NBC's Al Michaels during yesterday's Patriots-Ravens game discussed the findings of the Mueller report, noting the report concluded there was no evidence that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "or anyone else in the league had received or seen the tape prior to it going public." NBC’s Cris Collinsworth replied in part, "I never once in all my dealings with the commissioner ever doubted his integrity and I think that came out in the report as well." Michaels: "It did" (“AFC Divisional Playoff: Ravens-Patriots,” NBC, 1/10).
Michaels reportedly was "reading a script" when discussing Goodell. Per audio obtained by DEADSPIN, Michaels can be heard "consulting with his producer and shuffling the papers of the prepared statement -- and the conversation he had" with Collinsworth about it afterwards (DEADSPIN.com, 1/10).
The comments have drawn criticism in print and on Twitter. The Baltimore SUN's David Zurawik: "Seeing the game stopped so that these two could serve as PR operatives to whitewash Goodell’s handling of the matter and burnish his image made me as angry as anything I have seen on TV this year" (Baltimore SUN, 1/11). ESPN's Bill Simmons tweeted, "I like Collinsworth and Michaels but come on. That was like listening to Michael Cole and JBL praising Vince McMahon." SI.com's Richard Deitsch: "I consider Michaels/Collinsworth the best NFL announcing team in my lifetime. But they embarrassed themselves tonight w. the Mueller Report." FoxSports.com's Jimmy Traina: "Cris Collinsworth with one of the most embarrassing moments you'll ever see during a sporting event."
