With the news of Michael Strahan's retirement coming from Jay Glazer today, you can expect a Brett Favre-like load of media questions regarding the now 15-year NFL Veteran in the next few days. Obviously Strahan works well on TV because of his personality, but who would take a flyer on him?

The best fit would probably be ESPN. He would most certainly fill in with that collection of jokers, but ESPN has what seems like 45 NFL Analysts and recently hired Cris Carter for next season. CBS seems to have all of their ducks in a row when it comes to coverage and the NFL Network is cutting back, so they're persumably out of the race.

That leaves one network left and that's the outfit who broke the news of his retirement, FOX. Originally said to be pursuing Favre they would do well to add Strahan to the mix after deciding not to bring Barry Switzer back for next year. Strahan was a regular on BDSSP for the network and he definitely has a rapport those at the channel. FOX's coverage could use some player specific pieces in their pregame coverage and Strahan talking with players could balance out some of the goofy Frank Caliendo pieces.

Here's yet another clip from the "In Case You Missed It" file, and it's a great interview that CBS' Armen Keteyian conducted with Bill Belichick on Friday night. I know we've all heard enough about Spygate but if you can stomach just a bit more this is worth a viewing.

It's definitely a great interview, and I think it's the first time that Belichick admits to any wrongdoing, but I still think he knows how to divert questions with the best of them. A meeting with Congress would change that, but I'm all for just moving on. Please move on.

The Entire Bill Belichick/CBS News Interview (NFL Gridiron Gab)

Of course it's Brett Favre! Well how about this for a day after retirement tidbit....people "in the know" are actually suggesting and/or implying that Brett Favre may make the jump to the broadcast booth today. From SBD via USA Today...

Favre “ranks higher than all but seven sportscasters in any sport” according to a poll by The Marketing Arm measuring attributes such as likeability and trustworthiness. While networks likely could offer Favre a variety of roles, a "studio gig, rather than working games, makes more sense.” However, the nets “wouldn’t elaborate Tuesday on plans to corral Favre.”

ESPN VP/Communications Mike Soltys: “We’re set in our rotation of talent. But when you have somebody of this magnitude, it’s something you have to consider.”

CBS Senior VP/Communications LeslieAnne Wade: “We have no plans for any new analysts.”

Fox Sports President Ed Goren: “He is a terrific personality, and any network would be lucky to have him.”

NFL Network Exec Producer Eric Weinberger: “Brett’s candid and off-the-cuff personality would provide great entertainment value.”

Fox’ Jay Glazer said that Favre was “great in production meetings.” Glazer: "Its something you’d pay the two-drink minimum to hear -- hilarious, honest. … ‘Brett Favre Unplugged' would be [a] great TV special.”

There's no arguing that Favre would be good on television. I guess the first comparison that comes to mind would be Troy Aikman, but his personality might make him immediately more likeable than Akiman. I think the best move would be for the NFL Network to drop Deion or Marshall and run with Favre, but I don't think he's looking for work anytime soon.

TV networks may not be able to pass on Favre (USA Today)

All right, let's get ready, as the Pats will have the ball first this half.

Dan Marino just outdouched everyone by leaving his cell phone on while he was on air, and I'm sure Bill Cowher must have signed on as Billy Volek's agent.

Maroney takes the kickoff out to the 40 yard line for a good field position start. Brady to Moss, dropped. Out to Welker for nine, and Heath Evans gets the first down on the next rush. Maroney gets one yard on 1st down. Luis Castillo and Shaun Phillips get to Brady, taking him down for a three-yard loss on the sack. Brady picked again, this time by Drayton Florence on 3rd down when the ball gets tipped by Donte' Stallworth.

Rivers hits Jackson for one first down, has to throw it away on the next, and then hits Chambers for a spectacular catch on the sidelines. Turner burrows through to a 3rd and 1 on the next couple plays. Some quality Norv Face as Turner gets stuffed for a loss on that 3rd down. Here comes Kaeding again -- kick is up and good, 14-12, Pats.

Settle for less again, that's the Norval credo. Koolaid out to the 30 on the kickoff.

wah-wah-wawawawawawa. Chargers Red-Zone offense, I dub thee anticlimactic. - PM
Classic Norv Turner football. Field Goal Norv. - Hollywood Wags

Koolaid gets a huge hole on the left side for 18 on 1st down. A possible vaunted "halftime adjustment" by Coach Hobo. Time out burned, and Maroney gets nothing on the next carry. Brady to Moss, wide open for his first catch of the day and a 1st down. More construda from Maroney, who picks up another first down on the next play. Laurence goes for five more, picks up four on the carry after that -- may be a first down, not sure -- yes it is; first and goal. Nothing for Maroney on 1st, Brady hits Welker on 2nd down at the 2 yard line -- then Brady is picked again, this time by Antonio Cromartie.

Why Cromartie ran that out of the end zone, I don't know. Michael Turner gets 12 on the first rush.

Why, San Diego, must you keep teasing me? You know you're going to screw it up like every other team! Just do it so I can finish cleaning the house! - Anon

It's never a good idea to listen to Cowher when he talks about coaching in playoff games. It's like getting hooking up advice from Emo Phillips. - Hollywood Wags

Norv will get Rivers to drive down 80 yards only to kick another field goal. Or not, as the third down pass to Brandon Manumaleuna is incomplete. Welker lets the punt roll to the Pats' 37. One short play later, and the third quarter's over -- as are the bets of those of you out there who bet the Over today, I just have a bit riding on the Chargers to cover. Welker busts down the sideline after a quick pass for a first down. Maroney gets a big hole and gashes through (innuendo intended) for 20 yards, juking a couple Chargers on the way. Maroney then follows by taking a screen pass from Brady and laying the smacketh down on Marlon McCree with his shoulder.

Maroney gets a few for a first down, follows up with a yard to the SD 6.

Yeah, Simms. NE goes three-tight (coaches' decision) and the guy responsible for open space is Maroney. Quintessential Awful Announcing. - Ed

TOMMY TO WEL-KAH, TOUCHDOWN. Kick up and good, 21-12, Patriots.

Telling: San Diego is ahead in all major offensive categories save points in this game. The NORV! Effect in action, everyone. Sproles gets whacked at the 16. Rivers to Chambers for a first down across the 30. Marmalard heaves one incomplete on the next play, spikes it down while back in the pocket -- refs say Sproles was close enough to not make it grounding. Jackson gets serious air to catch the Rivers pass at the Pats' 48. Gates gets to the 40 with the catch. Turner rushes for the first.

Who gives a flying fuck about the Buick Invitational? Jim Nantz and CBS, that's who. He lapsed into Masters Mode for a second. Rivers' 2nd down pass is nearly picked by Rodney Harrison after Vince Wilfork gets a hand up to tip it. 3rd and 10 again. Harrison blitzes again and rushes a throw. Still rooting for Harrison to injure Marmalard further. Faulk fair catches the punt at the 12.

And the Oscar for Douchebag in a Melodrama goes toooooo: Philip Rivers!!! - PM

He was trying out for the Italian soccer team with that one earlier.

