Fox's NFL pregame show, "Fox NFL Sunday," is "out of
control to the point of becoming lewd as well as
sophomoric," according to Phil Mushnick of the N.Y. POST.
Mushnick: "Next year, Fox should produce this show from a
gutter" (N.Y. POST, 1/24). In Detroit, Steve Crowe reviews
CBS' "The NFL Today" and writes that analyst Jerry Glanville
"deserves much credit for raising" the show "from deceased
to decent this season" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/24). CBS
Sports President Sean McManus, on "The NFL Today": "Although
we made a pretty good ratings gain this year, we didn't
close the gap as much as we would like to ... and we're not
going to be happy until we are beating the Fox pregame show"
(RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 1/24). In Boston, Jim Baker
reviewed ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" and wrote that
analyst Marty Schottenheimer "has been stiff" as a
commentator (BOSTON HERALD, 1/23).
WITH-STANDING PAT? In Miami, Barry Jackson writes
"although some fans on the couch have called for his
retirement," Fox Sports Dir of Media Relations Dan Bell said
that Fox Sports annaouncer Pat Summerall "will definitely be
back next season" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/24). In Dallas, Barry
Horn noted "rumblings" that Summerall "makes too many
mistakes." Horn: "This of course, is preposterous.
Summerall remains the consummate professional, content to
cover the story instead of trying to be the story. There is
no question that Summerall is making more mistakes these
days. But they are all the correctable kind" (DALLAS
MORNING NEWS, 1/22). USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke gives
Summerall the "Comeback Award" for the weekend and writes,
"After many miscues last week, [Summerall] turned in one of
his best efforts of the season Sunday" with Fox's Bucs-Rams
game (USA TODAY, 1/24).
