.
The panel consists of former St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk, former San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions head coach Steve Mariucci, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp, and Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin. The group is moderated by Spero Dedes.
Of the four analysts, Faulk is the most composed. He makes his points coherently and has the type of presence that makes the other analysts listen when he talks. It’s a pretty remarkable feat, considering Faulk is sharing the table with Irvin and Sapp.
The biggest problems with the program are Irvin and Sapp. Both are dominant personalities that falsely believe that they are both excellent orators of the English language. When something is said that they do not agree with, Irvin and Sapp disagree arrogantly.
It’s easy to see how the playing styles of Faulk, Sapp, and Irvin all translate into their studio presence. Faulk is never flashy and is a leader by example.
Sapp was a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line for Tampa Bay and Oakland and Irvin was outspoken in Dallas. These personas transfer directly off the field.
The coach in the middle of all this is Mariucci, who takes his time before he speaks and is measured with his criticisms. He works with Faulk to add balance to the outspoken Sapp and Irvin. At some points, Dedes looks like he is trying to babysit oversized five year olds in the middle of a shouting match.
All of this aside, the content put out by NFL Network is still great. Jason La Canfora, while not on par with Fox’s Jay Glazer or ESPN’s Adam Schefter, gets the latest injury and player updates, but doesn’t appear frequently enough to make the viewer feel as if the information is indeed up to the minute.
While NFL Network does do its job of getting the reader informed, it still has a long way to go to stack up against “The NFL Today” and “Fox NFL Sunday.” The greatest lesson it (and its analysts) can learn is quality over quantity.
Dan Gallen can be reached for comment at [email protected]