That Dallas Cowboys Diet Pepsi Max commercial just gets funnier now that they're out of the playoffs.

Tha utter team's kwadderback must go dahwn and he must go dahwn hahd. - jamescraven

Nice alias, Shannon. Maroney rumbles for another first down on the outside. Brady gets sacked hard back to the 16 by Stephen Cooper and Igor Olshansky. Faulk gets seven of those yards back, it'll be third and 11. Brady unloads, and Faulk lays himself out for a great catch -- and manages to roll for the first down. San Diego gets caught in a bad defensive position, and has to burn time out number 2.

Is that LT2 pulling a TO on the sideline? He's got his visor on still, but he hasn't played since the first series. Is it to hide the tears? - B

Like I said, Darth Tomlinson has seen General Turner fail him for the last time. Brady to Faulk AGAIN. Someone put a body on #33! Maroney picks up three.

More shots of Darth Tomlinson, who finds your lack of faith....disturbing. Maroney grabs six more crucial yards for another first down.

Okay, who wants Schottenheimer back in San Diego? - jamescraven

Don't go that far, James. Norval did get SD to the conference championship, which required winning a couple playoff games, which Marty didn't do in the Whale's Vagina. Maroney gets another first down rush for a few yards as the Bolts have completely caved, and that will basically end this fucker right here. 21-12, Patriots, and it's 18-0 for New England, heading to Glendale, Arizona in two weeks!

There will be an open thread for Giants-Packers, again, and I'll be around in the comments there.

Hello folks, S2N here with you for the AFC Championship game, and I'm still having a hard time believing that Jim Nantz is an award-winner of any sort.

Have some fun in comments with the pre-game, and I'll be back for the start of the game.
-------------------
Phil Simms is offending all sense of fashion yet again with that shirt and tie. Who picks that out for him?

Jesus, you'd think football players never played in the cold before. Windchills at 0, and....Steve Tasker as a sideline reporter? I'm guessing CBS didn't want to get caught without a sideliner for injury reports again after last week. Gostowski kicks off to Sproles, who's tackled at the 25 -- and here comes Marmalard. LDT gets three on his first carry and two on the second.

Does anyone else find it annoying when announcers say "last year's MVP vs. this year's MVP?" as if Tom Brady and LDT actually square off on the field, literally?

Anyway, incomplete on third down, and Mike Scifres kicks one back....and there's going to be a five yard flag for running into the punter. They'll try it again. Welker fair-catches the next punt at the 27. Brady overthrows Kyle Brady on first down -- no perfection for Tom Terrific. Koolaid Maroney gets only two yards on the 2nd down carry -- and Antonio Gates is going out of the game. Another incompletion, and it's trading 3 and outs.

Ed in comments says the Pats scored 13 of 17 times on first drives. Make that 13 0f 18 now. Sproles gets the punt back somewhere inside the 30 of SD. Rivers hits Chris Chambers for 20 something and they're at the 43. Michael Turner gets 5 to the 49. Going to Chambers again past midfield. Asante Samuel knocks down the pass headed for Vincent Jackson. Short pass to LDT for a yard or two, as Gates is back in the game. Rodney Harrison comes up on the blitz and rushes Rivers into a 3rd and 9 incompletion -- and he just juked LDT, who was trying to pass-block. Kevin Faulk is back for the punt -- fair catch at the 10.

First play is a rush hit behind the line of scrimmage for a loss. Wes Welker makes up that loss on the next play with a catch and the yards after at the 20. Pressure on Brady, hurled downfield, and we've got a flag for illegal contact on Quentin Jammer -- and that one was a legit call past five yards. Maroney gets nothing on the next carry. Brady to Ben Watson for nine, but 3rd and 1 is incomplete after that. We've seen Chris Hanson twice now, very early. Sproles gets it back to the 39 of San Diego.

I FUCKING HATE THIS MCDONALD'S AD. I hate that they're playing the long version of this, with that lame ass song.

Michael Turner gets a first down right off the bat and back to midfield with the rush. He then gets four more on the next carry. Rivers throws a floater out of bounds towards Jackson that hasn't come down yet. Marmalard gets sacked by the former Charger Junior Seau -- plus a holding call on SD, which is declined. Scifres comes out to punt again. Touchback for the Patriots.

Looks like Ted Cottrell watched the film from the Pats-Ravens game. The one where, y'know, they put pressure on Brady. - randomranting

Amazing concept, isn't it? Put pressure on the QB and make them rush their decisions! And, we have tangible results! Quentin Jammer picks Dreamboat right off the bat. Turner rushes for five -- and is brought down with a 15-yard face mask. Chambers ropes in a good catch there to make it first and goal at the 9. Turner gets a yard. 2nd down brings a pass to Lorenzo Neal, which isn't in his vicinity. Rivers hits Chambers in the end zone, but it's called incomplete -- he was out of bounds by plenty. Nate Kaeding on...it's up and through.

Chargers 3, Patriots 0. If this is the SD offense, god help them if the Patriots get it straight on O.

Brady and Co. start at the 35. Welker gets nine on the catch. Brady overthrows Randy Moss for a 3rd and 1. Heath Evans pumbles through for 3 yards and a first down.

Jesus Tapdancing Christ, Nancy Boy. That's an end-around that Moss ran, not a reverse. Simms, you should fucking correct him. Out to Faulk on the screen for four yards, Stallworth for five more to close out the first quarter. Maroney gets that first down with a seven yard run to the outside. First and goal is a short one to Faulk with a touchdown saving tackle by Eric Weddle.

Koolaid Maroney does an "OH YEAH!" and busts through the pile for six. Gostowski's kick is good, 7-3, New England.

Let the running up of the score commence....Sproles brings the kickoff back to the 30. Jackson hauls one in for 15. A "coach's decision" to keep LDT out? Norv Turner has had his first NORV! moment. Jackson nabs another one for 17 yards -- someone will be stupid enough to waste an early fantasy pick on him next season. Turner gets the next two carries and we've got 3rd and 1. Jackson again for 21 at the nine yard line. Rivers rolls out on 2nd down and tries to hit Gates -- and Tedy Bruschi makes a solid defensive play on that one. Rivers hits Chambers -- but Ellis Hobbs just took his legs out from under him, and here comes Kaeding again. His kick is good, 7-6, Patriots.

Again, this is going to look real bad if the Patriots get end zone on this next drive, and to quote PM, the NE O-line got themselves unfucked on the last drive -- so that doesn't bode well.

Nantz is great as lead announcer of the NE broadcast team. - Anon

+1.

Pats starting at the 40. Left Faulk WIDE FUCKING OPEN and he gets 13 yards into Bolts territory. Koolaid takes three tacklers with him for five yards. Welker gets a short catch on the next play. Quentin Jammer knocks down the third down pass to force fourth down, and Dateline NBC is out to punt. Kelley Washington makes a nice special teams play, batting the ball back and it's downed at the 4.

LDT looks like Darth Tomlinson on the sidelines all bundled up. Turner gets seven yards on the first two carries. Sproles gets 4 for the first down. Rivers gets smacked up HARD, threw a rainbow ball, and Asante Samuel beat out Chris Chambers for the ball -- he runs it back a bit, too. Nice hit by Vrabel, and sloppy by Chambers for not keeping position on Samuel.

