People & Personalities: Derrick Brooks To Appear On "First Take"

Brooks (r) Today Makes Debut As NFL Analyst On ESPN's "First Take"

Former NFLer Derrick Brooks is joining ESPN2's "First Take" as an analyst for the '09 NFL season. Brooks made his debut on the show today and will work primarily Thursdays and Fridays with analyst Lomas Brown. Former NFLer Drew Bennett is also joining the show as an analyst this season. Bennett debuted Monday and will appear on the show on Mondays and Tuesdays (ESPN). ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted Brooks this week talked to the Bears and Patriots about signing with the teams. Schefter: “I think he’s still in play, and ESPN might have to look for a new correspondent for ‘First Take’ in the event that another team makes an offer” (“NFL Live,” ESPN, 9/16). Brooks said he told ESPN he "would do this until I sign with a team" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 9/17).

ROOKIE EVALUATIONS: SI.com's Richard Deitsch reviewed this season's new NFL analysts, and wrote ESPN's Jon Gruden in his regular-season debut "didn't dominate the game coverage, showed a sense of humor and gave viewers some interesting nuggets to digest." However, Gruden "referred a couple of times to Patriots [OT] Matt Light as 'Todd Lyght,'" and claimed Patriots QB Tom Brady "was a global superstar." New NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth "worked seamlessly with Al Michaels in his first two regular-season games," and in Sunday's Bears-Packers game, Collinsworth was "forthright about [Bears QB] Jay Cutler's early troubles." Meanwhile, NBC studio analyst Tony Dungy was "candid, prepared and delivered the goods," though fellow NBC studio analyst Rodney Harrison "appeared nervous." Deitsch also wrote ESPN's decision to assign Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic to the Chargers-Raiders broadcast crew "ranked somewhere between allowing that horse into the city of Troy and Shelley Long's decision to quit 'Cheers'" (SI.com, 9/16).

Healy Will Serve As Analyst For "Hockey Night In Canada" This Season

THREE-MAN RUSH: The GLOBE & MAIL's Bruce Dowbiggin reports former NHLPA Dir of Player Affairs Glenn Healy, who resigned from the post earlier this month, has "landed with 'Hockey Night In Canada' for this season as an analyst." Healy previously worked with both the CBC and TSN. CBC Sports' Scott Moore said the firing of NHLPA Exec Dir Paul Kelly was "probably the last thing holding him back from returning to broadcasting." Meanwhile, former NHLer Kevin Weekes "will join 'HNIC' in the booth for the second game of its Saturday doubleheaders," and he will become the "first black person to hold such a position with 'HNIC.'" Former Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau has been added by "HNIC" to "do the Canadiens games with Bob Cole and Greg Millen," which "marks an attempt by 'HNIC' to reclaim its base lost in Quebec the past decade when RDS/TSN took over rights" to local Canadiens broadcasts (GLOBESPORTS.com, 9/17).

IN A NEW YORK MINUTE: On Long Island, Neil Best reported MSG studio host Deb Placey "will serve as the Islanders reporter on MSG Plus for home games," while WMAR-ABC anchor Rob Carlin "will handle the road games" (NEWSDAY.com, 9/16)....Jets LB Bart Scott, DT Kris Jenkins, S Kerry Rhodes, and OT Damien Woody and Giants RB Brandon Jacobs will appear exclusively on a variety of SportsNet N.Y. news and entertainment programs during the NFL season (SNY).