The N.Y. POST reported Fox Sports, who in May signed Jay Cutler to be Kevin Burkhardt's partner on game broadcasts, was "ready" for the possibility of Cutler's return to the field. Charles Davis already had been "added to the booth, which will now go from a three-man to a more traditional two-man team." Cutler is finalizing a one-year deal with the Dolphins (NYPOST.com, 8/6). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote if Tony Romo were to unretire like Cutler, CBS "would have a much bigger problem." The net would "need someone to work with Jim Nantz" as their lead NFL analyst (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 8/6).
VOICE ISSUES: In Boston, Nick Cafardo reported NESN analyst Steve Lyons has been "missing from Red Sox telecasts in recent weeks because he’s dealing with a domestic battery charge after an incident at his Hermosa Beach, Calif., home in January." Lyons was "arrested and charged with domestic battery assault and would likely go to trial in September if attempts to have the charges dismissed are not successful" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 8/6). Cafardo noted fellow NESN analyst Jerry Remy "continues to recover from his fifth lung cancer surgery" and it "seems a long shot" for him to return this season. However, Remy "sounded strong and upbeat" talking recently (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 8/5).
YES BART WAS HIS NAME: In N.Y., Bob Raissman noted former CBS NFL analyst Bart Scott's recent two-day stay on WFAN-AM "surpassed any expectations we had for him working in a 'traditional' sports talk format." Scott was "magnificent" and "neither bloviated nor screamed." The information he offered on the NFL, NBA and boxing was "solid, most of it original." If Scott "wants to branch out he needs to find a way to get into baseball." But overall, what Scott "really has going for him is elusive to most." Raissman: "That is personality" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 8/5).
BLUE MAN GROUP: In Ohio, Laura Newpoff noted the Columbus Dispatch has "lost its two Blue Jackets beat writers" to The Athletic. Tom Reed will now be joining Aaron Portzline at the upstart media outfit. The departures, "for now, leave the Dispatch with Michael Arace on the Jackets beat," even though "he's a columnist" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/4).