Brady to Faulk for 13, then Brady to Jabar Gaffney for END ZONE. Extra point good, 14-6, Patriots.

That was promptly followed by a nice Marmalard face and vintage, vintage NORV! Face.

"The Patriots are too good at throwing and catching and getting up the field." - PS, master of the obvious. Sproles gets very little on the first play -- and if I were LDT, I'd be plotting Norval's death in the locker room come halftime. ANOTHER RIVERS PICK, this time via Ellis Hobbs, who fumbles and Samuel falls on it.

Kevin Faulk gets eight yards on some good blocking as NE tries to get all the way for a killer score before the half. Two minute warning.

IBM just showed a clip of Steve Smith making an amazing play for the Panthers. That had to be from last season or something.

Jim Nantz just mentioned that the Giants-Packers game was on Fox. This would not be notable except for the fact that announcers never mention another network. Welker incomplete, punt to Sproles, he's out at the SD 35. Darren Sproles busts one out -- gets about 30+ or so into NE territory, and they're reviewing the play.

"That made sense to you, right?" - Phil
"I've been around you long enough to be able to interpret." - Jim

Accidental truths revealed. Ball stays with SD, Rivers hits Gates for 8. Sproles gets stopped on the pass a yard shy of the first down. Chargers burn the last time out. Rivers rolls and throws out of bounds with no one open. Kaeding on for the FG, and Coach Hobo calls a time out to ice the shite playoff kicker that Kaeding is. Kick is good from 40 yards out, 14-9, Patriots. But the Pats will still get the ball back to start the second half -- job's not done there.

See you in the 2nd half thread, everyone.

Jim Nantz has capped off an especially amazing year of broadcasting for an individual by being named by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association the 2007 Sportscaster of the Year. You may remember him starting the year by going through a 63-day stretch calling the Superbowl, March Madness and then Masters.

Nantz was also tabbed to follow the Patriots around the Country for the better part of the NFL season and witnessed one of the most watched NFL games (Indy-NE, 33 million) in years.

The CBS press release doesn't say who he was up against, but they do offer this tidbit. Nantzy is writing a book!

Nantz is currently writing his first book and in May 2008, Always By My Side - A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other, will hit bookstores across the country. Nantz will tell his personal stories from football, basketball and golf and how he has met people along the way who remind him of the virtues his father instilled in him. The foreword to the book will be written by one of his father figures and dear friend, former President George H.W. Bush.

When does the fun ever stop with Jim Nantz?

(Source CBS PR)

Hi folks. Here's an open thread for Bolts-Colts, as you watch the douchebag Philip Rivers, LDT, and the greatness that is NORV! take on Peyton & Co. in the RCA Dome. (I think I've already made it very clear who I'm pulling for.) Your announcers today are the CBS 2nd team: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf; while much more tolerable than Nantz and Simms, they are capable of doozies and some nice cliches.

Things worth counting/drinking to, if you are so inclined:
1) NORV! Face
2) Manning Face
3) LDT stewing in the corner of the Chargers bench
4) Peyton ads during the game
5) Mentions of Shawne Merriman's size without noting his roid use

I'll be around in the comments and I'll see you for the Giants-Cowboys live blog. Also, enjoy this fine animated parody of the Manning ads with the douchebag Rivers. (Hat tip to KSK's Christmas Ape.)

Somebody mentioned Diane Lane in the comments of the first half thread. Such a beautiful woman, such poor movie choices.

Heath Evans is in at receiver. Bradichick is not messing around to begin the second half.

They're slowly but surely working Welker back into the offense. He's got three catches, all since late in the second quarter, if memory serves.

Again, Brady goes to Faulk for the first down. That's four catches for about thirty yards. Welker to the left for eight, then Maroney takes the handoff and rumbles 22 yards. Only one man between him and the end zone, and the Unknown Defender made the play.

Sixteen straight completions before Brady misses. He's being inducted into the Hall of Fame tomorrow. And Faulk starts a new streak with a leaning, one-handed grab. Over the middle to Gaffney - first down.

"Tom Brady, it's not open, he gets a little nervous, but he waits." - Phil Simms

LIAR!! Tom Brady does not get nervous.

Fake direct snap, Brady to Welker, touchdown!

"They faked it." - Simms

Again, Phil, tremendous analysis. Nantz just told us this. The great thing about that play was that Brady did the horrible, "Oh no, the ball got away" fake that never works - only in this case, it sold the play because defenses always see it and know that it never works. That's pretty great.

New England 21, Jacksonville 14

That the Patriots can score on Jacksonville's defense is indisputable. The real question is how long can the Jaguars offense continue to answer back?

Here's a stat I have not seen, and it would be tremendous...how many times did NE score with their first possession in each half this year? Now compare to others. Two TDs today. Incredible. - Ed

Ed, I just ran through the play-by-play for the first three games, and they scored touchdowns the first time they touched the ball in a half four times (including a kickoff return touchdown) and kicked one field goal. If nobody finds it before the game is over, I'll figure it out and post at OMDQ later, hopefully.

The Jags are continuing to answer back: long completion, Garrard to Jones for 29 yards. A false start penalty slows the momentum and Taylor picks up four on first-and-fifteen.

CBS is flashing a quarterback comparison - if nothing else, this game has featured great play from that position on both sides.

Pizza. Baby needed a bottle. Wife not watching TV directly in front of her. No idea what just happened. Affirmed.

The magic of DVR tells me that Josh Scobee kicked a field goal for Jacksonville. Thank you, DVR.

New England 21, Jacksonville 17

Disclaimer: I just got this DVR, so if it ever appears that I'm a few minutes behind, just remind me to hit the "Live" button.

I almost included the "Randall Gay from behind" quote from earlier, then decided against it. Thanks to the three of you who mentioned it.

Earlier, I mocked someone who said that Laurence Maroney was the freshest back in football right now, implying that Belichick held him out on purpose to save him for the playoffs. I think I might owe that person an apology. Maroney is playing a beastly game tonight - 15 carries for about 110 yards.

My favorite part about doing these live-blogs is that my wife usually forgets by the second-half that I've committed to something, and she starts asking me to do stuff. In the last ten minutes, I've made the baby a bottle, answered the door for the pizza, grabbed a towel for the baby, handed her her pizza, grabbed her a drink, and put the baby in his chair. Somehow, somewhere, it became 28-17, New England. I'd try using the DVR to find out, but I'm not that confident, and would probably end up zapping myself into the TV or something.

Anyway, the third quarter is over, with the score

New England 28, Jacksonville 17

I think that the officials have decided that the Pats need to win. The worst official in the NFL is refereeing the game (James Booger) and on the last TD I saw 3 guys holding. - Rob

Hey, the first "The refs want the Patriots to win" comment of the night! Welcome, we've been waiting for you!

Really, no game is complete without a personal foul on Rodney Harrison. I love the guy to death, if only because he plays for my team. The best part was the play before, when he came close to a late hit and then decided to be the offensive player's best friend so the referee wouldn't throw the flag. "Here, let me help you up, brush your shirt off, there you go."

