WITHOUT QUESTION
Rodgers is made for TV if he decides to sit out season
The tale of Aaron Rodgers and his future — or lack thereof — in Green Bay continues evolving. Reporters covering the NFL are presenting an assortment of scenarios.
They inspired us to ask: Why doesn’t some network suit place a call to representatives of the reigning MVP to see if he’s interested in working a limited TV schedule of games or studio appearances should he start the season sitting on his couch?
One of the faces of the NFL, embroiled in controversy, delivering his opinions on NFL TV outlets? That just might attract big-time eyeballs to the product, right? It would also give Rodgers a chance to find out if he likes the TV environment without the pressure of being a full-time analyst.
Rodgers has already missed OTAs and mandatory OTAs. There have been no indications he will report to the Packers training camp next month or that his animus toward the organization (for whatever reason) has subsided. The stalemate is dragging out and could continue indefinitely. If the beat goes on, there would be nothing to stop him from having some kind of NFL TV role if Rodgers chose to go in that direction.
The NFL wouldn’t like it, but the league already has set precedents by allowing active players to have roles with the networks (CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN) during the season. Besides, these outlets already have their new TV deals locked up. Any pressure from the league to “discourage” its TV partners from hiring Rodgers could easily be ignored.
Outside of all the talk about him hosting “Jeopardy,” Rodgers has never shown much enthusiasm when it comes to taking the TV plunge. Yet recently, during his tango with Green Bay, he hasn’t exactly kept a low profile. On July 6, Rodgers will wear an open microphone during TNT’s presentation of “The Match,” a made-for-TV golf event where he will team with Bryson DeChambeau, taking on Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady.
There will likely be some uncensored chit-chat about Rodgers’ situation in between (golf) shots. Would anyone be surprised if Rodgers uses TNT’s “The Match” to send some messages to the football world?
What network could use Rodgers in some capacity during the upcoming season? With the exception of NBC, who will be debuting Drew Brees in its “Football Night in America” studio, all of them. Remember, we are talking about a limited schedule. Rodgers could do studio cameos on any of the NFL pregame shows. CBS could use him to help plug the hole left when the network decided not to bring Rich Gannon back. Or bring Rodgers in for one game working with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo.
Fox is in its final season of airing “Thursday Night Football” could go out in style by teaming Rodgers with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman for a few games. Two great quarterbacks dishing would be must-see stuff.
From a business standpoint, keeping a football presence would be cool for Rodgers. The corporations — like State Farm — he works for would rather see him out front, doing something football related, than going underground. The endorser aspect of his world might make Rodgers inclined to take a TV gig while waiting on his football future.
So, for a network suit it’s fairly simple. If you haven’t already called Mr. Rodgers, make that call — now.
STICKY FINGERS
WFAN’s Craig Carton and SNY’s Anthony Recker didn’t just pay lip-service to the gooey wonders of Spider Tack, they dipped their fingers into a jar to show exactly how a little dab’ll do you.
Nice work.
On “Baseball Night in New York,” Recker (with Doug Williams asking questions), who went into the jar with two fingers, left us wondering how he would be able to eventually remove the sticky stuff from his digits.
Unlike most other talkies in town Carton, with his partner Evan Roberts providing play-by-play, also dipped into the Spider Tack offering evidence that he will spare no expense, and risk a case of sticky fingers, when it comes to researching a story.
As one who covered those who were covering MLB’s steroids era, we can safely report neither Mike Francesa or Chris (Mad Dog) Russo, ever stuck a needle in their tuchis’ to demonstrate how players administered a shot of juice.
TONY HAMMERS HOME
Tony Kornheiser was not waiting for others at the network to take issue with the way his employer, ESPN, spends its money. If he took that route, he would still be waiting.
While hammering the idea of an expanded college football playoff, Kornheiser, the co-host of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption,” let the Free World know the bank college football gonifs prefer when they need a fresh infusion of cash.
“Let me tell you who won’t stop them (from expanding the college football playoffs): this network. College football is a goldmine, and ESPN will line up to hand people money,” Kornheiser said on the air.
That he would bite the hand that feeds him is no surprise. Kornheiser has always been a notoriously straight-shooter.
RUSSO AND RIZZO
Very quietly, especially for Russo, his MLB Network “High Heat” partnership with Alanna Rizzo, has upgraded the product.
Not only has Rizzo brought a more serious side to the show, she also provides what was a needed counter balance to Doggie’s wacky stylings. It’s a more serious Russo, when he teams up with Rizzo to interview a personality from the world of baseball.
Like last week, when the “High Heat” duo chatted with Chris Young, the former pitcher, MLB executive, and now Texas Rangers GM. The subject was sticky substances. Rizzo/Russo asked the kind of questions (short and to the point) that got the most out of an executive with a variety of experiences. He was able to shed some light on the controversy.
It’s not easy pairing a dominating personality like Russo with any partner. Whoever decided to team him with Rizzo made a match now paying dividends.