The NFL Network is insulting

[ThePresence]

It's insulting to the intelligence of any real football fan. The only guy I can watch is Rich Eisen, because he doesn't pretend to be an expert on everything football. Marshall Faulk was a great player, but he's TERRIBLE on TV. I mean, if you want be considered an expert at least know WTF you're talking about. They were talking about the keys to the game for the Giants. Faulk says he thinks the key is Kevin Gilbright. WHO?!?!?!?! Oh, you must mean Kevin Gilbride. And then he goes on talking about "Gilbright's" playcalling all year. I mean, jeez, it's kinda obvious he never heard of the guy until last week. If you want to be an expert at least get the guy's name right. It will make it seem a little more like you know wtf you're talking about. And then there's Steve Mariucci talking about how the key to the game is "Ahmad uh uh uh uh Brad uh uh Bradshaw". Again, it seems like he never heard of the guy until yesterday. Maybe they can mark down the people's names with the pens they are always waving around as if they're busy jotting down statistics on the meaningless stacks of blank paper they are always shuffling around. Deion Sanders just sounds like an idiot. "We always got it going on here at 21st and Prime". WTF are you talking about? I realize the guy needs the spotlight on him to survive, but I am not watching the network to satisfy his needs. He sounds like a complete tool every time he opens his mouth.

 

[slsmnaz]

no mention of having to listen to Gumbel doing the play-by-play?

 

[hanoverphist]

they took the nfl channel off the HD list in az. didnt even notice it at first, i never watched it anyway.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz
no mention of having to listen to Gumbel doing the play-by-play?

Bad announcing does not insult my intelligence. It's just bad announcing.

 

[Carbo]

TP, I agree with much of what you wrote. I've always thought Marshall Faulk was given the job by default somehow. He's terrible and adds nothing to the conversation. And Sanders is a clown who is on air to give the show the Hip/Cool Effect for the dumb and dumber crowd they are targeting with him. He adds nothing, either. Except for wardrobe tips. That clown belongs on MTV, wearing bling and shooting assinine videos with R Kelly.
Mariucci I like, though. As a former coach he certainly is more knowledgeable than most former jocks.
Overall, the NFL Network is disappointing. It needs more serious commentary from X's and O's guys, and less entertainment and guest appearances from celebrity football "fans".

 

[darkswordsman17]

Yeah, everytime I've watched the NFL Network I've hated it. I really wish it would just fail, but I don't see that happening, I think the NFL is too focused on making it work and will keep throwing money at it until it does. Of course I've started to hate ESPN and just about every other network that covers sports for more than just the games and a bit before and after (FSN...), they're all just becoming stupid. So, in that vein, I don't really watch them anymore (other than for the games), so I don't even have to put up with all the extra crap.

 

[BHeemsoth]

I've gotten used to this unfortunately. Sadly the Giants get no respect from any of the major networks. No one gave them a shot against Tampa, the Cowboys, or against Green Bay, and no one is giving them a chance against New England. It's just the way it is, and I've actually come to embrace the Giants in the underdog role.

 

[Spineshank]

I hate how Faulk is in Madden 08..Lets look at the total trophies, lets look at your trophies, lets look at the computers trophies...AHH STFU!

 

[Slick5150]

It is a really terrible idea for a network, and a terrible implementation of a bad idea. You almost feel bad for Rich Eisen, wondering if he's sitting there thinking "WHY did I leave ESPN?!"

I canceled the Comcast Sports Package (that includes NFL Network) as soon as they did their last game of the season. The lady at Comcast laughed and said they were getting swamped with calls from people doing the same thing.

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
It is a really terrible idea for a network, and a terrible implementation of a bad idea. You almost feel bad for Rich Eisen, wondering if he's sitting there thinking "WHY did I leave ESPN?!"

I canceled the Comcast Sports Package (that includes NFL Network) as soon as they did their last game of the season. The lady at Comcast laughed and said they were getting swamped with calls from people doing the same thing.

