My NFL Sport writers and broadcasters Power Rankings

[CtCardinals78]

Enough is enough with these people slamming teams around the NFL. Some of these "experts" don't have the first clue. I decided to make up my own Power Rankings:

1. Adam Schein—Adam brings fresh, unbiased analysis to football fans. Even though it’s easy to tell he’s a New Yorker, he is very knowledgable about the league and teams. He is not afraid to make bold predictions. By bold, I don’t mean ridiculous predictions like others, say Bill Simmons, but rather well thought out and articulated predictions that make sense.
2. Pat Kirwin—(Sirius, NFL.com) It’s hard not to like Pat Kirwin. He is intelligent, and at the same time manages to teach a lot about the game to fans without condescending to them. I love hearing his insights on how the front office works in the NFL. Does a great job covering all of the “little”things and not the drama or the big name players/
3. Pete Prisco (cbs.com)—This guy has always shown love to the Cardinals and their fans. That in itself is good enough for me.
4. Jay Glazer (FOX)—Other than Shefter maybe the best inside scoop guy in the business. Seems to be more reliable than Mortenson.
5. Jamie Dukes (NFL Network)—I have to say I really was not a big fan of Jaime Dukes at first. Mainly because he blasted the Cards for firing Dennis Green calling it a knee jerk reaction. But that was a misplaced feeling because I feel that out of ESPN,FOX,CBS and NFLN Jaime Dukes just may be the best game day and player analysts of them all on TV.
6. MIKE Sando (ESPN.com)—Great writer. Fair, concise, and has a better idea on the goings on of the NFC West than anyone else on the list. No fluff, all fact and great writing.
7. Adam Schefter (ESPN)—Schefter disappointed me when he left the NFL Network. I liked him on there and have to admit I have not seen in on ESPN yet, because I refuse to watch ESPN. I’m sure ESPN will ruin his brilliant draft day coverage just like they ruined everything else.
8. James Brown (CBS)- I like JB. He’s very professional and seems like an all around nice guy. Even though I know he doesn’t do a lot of analysis, I feel he does a great job anchoring the CBS show.
9. Terry Bradshaw (Fox)—This is one whacky guy. I just like TB because he makes me laugh. I like his analysis too.
10. Mike Ditka (ESPN)—By far the best guy on ESPN. He gets it. He is fair and tells it like it is. I may not agree with everything he says, but at least I can respect it.
11. Bill Cowher (CBS)—Does a pretty decent job at CBS. I think he is fair for the most part and does a nice job covering the league.
12. Howie Long (FOX)—At times he can seem like a little more fluff than substance but overall I like his coverage. Can be a little slanted, but I just like the chemistry of the whole FOX crew.
13. Dan Marino (CBS)—Does a nice job on CBS.
14. Jimmy Johnson (FOX)—Probably the most serious out of the crew, but he has a nice way of explaining the game from a coaching perspective
15. Michael Strahan (FOX)—Not my favorite. He was much too biased for me. I think if he can become more objective he will be fine. Hopefully his sit-com works out better.
16. Chris Mortenson (ESPN)—Usually good for some breaking news, although it may not always be accuarte.
17. Jerome Bettis (NBC)-- I think he tries too hard and ends up missing the mark a lot. That said he is getting better and is waaaaaay better than Collinsworth.
18. Shannon Sharpe (CBS)—Reminds my a lot of Keyshawn. He always has an opinion and everybody has to know it, even if it means talking over them.
19. Cris Carter (ESPN)—Has some good insight, but it is obvious that he has his favortie teams and players and it shows
20. Don Banks (CNNSI.com)—Does this guy watch football? Seems like a lot of his analysis comes from looking at the box score from the week before.
21. Peter King (CNNSI.com, NBC)—Never before have I seen someone claimed to know so much about the NFL, yet known so little IMO. I am not impressed with a lot of his writings or coverage.
22. Tom Jackson (ESPN)—I used to like Tom Jackson, but I really started to notice about two years ago how he just blasts teams and players. I really have a hard time appreciating anything Tom Jackson says anymore.
23. Boomer Esiason (CBS)—Another one that thinks that everyone must know his opinion even if it means talking over people. Out of all the people listed here I find him to be the most arrogant by far.

