The start of the NFL season included the debut of a new
studio cast for CBS' "The NFL Today," along with the
premiere of FSN's new pre-game show, "NFL This Morning." In
Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley calls the addition of Craig James,
Jerry Glanville and Randy Cross to "The NFL Today" a
"terrific upgrade. Of course, there was nowhere to go but
up. This new CBS group has much more presence, much more
snap" (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 9/13). In Boston, Jim Baker calls
the show "much-improved" (BOSTON HERALD, 9/13). In
Cincinnati, John Fay calls the new trio "vastly better than
last year's wooden panel," but the show is still "vastly
behind" Fox's "NFL Sunday" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 9/13). In
Atlanta, Prentis Rogers calls the new cast "definitely an
upgrade over a year ago" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 9/13).
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: In Cincinnati, John Fay writes
that FSN's "NFL This Morning" made a "decent debut." Marv
Levy "fired in some strong opinions," and special guest
analyst Chris Spielman "was good" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER,
9/13). In Atlanta, Prentis Rogers writes the show got off
to "a promising start," with Levy "surprisingly blunt" and
panelist Jackie Slater "polished" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
9/13). In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley writes that Levy "was spry
and energetic" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 9/13).
WHO HAS THE SCOOP? In Toronto, Bill Harris reports that
ESPN's "NFL Countdown" was a "half-hour ahead" of FSN's "NFL
This Morning" with news that Cowboys DB Deion Sanders "would
not dress for the Cowboys-Redskins game" (TOR. SUN, 9/13).
AL LIKES BOOMER'S COMPANY: ABC's Al Michaels, on the new
two-man "MNF" booth: "I'm looking forward to this probably
more than any other season. It's different. It just feels
right" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 9/13).
