BUZZ WORTHY
Marshall’s comments on racism makes Showtime stand out in vast sea of NFL shows out there
If Brandon Marshall performs half as well on the field Sunday afternoon for the Jets as he did in a TV studio for Showtime in the first episode of “Inside the NFL,” Gang Green will be in terrific shape. Still, there is no doubt Todd
Bowles and the producers of “Inside the NFL” are not on the same page. Not even in the same book. And while he’s a huge plus for Showtime, there is double-nodoubt Marshall’s presence on the show, and his quest for TV stardom, are a disaster waiting to happen for the Jets.
Evidence was provided last week when Marshall flipped the race card, saying there are a lot of NFL players who believe “white players, specifically at the quarterback position,” are treated differently than black players. Bowles reacted to the commentary by saying Marshall has “to be smarter” when delivering the word on a national media platform.
This was Bowles issuing a warning to Marshall. But from a TV perspective the Jets wideout showed major smarts. The Showtime/ CBS suits who brought him back for a second season on “Inside the NFL” must be ecstatic. There are a glut of NFL-centric shows on the market. The idea is to create buzz and stand out in a crowded field. It’s not an easy task but Marshall’s commentary did just that. It created headlines. What will he say next week? Creating this kind of anticipation brings even more eyeballs to the party and perhaps more subscribers to Showtime. Jets brass was well aware of the uncertainty and pitfalls of allowing an “active” player to appear on “Inside the NFL.” An NFL TV source said the scenario was “part of the discussion” during Marshall’s contract negotiation. Now there is no turning back. If the first show is any indication, Marshall already has his mouth in high gear. Not only did he create this commotion in a studio sitting along side of Phil Simms and
Norman Julius Esiason, two of the most opinionated analysts in the business, he also displayed a commanding presence. At one point, Marshall crashed (okay, maybe it was preordained) a segment he was not included in and took it over.
His aggressive posture was eyeopening. Marshall didn’t quite turn NJE and Simms into his sidekicks, but he performed on their level, which is not easily accomplished. Marshall did succeed in relegating new host Adam Schein to a hood ornament.
This is not a bad thing. Schein was cool. But with three strong opinions in the room, the “host” can better serve the show by being a righteous facilitator rather than trying to match wits (dim or otherwise) with the big dogs, whom viewers specifically tune in to hear bark.
And next week in that TV studio, Brandon Marshall will again be howling at the moon — or at least into a microphone.
What will he say next?
POPE’S NEXT STEP
Mike (Sports Pope) Francesa had three years left on his Fox Sports 1 simulcast contract when he and the Foxies cut the cord and went their separate ways.
Traditionally, when there are years left on a contract, the two parties come to a financial agreement/settlement. Often there are other stipulations too, such as a non-compete clause.
It stands to reason the Foxies want to keep Francesa off the local simulcast market for an extended period of time. Fox owns the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network, home of ESPN 98.7’s “The Michael Kay Show.” Francesa is already pounding Kay in the radio ratings race. If His Holiness lands on a local TV outlet that airs his WFAN simulcast regularly, he would be tough to beat in the TV ratings too.
Francesa said it would likely take two months for CBS suits to do a new simulcast deal. Speculation has centered on MSG Network. Yet its simulcast past suggests MSG suits may be reluctant to get back into that end of the business.
Remember, in terms of ratings and ad sales, MSG already had a good thing going when it aired the Esiason/Craig Cartoon FAN morning-drive simulcast. Yet MSG brass, in a surprising move, declined to renew the deal, allowing the show to move to CBS Sports Network.
Producing a simulcast is not a cheap proposition. Does MSG want to spend the money (in terms of paying CBS/Francesa as well as production costs) to get back into that business? And if so, how long will MSG be willing to wait for the Pope if he’s hamstrung by a noncompete situation?
Stay tuned.
THAT’S THE TICKET
The way things are trending now, the Yankees will finish the season drawing around three million fans — a great number, but down by about 10% from last season.
MLB sources say Bombers brass is paying close attention to all this and may look to change a part of the Stadium seating configuration to make tickets more affordable.
Moles say this might come in the form of a new section, like a special deck providing a more casual seating situation. A place where fans can hang out and purchase a ticket at a more reasonable price.
Sounds like a good plan. Perhaps Yankees brass is hearing the sound of Mets footsteps in a race to sell 2016 tickets?
TOM DRAMA
Tom Coughlin, beloved by the local football media, flew under the radar during the preseason.
Sunday night, he becomes very visible in Dallas. If the Giants get off to a slow start, how long before Coughlin’s future becomes an issue? Considering all he’s meant, and considering he’s working out of the Last Chance Corral, will his media supporters show patience? Or will they go in another direction.
Will the media turn up the heat? Who will be the first columnist, or Valley of the Stupid Gasbag, to drop dime on him with a “Tom Must Go” rant?
Or will Coughlin, considering the current state of the Giants, pull off a miracle?
Either way, it will be a compelling story with a most uncertain ending.
BARKING AT BOB
Watching Robert Kraft emerge from a tunnel schlepping the Patriots’ fourth Super Bowl trophy on the field Thursday night, we wondered what Chris (Mad Dog) Russo was saying. Doggie has a history of enlightening the unwashed masses when it comes to the Pats owner. Like last week, when Russo was dishing on SiriusXM with his bobo
Ira Kaufman. The subject was Kraft attending a party of swells in the Hamptons when he “ran into” Judge Richard Berman, the robe who overturned Tom Brady’s suspension.
“He (Kraft) is always at these (parties),” Dog barked. “....Bob, you’re 80 years old! Put your pajamas on, read a book!”