Delhomme (l) is calling all home games and two road games while Gross calls the other six away contestsgetty images
THE ATHLETIC's Joseph Person noted the Panthers' plan to add Jake Delhomme and Jordan Gross, two of the franchise's "best-known players," to their radio team this season has been "relatively seamless nearing the midpoint of the season." The pair is splitting the analyst duties -- Delhomme is calling all home games and two road games while Gross calls the other six away contests. The Panthers this offseason decided to "replace longtime color analyst Eugene Robinson," who is now part of the postgame show, because they "wanted to find someone fans knew well and could relate to." Panthers play-by-play announcer Mick Mixon: "It's been effortless, in my judgment. And that's a credit to Jake and Jordan. ... Somehow, they intuitively both seem to understand the rhythm, the meter of an NFL broadcast" (THEATHLETIC.com, 10/31).
HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME: In N.Y., Andrew Marchand wrote ESPN's Marcus Spears has "big goals." Spears said, "I want to be a star. I'm not shy about it." Spears is "already a major part of the SEC Network, and his air time of ESPN keeps growing." Spears has drawn comparisons to Charles Barkley, since he has "that same relaxed, genuine, having-more-fun-than-anybody-on-TV vibe." But Spears said, "I just don’t think I should be compared to someone who is going to go down in the Hall of Fame of media” (N.Y. POST, 10/31)
IT'S A FREE FOR ALL: In Chicago, Jeff Agrest wonders what the need for separate AFC and NFC broadcast packages are in a media environment where "cross-flexing" exists. Agrest: "Why not put every game up for bid among the networks, ESPN and NBC included, and see where they land?" NFL Senior Dir of Broadcast Planning & Scheduling Mike North said, "Nothing is off the table right now as we look to the future. Perhaps we get to a place where the Sunday afternoon packages are configured differently. Maybe more games become available on mobile devices or streaming services" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/1).