"Youth is overrated." - Rodney Harrison to Jim Nantz

Nantzy forgot the second half of the quote: "...unless you can use HGH to get it back." I think I've taken more shots at New England than Jacksonville tonight.

Blogger sucks.

That pass to Stallworth looked very dangerous. Good thing he's Tom Brady and doesn't make mistakes.

I have just one thing to say to the people who think that the refs are skewing their calls against Jacksonville in this game: the reason I think it's hilarious is because I know that if my father-in-law is watching this game, he's swearing up and down that the announcers AND the officials are conspiring against New England.

They ought to give them the first down. Welker would have had it if he'd caught it. He meant to catch it so I say give it them. - Scott

Alright, that's funny. I think we should allow the officials to use their personal opinions on all plays. "Jones-Drew would have scored if he hadn't been gang tackled for a four-yard loss. Touchdown, Jacksonville."

Back to reality: Gostkowski gets another try and hammers this one through.

New England 31, Jacksonville 20

And no, I'm not late on the DVR. I'm just slow in general.

Faced with a fourth-and-five that could determine its season, Jacksonville takes a timeout.

Tonight's commenters deserve a special mention here. I've tried to highlight some of my favorites, but everyone is leaving good stuff tonight.

Great throw by Garrard, great catch and one-on-one move by Northcutt...not-so-great personal foul on Samuel. First down for the Jags. They're still alive.

I miss Willie McGinest in games like this. He always seemed to be the guy to step up and make the big play when the team needed it. I can think of two separate occasions against Indianapolis where the Colts needed to make something happen and he just wouldn't allow it.

Is it silly that I'm complaining about the good old days of defense with an eleven-point lead?

Fact: I'm a Patriots fan, and I didn't even want to see Harrison get that interception. I said earlier that I loved him. I think I might've been lying a little bit.

"All the players know right now that the game is over." - Simms

If the Patriots weren't involved in this game, this is where I would start rooting for the trailing team to come from behind for the win. Nothing annoys me more than when an announcer gives a team the win with a significant amount of time on the clock. Somebody in particular is very bad at this. Maybe Mike Tirico.

Can somebody make the obvious Chris Hanson joke so I don't have to?

And that's gonna be all she wrote, folks. Your final is New England 31, Jacksonville 20. Thanks for joining me here tonight. Be sure to come back tomorrow, when Signal to Noise brings you the epic Cowboys-Giants matchup.

Okay folks....here it is....your 2007-2008 College Football Media Review! Per usual these are just opinions of one man and you are entitled to your own. If you have something to add or don't agree with one of the submissions then say so in the comments.

Let's get into it. This year's awards are brought to you by YOUR LSU National Champion Golden Girls.....

Regular Season

CBS- At the beginning of the year I stated that enjoyed both Lundquist and Danielson as a team and they have a distinctive advantage calling the same conference all year long. Boy was I wrong. Danielson not only tripped over himself and his partner on his way to the first ever Regular Season Pammy Award, I'm actually convinced that the ex- Quarterback doesn’t even know the rules of the game of Football. I don’t know how many down by contact and one foot down rules he couldn’t get right but at a minimum it was 15.

Lundquist isn’t necessarily THAT bad. Sure he messes up a bit here and there, but you can actually tell he enjoys the games he covers and has a passion for SEC Football. He still seems to know more about the players in NCAA Basketball, but he’s not what’s giving his team this grade....

Overall: C-

P.S.- I really enjoyed Craig Bollerjack when he filled in. Not that CBS would make any changes, but he’s definitely a great lead.

ESPN/ABC- College Football is far and away the best thing the WWL has going. ESPN College Gameday is still the best Pregame Show on television and the wealth of their talent is put to use during the NCAA Football season. The only problem is that there’s not one team that sticks out more than another. Either the lead was horrible or the analyst was stinking up the telecast. If ESPN mixed up the teams a bit they could really make some amazing pairings for next year. Just put the dreadful people with the other dreadful people, so I can finally get my dream team of Pam Ward and Andre Ware. The Wardes!

Overall: C+/B-

Best Announcing Team- N/A

I’m sorry but there wasn’t one team that stood out as great this season. Either lead or the analyst did a horrible job, and in a lot of cases it was both.

Just missed: Ron Franklin and Ed Cunningham

Worst Announcing Team- Pam Ward and Ray Bentley

I don’t even know where to start with this team. They were factually wrong multiple times, didn’t know rules, messed up player’s names, and did about a quarter of a game near the end of the season with no sound. Obviously that last one isn’t necessarily their fault but it culminated the end of a dreadful season.

Best Individual Lead- Ron Franklin

I can’t even express how much I love Ron Franklin on any sport. He speaks well, is accurate, and works perfectly with whomever his partner is. The guy is a class act and was solid all year long.

Honorable Mention: Brad Nessler, Sean McDonough

Worst Individual Lead- Pam Ward

I’m sorry, but someone who doesn’t know the difference between a punt and a kickoff would not be a lead for me if I was running things. She is much better for College Basketball and should really stay there full time.

Honorable Mention: Mike Patrick, Thom Brennamen, Gary Thorne

Best Individual Analyst- Todd Blackledge

Having to deal with Mike Patrick’s insane comments should qualify him on it’s own, but Blackledge was light years better than any other analyst throughout the year. ESPN loved him so much that they started to go to him during SportsCenter pieces and even added him to Gameday for the BCS Championship. Good move.....he should replace Desmond Howard full time.

Worst Individual Analyst- Andre Ware

These are the ones that are hard to give out. There’s a difference between guys like Ware and Spielman and Paul Maguire. I can tell that Ware and Spielman actually care about the Sport they are covering, but they just don’t belong on the call of any game. They really just can’t keep up with their own minds and furthermore their leads. I am convinced that Andre Ware just starts making stuff up when he runs out of stuff to say.

Honorable Mention: (Obviously) Paul Maguire, Chris Spielman

Best Studio Personality- Chris Fowler

I’d almost be willing to say that Chris Fowler is the best host in any Sport and on any Network. You would hard pressed to find anyone with more knowledge about College Football and keeping Lee Corso in line is a job in itself. Speaking of Lee....

Worst Studio Personality- Lee Corso

He just doesn’t even know what’s going on anymore (not that he ever did). I mean the guy was convinced that Boston College was still in the Big East earlier in the year. Come on.

Best Newcomer- Jonathan Wiener of Trinity College

Every announcer could learn a thing or two from his passionate call at the end of the “Lateral Game”

Honorable Mention: Jesse Palmer

Worst Live Broadcasting Idea- Where’s Paul

The idea to put Paul Maguire in various spots throughout the stadium during the game was the most distracting and pointless idea I’ve ever seen. When they showed him on the camera truck getting confetti thrown at him to celebrate New Years Eve during the Chick-Fil-A Bowl…..I wanted to throw my Champagne flute at the screen.

Best Sideline Reporter- N/A (Sideline Reporters are pointless)

Just kidding…….of course it’s Erin Andrews!

