For NFL players, a broadcasting career can often seem like the path
of least resistance when contemplating a post-football career.
In reality, though, broadcasting is a much more difficult vocation than it appears at first glance.
And while some retired football players are naturals in the booth, others quite frankly have little to nothing to say.
For every Matt Millen or a Ron Jaworski, there are a ton of Emmitt
Smiths who flop and fumble in front of the bright lights of a
television studio.
That’s where the NFL’s “Broadcasting Boot Camp” comes into play with the league conducting a three-day broadcasting clinic for players who are interested in pursuing television careers, according to Les Carpenter of the Washington Post.
Washington Redskins veteran defensive end Renaldo Wynn and nearly
two dozen other current and former players, including wide receiver
J.J. Stokes, made practice tapes to be viewed by NFL Network, NBC and
FOX executives.
Former Redskins offensive lineman Ross Tucker, who writes a column
for SI.com, was one of the instructors at the boot camp. And he noted
how tough it is for former players to criticize their old colleagues.
“Players think of the media as the enemy,” Tucker said. “I still
have trouble with that, and I’m full-blown media. The reason players
hate the media is that you have a guy who just screwed up and you guys
all run over there to talk to him. It’s like vultures.”
Jaworski, who’s known for watching countless hours of video at NFL Films, stressed the importance of extra preparation.
He also advised players to not just be controversial for the sake of being controversial.
“There are guys who have done that,” Jaworski said. “But eventually
they can’t walk into a locker room. When they do, some guys say, ‘He
just wants to make a name for himself with his bold statements.’ You
lose your credibility.”
Plus, ESPN producer Bud Morgan advised players to not be reluctant
to reference their football experiences when they’re on the air.
“You don’t want to come off as self-aggrandizing,” Morgan said. “But that’s why you were hired.”
Bottom line: A rich football background typically will only take an ex-player so far.
If they can’t meet the standard of informing and/or entertaining, then, ultimately, their microphones will be taken away.