24. Chris Berman (ESPN)—Those freaking nicknames were annoying 15 years ago when they WERE popular. This guy tries way too hard, and really I have a hard time taking him seriously. Seems to only know about Brett Favre, the Pats, Eagles, Giants, Cowboys, and the Jets.
25. Keyshawn Johnson (ESPN)—Meshawn talks over everyone, and is annoying as hell.
26. Trey Wingo (ESPN)—The worst on TV IMO. Trey is only capable of talking about Brett Favre, Terrell Ownes and drama in the NFL ad nausem. When he is not doing that he is blasting just about every team but the Pats. I really,really can not stand Trey Wingo.
27. Bill Simmons (ESPN)—The worst on writing about the NFL IMO. His colums are self serving, long drawn out pieces of garbage that I guess are supposed to be funny and informative but end up being neither. Maybe they are, I just don't have the 16 hours it would take to read his 75 page weekly dissertation on sports.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Mike Sando, not Adam...I am sure that is a typo...

 

[CtCardinals78]

Mike Sando, not Adam...I am sure that is a typo...

Yes it was thanks. Had Adam Schefter and Adam Schein on the mind.

 

[ArizonaElvis]

How can you leave out Woodson??? This is the only guy that believed the Cards could win any one of those playoff games!

 

[lauraw]

Adam Sandler???

 

[TJ]

Good write up CT!

There are some reporters I would pay money to read/hear because they bring a great product to the table. Most of the ones at the top are clear and as objective as can be. Some of them just have crummy bias towards teams and that hurts their capabilities to be objective about certain situations.

Boomer Esiason is an example of this. He played one season for the Cardinals and had sort of a falling out. This was about 13 years ago mind you, so one would think wounds would heal. Apparently no. We got ripped to shreds last season by him with puke and vitriol.

To push the point further, you can find out who are the biased and unbiased reporters are by simply listening to one topic: the New England Patriots. Biggest band wagon of the millennium. Dont get me wrong, I think they are a talented team and have a shot to win it all, but to watch ESPN and others hump their leg day in and day out, you would think they are invincible!

Add these two to your positive list:

Schlerith and Jaworski

 

[Perfectionist]

A lot of announcers make me long to the return of 1980. If some of you are to young to remember here is what happened.

There is a precedent for airing an NFL game without the use of broadcasters. On Dec. 20, 1980, NBC aired the New York Jets at the Miami Dolphins. The Jets were 3-12 entering the game and the Dolphins were 8-7. (Jets won 24-17). Since the game had no playoff implications, NBC decided to let the sounds from the stands and the PA announcer serve as the sole audio. No players were miked. Dick Enberg set the scene for viewers at the beginning of each quarter and then viewers were taken to the stadium.

I remember watching that game and it taught me that I do have a volume control on my tv and I have used it when things get dispicable.

 

[Garthshort]

CtCardinals78, a great, great, great job. I think you pretty much nailed it. As for Adam Schefter (Sp?) leaving the NFL Network for ESPN, naturally it must have been a financial decision. I like Charles Davis on NFLN, also. Not sure if you had him on your list. Also like the sportswriter from Kansas City, although he might not be eligible for your list because I'm guessing he covers all sports. Can't think of his name, but he's a heavyset black man.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Great write up. I agree with most of your list. I do, however, like Keyshawn more than you do. Yes he's always arrogant, but he does call it like he sees it and makes no apologies for it...and he's usually going against the grain of the rest of the ESPN talking heads on Sunday mornings.

 

[azmike74]

Good list, I agreed with you a few times and even chuckled at your commentary. I also agree with your analysis that Merril Hoge is not near the top 27 analysts!

 

[Catfish]

Hey man----what a wonderful write-up. You have obviously put a lot of thought and work into this post. You are to be commended for your efforts and their results. This is waaaaayyyyy over the top. Great Post!!!! You have a tremendous feel for articulating your thoughts, and your analysis is spot-on!!!!!!!

 

[Buckybird]

Things could be worse. At least we dont have to listen to Emmit destroy the english language or a druged out Michael Irvin anymore.

 

[Lorenzo]

Things could be worse. At least we dont have to listen to Emmit destroy the english language or a druged out Michael Irvin anymore.

emmitt is a gator what do you expect?