Best Player Introductions- Cartman



Quote of the Year- Mike Patrick

“What is Britney doing with her life?”
_______________________

Post Season

Overall I have to say this was one of the worst Bowl Seasons in quite some time and not just in regards to the Announcing. Almost every game was uneventful and I can’t imagine how hard it gets to call a game when there’s a blowout on hand. In a Bowl Season filled with boring games I think only one word can sum up the entire College Post Season: Bands.

FOX’s BCS Bowl Bash was the worst set of Post Season games by any network I’ve ever watched in my life. Thom Brennaman was dreadful, Charles Davis regressed, Terry Donahue was confusing, and the only Announcing highlight, Matt Vasgersian’s Beer Truck and Dingle Berry comment, seemed to be poached from other mediums. I'm also praying that Oklahoma never makes another BCS game again…..not because I hate the team, but if I hear that school Fight Song ever again I’m going to lose it.

FOX’s Grade: F (first ever in AA history!)

Best Announcing Team- John Saunders, Doug Flutie, Jesse Palmer

I’ve never seen a team more passionate about a game (International Bowl) that no one was watching.

Best Individual Lead- Matt Vasgersian

Even if he did borrow those lines for broadcast I think that he was the only breath of fresh air during the BCS. He seemed to be genuinely excited about the game and was hilarious at times. I don’t buy the fact that his humor takes away from the game. I think he balances it perfectly.

Best Individual Analyst- Jesse Palmer

You may laugh it this selection, and I did when he was signed by ESPN, but the kid is solid. He’s as knowledgable as any person in the business and his timing is perfect. I was really impressed with him in the Studio all year, but especially during the International Bowl.

Post Season Pammy Award Winner- Lou Holtz

As if there was any doubt. You say you’re going to cut someone on National television…..you’re going to win something (probably a restraining order). Thanks for your almost one thousand votes and I give your final Post Season Pammy Standings and the video of your winner.

5. "Now you know why his teammates call him 'Sweet Pea'." - Charles Davis
"He's got a couple of nicknames. Donny Avery called him a white Michael Vick." - Mike Mayock
"I think Sweet Pea is a little safer." - Brad Sham
4. "Owen Schmitt, like a big runaway beer truck" - Matt Vasgersian
3. "You have an I-Pod and an I-Phone?"- Todd Blackledge
"Anything with an I in it I have it. If they come out with an I-Car I'm buying it."- Mike Patrick
"Do you have Britney Spears on that I-Pod?"- Todd Blackledge
"No.............although I hear she might be renting out that double wide to a family member."- Mike Patrick
2.
"You know, I did Larry Fitzgerald when he was a young redshirt freshman at Pittsburgh."- Gary Danielson

And your winner.....



Thanks to all of you readers and commenters for a great season and hopefully next season will be just as crazy! Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Chargers TE Antonio Gates was at a party for some shoe company called Osiris a while back. Now, the Bolts miss him terribly.

"LaDainian Tomlinson has to play better if Philip Rivers is going to win this game." Shannon Sharpe, you have lost your goddamned mind. Tomlinson has to get the ball first before he can do anything with it.

Chargers bring out the ball, but it's brought back due to a block in the back. LDT gets four on the first carry. Rivers hits Chambers for 19 at the 34 yard line. Another big third down pass to Jackson -- who goes down at the Titans 33. That's two consecutive Titans defensive players going down -- first Antoine Odom and now Michael Griffin is down after colliding with Jackson.

"That allowed Rivers to pump down the field" - PS (via SSR)

Sounds dirtier than it actually is. Rivers to Chambers again, but there's a flag -- never mind, offsides on the Titans, and the Chargers are at the 11. Chambers again, this time to the 4. No gain for LDT, and it's third and three from the four. Rivers calls time.

"Their [the Titans'] linemen and linebackers are coming fast forward, downhill." - PS. Is the Titans' D VHS or Beta?

Know how much this game sucks? You all are talking FA Cup in the comments. Not that I blame you. Jackson catches it short of the first down line after the time out. And the crowd is booing HARD as NORV! sends Kaeding out to kick a field goal. Kaeding boots it through, it's now 6-3, Titans. Yawn. By the way, Tomlinson was WIDE OPEN on that pass to Jackson, replays show.

Titans start out, get three yards on a pass to Davis. Body By LenDale gets a few, third down pass is then converted.

If you are sliding around like the dude in this commercial, he doesn't need to worry about deodorant. He just needs to hope his cup works. - Mal

I love those ads. BBL rushes for a couple more on first down. The Good Chris Henry gets stuffed on the next call. VY has to throw it away on third down, and -- yay, another punt -- and Sproles brings it to about the SD 23.

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith got a lengthy contract extension recently. How's that looking right now, Dean Spanos? Rivers to Jackson for 20 plus as LT is still stewing. Tomlinson finally gets a few yards on a swing pass. Gee, Norval realized he can catch the ball too! LT gets a couple more and is tripped up. First down on a short out to LT, who stretches for the spot. Michael Turner gets 3 on his first carry. Albert Haynesworth smacks Rivers up on 2nd down, and there's a flag -- both against Haynesworth for offsides and unnecessary roughness.

Albert you dunce. You stomp on him to make sure he is dead. - SSR

Ouch. Rivers to Jackson, AND WE HAVE END ZONE. FINALLY. Took them long enough. Kick is up and good, 10-6, Chargers.

Tennessee's moving it out, after a first down, Chris Davis runs the reverse and gets hit hard by Quentin Jammer on the tackle. Ahmad Hall gets 11 on third down and they're into the SD red zone at the end of the third. Stalled on three straight unsuccessful plays, and it's Bironas again. 38-yard try is up and...NO GOOD. Rare miss.

Tomlinson is now getting yardage. Not good for the Titans to give up a rushing first down to him for the first time all day. Rivers then overthrows Chambers. He then throws to Manumaleuna, who gets the first down at the 50 yard line. Next play finds Rivers getting hit as soon as he throws; it's incomplete to Jackson. Rivers air mails it to Chambers, who was wide open and gets inside the 10 yard line. Tomlinson just called time out (play clock, Simms explains), and that's weird, because isn't the QB the one who's supposed to see that and know about it?

I have all of you in comments beat on comparing the accidentally porny signs: Midwesterners know of the convenience store called Kum 'N Go. Of course, their equivalent of the Big Gulp is the Big Kummie.

Rivers tosses one away, he was trying to hit Tomlinson. He hits LT on the next play, who bobs and weaves just outside the goal line, and is down. NORV!'s gonna challenge that it was short, and it looks a bit short on replay -- he's gonna lose his last time out on this.

Phil Simms is unconscionably stupid. When Nantz has to correct you on the timeout/challenge situation and you PLAYED THE DAMN GAME, you are a stooge. - PM

Amazing. Simms said Norv could call time out and then throw the flag -- well, you have to throw the flag first. You can't throw the challenge flag if you don't have a time out left. Now, the Bolts are gonna go for it. Give it to LT, morons. Oof. I see premature NORV! Face. Tomlinson....up...over....second push...TOUCHDOWN. Replay shows he had the ball cross the line, but Fisher's gonna challenge it.