I think Patriot Media just automatically took it off for me

 

[purbeast0]

when the skins game was on the NFL network the whole time we were all just shaking our heads in disgust at gumbel's mistakes. he made one like every 5 minutes.

my favorite was "steven hair" (the way he pronounced Stephon Heyer's name) and they still make fun of that on the local sports radio show here.

 

[meltdown75]

talking heads FTL.

cry more.

 

[jjones]

Well, first off I agree with you; however, the NFL Network is going through the pangs of becoming an established sports network. I'm sure they feel they need people like Deion, Mooch and Faulk because of their name recognition and the fact that they can usually string a few words together coherently. With these recognizable names, I'm sure they've helped viewership.

Hey, even ESPN sucked in the early days. It will get better, but thank god they have Eisen right now. Without him it would be unbearable.

The one thing I absolutely cannot stand is Bryant Gumbel announcing games. He either owns part of that network or is sucking major dick. If not, why they brought him back this year is beyond me.

 

[M0R0NI]

Originally posted by: jjones
Well, first off I agree with you; however, the NFL Network is going through the pangs of becoming an established sports network. I'm sure they feel they need people like Deion, Mooch and Faulk because of their name recognition and the fact that they can usually string a few words together coherently. With these recognizable names, I'm sure they've helped viewership.

Hey, even ESPN sucked in the early days. It will get better, but thank god they have Eisen right now. Without him it would be unbearable.

The one thing I absolutely cannot stand is Bryant Gumbel announcing games. He either owns part of that network or is sucking major dick. If not, why they brought him back this year is beyond me.

I agree Bryant Gumbel is the worst play by play guy I have ever heard!

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
It's insulting to the intelligence of any real football fan. The only guy I can watch is Rich Eisen, because he doesn't pretend to be an expert on everything football. Marshall Faulk was a great player, but he's TERRIBLE on TV. I mean, if you want be considered an expert at least know WTF you're talking about. They were talking about the keys to the game for the Giants. Faulk says he thinks the key is Kevin Gilbright. WHO?!?!?!?! Oh, you must mean Kevin Gilbride. And then he goes on talking about "Gilbright's" playcalling all year. I mean, jeez, it's kinda obvious he never heard of the guy until last week. If you want to be an expert at least get the guy's name right. It will make it seem a little more like you know wtf you're talking about. And then there's Steve Mariucci talking about how the key to the game is "Ahmad uh uh uh uh Brad uh uh Bradshaw". Again, it seems like he never heard of the guy until yesterday. Maybe they can mark down the people's names with the pens they are always waving around as if they're busy jotting down statistics on the meaningless stacks of blank paper they are always shuffling around. Deion Sanders just sounds like an idiot. "We always got it going on here at 21st and Prime". WTF are you talking about? I realize the guy needs the spotlight on him to survive, but I am not watching the network to satisfy his needs. He sounds like a complete tool every time he opens his mouth.

Ok the guy needs to improve some... but realize this...

The guy reports and researches articles daily on a league of some 1700+ players, 100+ referees plus 400+ coaches, general managers, & executives... no one could possibly remember all that at one time.

The guys on Fox are every bit as bad as the guys on the NFL network. It would seem that the only good commentators are al micheals team, and the crew from last years espn sunday night football (which was sadly dissolved).

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: sao123
Ok the guy needs to improve some... but realize this...

The guy reports and researches articles daily on a league of some 1700+ players, 100+ referees plus 400+ coaches, general managers, & executives... no one could possibly remember all that at one time.

The guys on Fox are every bit as bad as the guys on the NFL network. It would seem that the only good commentators are al micheals team, and the crew from last years espn sunday night football (which was sadly dissolved).

I disagree. He said this during the playoffs when four teams were still playing. I wouldn't mind so much if he just said "the Giants offensive coordinator" instead of pretending that he was watching the guy all year. He obviously never heard of the guy until a short while ago, and he talks about his playcalling earlier in the season. He has no business being on TV.