So Who's Going To NFL Broadcasting Boot Camp This Summer?
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Every summer, the NFL holds a broadcasting boot camp for players interested in the field, and the league just released this year's list of participants. Past attendees include Darren Sharper, Dhani Jones and ESPN's Tim Hasselbeck, and this year's group looks like they could follow in their shoes. Via USA Today....
Traditionally, TV networks scout for future NFL on-air prospects in venues such as the production meetings where they meet with players to talk about the games they're about to cover.Pretty good group there. Most have been on programs like First Talk before, and both Umenyiora and MJD have done extensive work across many channels and stations. A few weeks at Boot Camp, a couple times through the ESPN carwash, and you're ready to be hired.
But through the NFL's Broadcast Boot Camp — where players sign up to get tips from TV producers and announcers — players can essentially announce they're interest in sportscasting and go through a sort of TV combine at the NFL Films office. Last year's session drew 40 players — 21 went on to on-air gigs.
The NFL, says spokesman Dan Masonson, Monday will announce the players heading to its June 22-25 camp. They include Cleveland's Joe Jurevicius, Washington's Antwaan Randle-El, Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew, New England's Matt Light, Arizona's Bryant McFadden and N.Y. Giant Osi Umenyiora. They'll see if they have what it takes as their TV pancake makeup smears during two-a-days.
NFL takes would-be broadcasters to different training camp (USA Today)
4 Comments:
I have a better idea. Send them to school so they can learn about journalism and sportcasting. Might be a foreign concept. But there are a lot of sportscasters who get shut out of jobs because of ex-athletes who wouldn't know a pigskin from a pork rind.
That's true, Steve, even though I am a trained journalist, I know my best way to make it in the media is by using my statistics and writing ability because I'm not an ex-NFL player. With that said, I think Jeff Saturday would be excellent on television. He's a sharp guy and knows his material. Hopefully he has a Happy Birthday today as well.
Speaking of journalism, Joe Jurevicius was released by the Browns a few months ago. USA today missed that one.
ARE could be good. But then again, anything he does will be better than what he has accomplished with the Skins.