NFL Media: Fisticuffs At Rams Camp; "MNF"; Deion Scolded

St. Louis media members Brian McKenna and John Hadley "became embroiled in a heated conversation that escalated into a physical confrontation" last Thursday at Rams Park, according to Dan Caesar of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, who noted McKenna and Hadley "formerly worked [together] on Rams radio broadcasts." In one of Hadley's recent columns that he posts on his Internet site, he wrote, "McKenna has failed at every station. And despite my continued support (he) has badmouthed moi (sic) for his gain. McKenna is out of work because he spends too much time working on one-liners instead of working the storylines and numbers." McKenna: "John has a big mouth. If John has a problem with me, he needs to talk to me about it personally." Hadley, who works for KTRS-AM and FSN Midwest, said that he went to a hospital "twice for treatment of neck, vision and wrist problems suffered in the fray" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/11).

Michaels & Madden Lauded For Teamwork

EASY AS A-B-C: In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley writes of the Al Michaels-John Madden "MNF" tandem: "This season, they sound more like a team. They are more comfortable playing off one another, more a blend rather than two star broadcasters sharing a booth." Coordinating Producer Fred Gaudelli: "I see a John who is sometimes a little more critical on the air than I remember him. I see a John who touches on way more topics and expounds on more topics than he did perhaps when he was at CBS and Fox. I just think it's his partner." With Madden now calling games on Monday instead of Sunday, Gaudelli added his improvement is also "because it's the last game of the weekend now, you have a chance to kind of sit back and watch, listen and see what has transpired" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/11).

NEON LIGHTS: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir, on CBS NFL analyst Deion Sanders' comments toward Falcons coach Dan Reeves about wanting to coach the team: "This is no way to behave on a studio show! Lobbying for a coaching job is unseemly. Denial or subterfuge is the strategy. The prototype was Bill Parcells, who, while working for NBC after he left the Giants, was the Michelangelo of saying he did not interview with clubs he had clearly interviewed with. On Fox's pregame show, before Jimmy Johnson left to coach the Miami Dolphins, he wore a cap with the names of two teams he was said to be talking to or being pursued by" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/11). Also in N.Y., Bob Raissman: "This is all about Sanders glomming `The NFL Today' spotlight. Sanders is succeeding in making Nantz, Esiason, and Marino his human props" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/11).