Play stands, kick up and good, 17-6, Chargers. NORV! has some cojones. Who knew?

The Good Chris Henry returns the kickoff to the 20 for the Titans. VY throws out of bounds in the direction of Chris Davis. VY gets plowed by the two Sh(au)wn(e)s, and then gets sacked again by Phillips and Luis Castillo. Hentrich punts to Sproles, fair catch at the 47 of SD.

We get old AFL highlights between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Houston Oilers, which has got to piss off Houston people like crazy right now. Michael Turner gets 11 yards on the carry. Tomlinson got the go-ahead touchdown and he still looks pissed. Turner hits the corner for the first down, but there's a flag and it's probably on Vincent Jackson -- yup, holding.

Jesus, we're in the old-school highlight montage and there are 5 minutes or so left in this game. Can this game end soon? Tennessee is trapped deep in its own end, and it's pretty much a hopeless case. Chargers get the ball back by Drayton Florence picking off Vince Young, Marlon McCree causes a 15-yard penalty with a block below the waist, Chargers have it at the Titans 34 or so. More Roger mentions -- two, three drinks will get you caught up.

Dear Jerry Angelo,

Please sign Michael Turner this offseason. - PM

Hah. That's cute. You think the Bears will spend money.

Watch me lie on 60 Minutes, coming up next on CBS - Roger Clemens.

Hey, Rocket, thanks for joining us! OK, we're done here at 17-6, Chargers. This Chargers team is so getting its ass handed to it by Indy next Sunday. Visit Signal to Noise some time, why don't you, and I'll see you all next weekend -- hopefully by then I can deal with the reality that NORV! has won another playoff game, somehow.

Vince Young with his long-time girlfriend, or so said the Big Lead's commenters from the thread where I got this photo.

And if the smug of Joe Buck wasn't enough for you today, we now get to listen to the slobbering of Jim Nantz and the black hole that is Phil Simms. Oof. And Simms is wearing an ugly shirt and tie combination, thus offending the fashion gods.

Did Shannon Sharpe just call them the "Timothy Titans"? - Mal

Emmitt Smith wishes he were as lucid as Shannon.

/Broncos fan

Over/Under on LT knob slobbering by Simms and Nantz in one half? I'll start it at 20. - SSReporters

Announcers don't verbally fellate running backs the way they do QBs. I'll take the under.

Why is Phil Simms dressed like Willy Wonka? - PM

Nantz is his personal Oompa Loompa. These next two are so good they have to go in. You all are on fire today:

If Shannon Sharpe and Emmitt Smith had a conversation:

Shannon: BLUBKEFEFLHBLBUSFUH TITANS LIBELBLEL!!!!

Emmitt: That may be true, but the Timothy, Tenasity, Tennessee Titans have played more better on the defense end than more than many of the other teams in the league. With Hal Aynesworth working that linear of scrimmage, they could be all over the uh....Chargers.

Shannon: BLUBBLFUBFLBU! - SSReporters

I rarely watch pre-game shows, so it's a total surprise to learn that the NFL Today has a GM. Does he worry about salary cap issues and try to make deals?

"CBS's Gus Johnson has been tearing up the minors and should deserve a shot in 2008. Said NFL Today show Charlie Casserly, "We are very close to invoking luxury tax penalties, so unless some of our aging veterans like Enberg and Criqui dont consider restructuring their deals, we may have be forced to disappoint the longtime fans of the NFL Today and let go two men whose contributions to the success of this franchise should be noted." - Gibbon Jockey

I'm still rolling over here. Let me get composed again to try and type properly. Bravo to both of you. I'm pretty sure Shannon is making names up on purpose now, and AA is correct, Eli looks like a complete herb.

Yeah...Mike Wallace interviewing Roger Clemens on 60 Minutes...that'll be some hard hitting journalism. I'd also like to note that Joe Buck announced to us that Dallas safety Roy Williams will be replacing Sean Taylor in the Pro Bowl, and that is a traveshamockery, as Williams has done nothing but suck and break his own rule about horse-collar tackling this season.

Of course, all four analysts picked the Chargers, which seems to be a no-brainer -- until you consider that this is a NORV!-coached team. If you see NORV! Face, drink, by the way.

Let's go over our rules. Drink for:

1) NORV! Face
2) Simms talks about his playing career
3) Nantz talks about the Masters
4) Tomlinson knob-slobbered by either announcer
5) Any Patriots references even though they're not playing
6) Ad for Roger Clemens' 60 Minutes softball interview tonight

I feel obligated to say this every time I live-blog a Chargers game: the powder-blue alternates should be the regular home unis. Dave Raymer kicks off to the non-Bengal Chris Henry, who gets out to the 38 yard line. Isn't it nice to see starting lineups? Hey, Fox, you can do this too -- it doesn't take much time.

That wasn't a formation on first down -- that was backyard football right there, Fucking line everyone up outside and throw. Antonio Cromartie knocks down the 2nd down pass to Justin Gage (who wears #12, that cannot be a coincidence.) Third and 10 -- VY slugs it to Ahmad Hall, on the screen and he gets 16 and a first down.

"Cromartie was in there bangin' hard." - Nantz (via Mal)

Body By LenDale bangs it out on the next two carries for nine yards and VY calls TO in Charger territory. 12 dudes in the huddle gets them a 5 yard penalty for 3rd and 6. VY scrambles for a first down anyway. Gage catches a pass at the 25 -- nice way not to drop it.

SSReporters alerts us to the presence of "Eddie Guns" Hochuli. He should be the ref for every big playoff game. The Titans are still pounding it down low. Ahmad Hall gets stopped by Quentin Jammer for no gain inside the 15. Eric Moulds brings in the VY slingshot at the 12. Shaun Phillips whacks VY on the 3rd down, and Rob Bironas is probably coming on to kick.

"35 field goals is the most made by any kicker this year, including four from 50 yards or more." - Nantz. All this tells me is that the Titans' red zone offense sucks. Kick is up and good, 3-0 Titans, but that lead isn't lasting too long.

Those cheerleaders are going to get soaked in that rain. - Mal

I hope this is an observation and not a complaint. San Diego has some of the hottest cheerleaders in the league. LDT up the middle for 2 yards to start after the kickoff. Rivers fumbles on 2nd down -- no O-line protection there -- and LDT has to fall on it to recover. Short pass to Buster Davis on 3rd down means three and out early. Mike Scifres punts to Chris Davis, who brings it back to about the 42.

Silly me. Talk about the Charger Girls without a link. Sheesh. Here you go. My favorite's Marlina. Yes, despite the fact that her profile says her favorite player is LDT, "because despite his outstanding athletic ability." I'm not looking for a brain here.

Chris Brown up for three yards on the first carry. VY gets pounded again on 2nd down, and his shoulder pad is still hanging out. VY ditches it on third down, and is slow to get up after getting waxed by Igor Olshansky (great, great name for a D-lineman.) Hentrich punts to Sproles, who fair catches at the 23 yard line.

