Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira "remains a game-changing hire" for the net, as he "accurately and in easy-to-understand terms explained" why Cowboys WR Dez Bryant's apparent catch late in the fourth quarter was correctly overturned, according to Richard Deitsch (SI.com, 1/11). In Dallas, Barry Horn writes Fox "exhibited genius when it became the first network to add a former official to its NFL broadcasts in 2010," as Pereira "remains at the top of his game" (DALLASNEWS.com, 1/11). In N.Y., Bob Raissman agrees Pereira has "dramatically changed the NFL TV landscape" but writes it is because the Fox announcers "no longer ... have to first- or second-guess an official's call." Raissman: "They just call Pereira." After three replays were shown, neither Joe Buck nor Troy Aikman "questioned the legitimacy of the reception" until Packers coach Mike McCarthy challenged the call. After a commercial break, Buck "asked Pereira to predict the eventual ruling." That in essence took Buck and Aikman "off the hook." Fox then opened its postgame show "with Pereira offering the same take on the Bryant play." None of the studio analysts "took issue with, or rubber-stamped, his analysis" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/12).
PASSING THE TORCH? In Denver, Dusty Saunders writes neither CBS' Jim Nantz nor Phil Simms yesterday commented directly on Broncos QB Peyton Manning's "subpar performance." Instead, they backed away from "severe criticism in almost reverential style while regularly heaping deserved praise" on Colts QB Andrew Luck. However, the "astute camera work of the CBS production crew showed viewers how Manning's poor performance, coupled with the Colts' stout defensive work, short-circuited any chance the Broncos had to win." The cameras also "kept tabs on Manning on the sideline as his disappointment and frustration grew" (DENVER POST, 1/12).
BUCKING THE TREND: In Tampa, Tom Jones writes Buck "sounds like an analyst, not a play-by-play man." While that is not necessarily a "bad thing," he is a "little more out there than most announcers." Buck and Aikman went "way overboard praising" Packers QB Aaron Rodgers for "dealing with a calf injury and playing well against the Cowboys" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/12).
AN ACT OF CONGRESS: The office of U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) on Saturday issued a press release that stated DirecTV would restore service to Minnesota-based Cordillera, which "owns all of Montana's CBS affiliates," in time for yesterday's Colts-Broncos game. DirecTV "has been in a pay dispute" with Cordillera since Jan. 1 (BILLINGS GAZETTE, 1/11). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Alex Ben Block noted Haines "serves an area where there are a lot of Denver Broncos fans, and apparently is one himself" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 1/10).