Michael Irvin has been on the NFLN. don't know if he is permanent now? I like watching michael irvin. keyshawn and chris carter are bitter and aren't good for ESPN IMO. but I guess tom jackson is the same way. I like steve young on the espn set. at the end of the day I like hearing football guys broadcasting rather than non football guys. I like fox's and CBS'set up because the non football guy(JB and the other guy who used to be a dallas news sports caster) don't really chime in too often with opinions. they keep it flowing and make it fun for the guys.
I always watch fox for pregame and prefer fox overall.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Just a question. How can you say you don't watch ESPN during your Adam Schefter review yet go on to give points about other ESPN contributors? Either you never watch ESPN or you don't. Just curious. I know there is a lot of ESPN hate out there in the world, but I would imagine most people who claim not to watch them do but don't want to admit it.

 

[RedViper]

I remember watching that game and it taught me that I do have a volume control on my tv and I have used it when things get dispicable.

Same here. Being allowed to talk during a football game in my house is a privilege that is easily lost. When I'm at the actual game I don't rely on biased and hating windbag to tell me what I'm seeing, so why would I need them in my living room?

 

[Jay Cardinal]

Same here. Being allowed to talk during a football game in my house is a privilege that is easily lost. When I'm at the actual game I don't rely on biased and hating windbag to tell me what I'm seeing, so why would I need them in my living room?

Sounds like a new rule at our house. Can't stand inviting people over to watch the Cards game only to find they are haters or just want to watch another football game instead.

 

[CtCardinals78]

Just a question. How can you say you don't watch ESPN during your Adam Schefter review yet go on to give points about other ESPN contributors? Either you never watch ESPN or you don't. Just curious. I know there is a lot of ESPN hate out there in the world, but I would imagine most people who claim not to watch them do but don't want to admit it.

I swore off of ESPN after last years playoff run. I honestly haven't watched anything ESPN since the Super Bowl. A lot of my opinions come from my observations from last season. I know Trey Wingo is still pimping fluff pieces because when I'm at the gym I can see the daily Brett Farve updates on the TV's on the treadmill.

 

[RedViper]

Sounds like a new rule at our house. Can't stand inviting people over to watch the Cards game only to find they are haters or just want to watch another football game instead.

Ugh. We have pretty strict hospitality rules at our house (can't be rude to invited guests, etc), but even people that like the Cardinals may have a hard time getting an invite during a Cardinals game. I really don't like to be like that but 16 Sundays a year, plus the playoffs if applicable, I'm pretty stingy on who I'm going to spend time with. I try to offset that the rest of the time by being fairy easygoing with just about every other part of my life. Hopefully I succeed at that, but when it comes to my Cardinals, I am a freak.

 

[Black Jesus]

Ummm, Bill Simmons is number 1 in my book

 

[DutchmanAZ]

What a great F'ing post! Nice perspective - hey!! SI, ESPN, are you listening? Critique yourselves.
You should go national with this. Great idea! Hell, we all should do it to our representatives and congressmans/womens too!

 

[CtCardinals78]

Ugh. We have pretty strict hospitality rules at our house (can't be rude to invited guests, etc), but even people that like the Cardinals may have a hard time getting an invite during a Cardinals game. I really don't like to be like that but 16 Sundays a year, plus the playoffs if applicable, I'm pretty stingy on who I'm going to spend time with. I try to offset that the rest of the time by being fairy easygoing with just about every other part of my life. Hopefully I succeed at that, but when it comes to my Cardinals, I am a freak.

You too?
I'm the same way I hate having company over other than family on gameday.

 

[RedViper]

You too?
I'm the same way I hate having company over other than family on gameday.

Exactly. My wife pretty much takes good care of me and doesn't set me up to fail by having a bunch of company over that aren't going to understand I'm a completely different person come game time.

 

[CtCardinals78]

Exactly. My wife pretty much takes good care of me and doesn't set me up to fail by having a bunch of company over that aren't going to understand I'm a completely different person come game time.

Wish I could say the same. My wife is from PA, and is a HUGE Steelers fan. By halftime of the Super Bowl she couldn't take me anymore and we watched the rest of the game in seperate rooms. Suffice to say it was about three days after the game that we started speaking again.

 

[TheHopToad]

Great review and well thought out. I would add Tiki Barber to the list. I didn't like him at first, but he works hard and is growing on me.

 

[Nash2Amare]

Move Bradshaw up. He picked the Cardinals in the NFC Championship game vs Green Bay.