Wow were the Chargers just celebrating VY being hurt? - AA
It sure sounded like the crowd was pretty excited about Vince Young getting hisself concussed. - Gibbon Jockey
You stay classy, San Diego. - PM

And Philip hasn't even started jawing yet. Rivers to Chambers for 5 yards, but it's canceled by a chop block on the O-lineman on Albert Haynesworth, who showed great restraint by not stomping his ass to the curb this year. Three yards on the next play for SD. Rivers then overthrows Antonio Gates, which is tough because Gates is 6'5". You really have to try hard to throw it over his head. 3rd and 18 to Brandon Manumaleuna, and he only gets nine. Here comes Scifres -- punts it 60+ yards and it's only returned for 8.

I will always cherish the image of MJD pwning Merriman this season. Classic. - PM

I know I put that video in last night's live blog, but let's watch that again.



Never gets old. Ever. Body By LenDale picks up the first down on 3rd and 1. VY hits Troupe across midfield for another 1st. Another rush for a couple more inside. BBL hits for seven more on the next play and is near the first down marker. Titans O-line is owning SD's defense on run blocking right now -- Ahmad Hall picks up the 1st down easily.

I really hated Saliva (the band) before everyone started using that dumbass song "Ladies and Gentlemen" in their promos, so that was agonizing.

Chris Brown gets four to start the second quarter on the ground. Another rush gets five more, then BBL gets the first down and more. He powers some more for 1 yard, and it's 2nd and 9 at the Chargers' 12. "Ball's out! -- ball pops into the air," says Nantz, and Shaun Phillips recovers the Chris Brown fumble.

I wish the wolf in this Jeep "Rock Me Gently" ad would eat everyone rather than sing along. Apparently some of you were expecting a Chris Brown fumble like Giants fans expect Eli picks.

"The hustle by Shawne Merriman -- and the fact that he's really big -- leads to the fumble." - PS. Yeah, no mention of Gigantosaurus' roiding. Rivers to Gates for the Bolts' first 1st down of the day. LDT carries for a couple, and a flag is picked up -- no penalty. Mention of Clemens interview tonight -- DRINK!

Rivers side-arms to Chambers for 30 yards over the top at the Titans 40.

"Chris Chambers has made a difference since he's been here." - PS. Ow, ow, ow. Stop hurting my brain. Yes, having a competent receiver will make a difference.

It's like someone has to remind NORV! a few minutes into every game that he has the best running back and the best tight end in the league. - Hanrahan

After that first down, a stuffed run and two incomplete passes by Rivers are going to bring Scifres back out again. We'd like to remind NORV! that LDT can catch the ball on a screen or two. Scifres pooches it to the Titans. BBL rushes for two, and then loses four by slipping on the screen pass yet still catching the ball. Chris Davis is knocked out before the first down marker -- oh, now they're calling it incomplete. Hentrich comes on.

Donnie Nickey just saved a really big return there because Darren Sproles looked like he was about to break it if he hadn't been tackled at the Titans 42.

Phil Rivers goes throwgasm on us -- and is struck by the luck of the Black Irish, as Cortland Finnegan picks him off in the end zone, getting position on Chris Chambers.

Ooh...Little Philip's getting pissy with his fellow players.

S2N,

Obviously, Merriman has only received injections of lidocaine and B-12.

Sincerely,
Roger Clemens

p.s.: Remember the children! - PM

+1 to you. Apparently no one on either side of the ball is capable of catching it when they are on offense. Can someone tell me that these aren't NFC teams we're watching? Hentrich punts to Sproles, ball back at midfield again. LDT gets three on the carry. Vanden Bosch nearly sacks Rivers again on 2nd down.

"Vanden Bosch wasn't quite able to finish him off." - JN. FATALITY!

Rivers hits Vincent Jackson, who goes to the Titans 26. Gates loses a yard on the short pass, and takes some time getting up. He's back on the ground.

Rivers is so weak....he could be Eli 2.0. - AA
This is how bad Eli and Rivers have been: they were traded for one another, and no one can really decide who got screwed on that deal. - PM

At least Eli's now won a playoff game. PM also advises us that Nantz pimped the Masters, everyone sip your tasty beverage. Rivers airs it out to Chambers after Gates gets carted off, and it's knocked away in the end zone by Michael Griffin. Good play by Griffin. Kicker Nate Kaeding is on for a 44 yarder -- and it's no good. That was a wounded duck.

CBS seems to cover the NFL a HELLUVA lot better than FOX because they only need 2 people talking during the game, not the 4 FOX gives us, or the 5 ESPN gives us. - SSReporters

Nantz and Simms suck up all the air time. Who could get a word in edgewise, anyway? I suppose it's better in a sense, but still....

Anyway, the Titans are working it down the field, and we have some NORV! Face looking down and dour in his cap. SLAINTE!!!

I agree with SSR on this one: Young's throwing motion is nice, if side-armed, it's what you expect from a 6'5" guy who was probably taller than most of the people he was throwing to. He had to adjust it somehow. I just hate this because it reads like Tennessee is looking to get just close enough for Bironas to kick a field goal, and that's boring as hell.

Unless NORV! is scribbling "give the ball to Tomlinson more" on his note pad, it's not gonna help him. Bironas' 44-yarder is good, and we'll go to the half 6-0, Titans. Blech. See you in the next thread.

I'm going to throw a lot of numbers at you in this post, so everyone put on your thinking caps. Again, I'm still learning all I can about the ratings system so if I misspeak please let me know in the comments.

After perusing all of the figures below it appears that the big winner for the year is clearly CBS who is up 8.6% in terms of average viewers per game. This is obviously due to strength of the AFC Matchups throughout the year, and based on that only they almost took over the overall lead away from FOX. The biggest losers are far and away the Primetime Networks (ESPN and NBC), and I've finally figured out the spin that ESPN has been putting on their ratings all year. Sure they set records for individual games on Cable, but for the first time since 1970 a Primetime game hasn't beat an Afternoon game on network television. ESPN compared apples to oranges all year long in the press by matching themselves versus High School Musical on the cable side. In actuality ESPN was down for the year in terms of viewers from 2006 to the tune of about 1 million people per game.

Okay, enough of my babbling.....here are the numbers. Oh and don't freak out like I did with the NFL Network's ratings. They include the simulcast numbers from CBS and NBC for some reason (via SBD).......

Fox
Rating- 10.7/10.6
+/- 0.9%
Avg # of Viewers Per Game- 17,100,000/16,600,000
+/- 3.0%

CBS
Rating- 10.3/9.8
+/- 5.1%
Avg # of Viewers Per Game- 16,566,000/15,248,000
+/- 8.6%

NBC
Rating- 10.0/11.0
+/- -9.1%
Avg # of Viewers Per Game- 15,964,000/17,504,000
+/- -8.8%

ESPN
Rating- 8.6/9.9
+/- -13.1%
Avg # of Viewers Per Game- 11,230,000/12,325,000
+/- -8.9%

NFL Network
Rating- 7.1/5.4
+/- 31.5%
Avg # of Viewers Per Game- 4,600,000/3,100,000
+/- 48.4%

As far as pregame shows go every network basically every Network was either equal to or below their totals from last year. The biggest loser is NBC with Football Night In America down about 400,000 viewers per telecast. Monday Night Countdown also lost a good number of individuals as well and I was surprised to see they only averaged 2,640,000 viewers for the year.

Biggest Games of 2007:

CBS

11/4- "NFL on CBS": Patriots-Colts
20.1/33,819,000

Fox

11/11- "NFL on Fox": Cowboys-Giants
15.6/25,124,000

NBC

11/25- "Sunday Night Football": Eagles-Patriots
13.4/21,800,000

ESPN

12/3- "Monday Night Football": Patriots-Ravens
11.1/17,522,000

NFLN

11/29- "Thursday Night Football": Packers-Cowboys
5.6/10,054,000

34.5 Million people to be exact. How does that rate in the overall scheme of things this year? Well it's the most watched show this season and was right behind last February's Academy Awards.....

Based on fast national ratings, an average of 34.5 million viewers* tuned into Patriots-Giants – ranking as the most watched show of the current television season and the most-watched program since the Academy Awards on February 25 (*viewership through final gun). Patriots-Giants is the most-watched NFL regular-season game since Thanksgiving 1995 (35.7 million for Chiefs-Cowboys).

Good lord that's a lot of people and especially for a Saturday night. It was an exciting game and I bet the NFL Network is kicking itself for allowing the Tri-Network simulcast.

Also via Sports Media Watch comes the individual network numbers....also impressive....

The NFL Network simulcast of Patriots/Giants averaged 25.4 million viewers on CBS and NBC last night, according to preliminary numbers. CBS drew the most viewers, averaging a 13.7 million viewers, versus 11.7 million for NBC. The game drew a combined 8.5/25 rating among adults 18-49, with CBS edging NBC in that department, 4.5 to 4.0.

(From an NFL Press Release via Fanhouse)

Someone posed this question in the previous post announcing the NFL-N/CBS/NBC Simulcast, and I've been trying to wrap my head around this whole thing. Why was FOX left out of the mix?

I can understand NBC being chosen, but CBS and not FOX is a little bit dubious at best. The first thing that pops into my mind is Patriots' Owner Robert Kraft's recent dealings with CBS. They are making a restaurant and studios for the Network right in their backyard. We all realized that was a shady move, but couldn't really understand its benefits at the time. Well now I think we've found one of them.

ProFootball Talk is reporting that FOX is extremely pissed that they were left of deal, and rightfully so. The NFL site is even saying that ESPN was interested, but wouldn't do so because their announcers wouldn't be calling the game. It's good that ESPN said that they wanted to be involved even though they weren't even invited to the party.

So I guess were back to the original point.....Why CBS and not FOX? Makes no sense if you ask me and just like FOX I'd like some answers. Don't make the Baby Fox Robot cry NFL....that's just mean.

Leading up to this past week's game Monday Night Football had been killing in the ratings. ESPN was fresh off the most viewed cable audience of all time. Then came the "Mike Vick Bowl" this past Monday. The ratings were so dreadfully low that it tied the lowest rated game since ESPN took over the franchise last year.

What's the problem with all of this? Well it turns out that while ESPN is racking up some of the most viewed games of the year, the few terrible games (NO-ATL, MIA-PITT, SEA-SF) have actually hurt them for the year.

According to Sports Business Daily ESPN a Nielsen average of 8.1 which is down 12% from last year's 9.9. With only CHI-MIN and DEN-SD left on the Season Schedule it seems unlikely they'll be able to make up the difference and top last year.

In all fairness all networks (Primetime or not), but CBS are down from last year and that's largely due to the Network getting a 20+ rating for the Pats-Colts game earlier in the year. NBC is actually down 9% from last year and could surpass 2005's Monday Night Football for the lowest rated season of any Primetime Football Program. But again, the Flex Scheduling will probably not let that happen.

Obviously it depends entirely on the matchups each year, and this year has been so crazy that the games picked before the Season didn't turn out to be so great as originally thought. I can now understand why other Networks would be up in arms over the Flex Scheduling leeway that NBC gets.

This couldn't have come at a better time and after yesterday's game and it doesn't surprise me in the least. CBS will air this Patriots team for years to come (given their deal with the AFC ) and the Pats now have the network to thank for their new....well, I'm not sure what it is. Via Sports Business Daily....

CBS and the Kraft Group are partnering to launch The CBS Scene Restaurant & Bar, a three-story, 15,000 square-foot entertainment and sports venue at the new Patriot Place near Gillette Stadium set to open in the fall of ’08. The restaurant, part of the 1.3 million square-foot Patriot Place project, will also include facilities for CBS, CBS Sports and local TV and radio affiliate stations to telecast game coverage, pre-game reports, local newscasts and live broadcasts. Additionally, the venue will boast a memorabilia display and more than 130 HD TV’s broadcasting both live and former CBS programming.

So let me get this straight....this is CBS's version of an ESPN Zone? As with everything there are pros and cons. The pro is that this venue would be Boston's CBS affiliate moving into the spot and have immediate access to players after the game. Their current location is about 45 minutes away. The con is that the team will almost certainly alienate themselves from every other network.

Kraft said of CBS, “Think of the sports properties they have that go year round. Football, college football, NCAA (basketball) for the month of March, The Masters, the U.S. Open in tennis. We’ll find a way to highlight all of these things at the CBS Scene.”

Look we all know how good they are. We've seen them play all season long, and god knows they don't need motivation. Tom Brady is an amazing Quarterback and if I had to choose someone to start my franchise with I'd pick him over Peyton Manning in a heartbeat. With that said, Jim Nantz and Phil Simms' coverage of yesterday's game was some of the most biased I've ever seen.

Let's start with Nantz. The normally straight laced Play by Player was almost giddy when Brady would go back to pass. During the Flea Flicker-Fumble it sounded like he was leaping out of the booth. Now I know that's an exciting play, but on a similar call when Big Ben hit Davenport on a wheel route, Nantz almost seemed disappointed. Jim even got verbally upset at the end of the game when Simms brought up Anthony Smith's comments. The Lead almost went as far as calling him an idiot in a "don't pick on MY Brady!" sort of way. He seemed offended that someone would trash talk the QB while showing video of Brady yawing at Smith after the Pats first TD.

Now for Phil Simms. In plays which occurred about five minutes apart from each other Simms bashed Roethlisberger for overthrowing a receiver and praised Tom Brady for doing the exact same thing. Brady threw high to Randy Moss in the endzone and Simms went even so far as to analyze the throw saying it was perfect. The analyst blamed Moss for not hauling in the "high heater" as he called it. Later in the quarter Big Ben threw high to Nate Washington and after the receiver dropped his second pass in a row Simms analyzed Ben's throw by saying it got away from him.

These were just two examples and again we get how good the Patriots are, but Brady is not perfect. The Steelers put pressure on him early and forced him into some pretty tough throws in the first half. He had to throw it away multiple times and missed on some hot routes throughout the game.

I understand that the Patriots are a huge ratings boom for CBS, and will continue to be throughout the season, but this was just a ridiculous display of pandering to the almighty Tom Brady. It was the biggest display of such behavior outside of every Brett Favre game covered by John Madden.

For more on this and other Monday thoughts hea