NBC is shaking up its Football Night in America presentation this year in an effort to put even more garnish on its feature game.
Dick Ebersol, Chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics, announced on a conference call today that Bob Costas will now be on site at the Sunday Night Football game each week, with announcers Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth.
The trio will open the program there, discuss the big news of the day in the league, and then kick it back to 30 Rock, where Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann will host the studio show. Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, and Peter King will be in the studio as well.
Costas sounds energized by the move.
"When you're at the scene of an event you always get a much different feel," Costas said. "Being in the stadium surrounded by the fans and the energy and atmosphere of the event creates an urgency and a sense of place that can't be duplicated in the studio."
As luck would have it, the next Sunday Night Football game NBC will air this season is the Bears-Broncos/Cutler-McDaniels grudge match this weekend.
"I had absolutely nothing to do with [NBC getting that game]," said Ebersol. "The league picked the games for us less than 72 hours before Jay was dealt to Chicago. And, as it happens, ESPN on Monday night now has Brett [Favre] playing Houston [on Monday Night Football]. Sometimes its serendipity."
Costas won't be on site in Denver this weekend. Collinsworth, meanwhile, said that this game is pretty important for the Broncos.
"Jay Cutler is the man in Chicago," said Collinsworth. "If he throws 17 picks in this game, he'll still be the man. For [Broncos quarterback] Kyle Orton, for Josh McDaniels, there's something to establish with this game."
Collinsworth's reaction to the trade when it happened: "Stunned." He believes it still hasn't been sufficiently explained and promises to try and shed new light during the telecast.
Michaels said, "It's always tough to find a hook for a preseason game, but I can't think of a preseason game in all my years of doing football [that matches this one for intrigue]. For a preseason game, this is probably as good as it gets."
It'll likely get even better once the real games start, in 16 days.
Just hand it ALL over to Dungy. Great move, can't get enough of his brilliance.
Costas and Dungy and Harrison? Wow, that's quite the turn off for me, I love Collinsworth and Michaels in the booth though.
We gonna here Tony quoting Bible verses in the studio while plugging his red zone program?
I simply CANNOT wait for The NFL to get going. I am damned glad we have the preseason coverage we do. At least you get to see decent football for 1/2 of a game.
It's good to see NBC doing something about their pre-game show, too. It was mundane. Of course, I guess it would be hard to hold anyone's attention after 7 +/- hours of football.
I can't believe anybody watches that NBC pregame clusterf.
Wow, Olbermann will actually be a host now? Wow again, he isn't even qualified to spew his propaganda on his "political" show and now he is going to spew his lack of knowledge for an entire half hour and half time show? Even more reason why I wont be watching Football night in America.
Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription ..... is more SMARM!
Will Collinsworth be able to fit Costas in the overhead bin or will he have to check him and pick him up at baggage claim?
Is there a baseball game for Costas to talk about before the Football game?
On Tony Dungy.... has anyone ever raised the question as to where he was with PacMan and Brandon Marshall? Or even Lawrence Phillips or any other football player who has been in trouble with the law? I was just thinking that this theory proves that he only gives a damn about being a "mentor" to someone that will put him in the spotlight. Anyone who still has respect for this man in light of my recent fidnings needs to have their head examined.
"Costas will be at game site for Football Night in America"
So what? No one cares which talking head will or will not be at a game. We care about the teams on the field. Get this press release junk off PFT and keep it on the main NBC Sports site where it belongs.
And like Florio used to point out before NBC started signing his paychecks, there are way too many talking heads involved in Sunday Night Football. Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworthless, Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann, Bob Costas, Peter King, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison.
Four of these names do not belong.
Olberloser and Costas both need to go: neither particularly cares about football. They're baseball fans. It shows. They couldn't care less about the game they're covering, and Olberloser specifically took time off from Sunday Night Football last year to go to the last home game at old Yankee Stadium. Think about that: he would rather have attended a baseball game than cover a national prime time presentation of the most popular sport in the country. Then again, given Countdown's terrible ratings and his messy divorce from ESPN, he must have a natural aversion to national attention.
Next up, Rodney Harrison needs to go, because Cris Collinsworthless already fills the niche of "former player who provides meaningless insights into the blindingly obvious."
Lastly, Peter King. Keep him on SI.com where he belongs. He's actually tolerable there. On SNF? Not so much.
All they need to do is get rid of Olbermann and the show will get much better
Actually Olbermann was one of the only good talking heads ever at EPSN Sportscenter. Back in the day. When Sportcenter was relevant.
Besides the game does anyone watch the other garbage. Olbermann is totally useless pos.
Wow, I just can't get over you negative, bitter, mom's basement dwelling posters! How can you diss such a genuine, good-hearted, and righteous dude like Dungy. In an era with the kind of scum bags the NFL has from the playing field to the owner's box, they are lucky to be associated with such a good soul. I'm a Ravens fan and I hate the Colts but I have always admired Dungy from how he treats his players to how he works tirelessly in the community. And FYI, I have never heard him push his faith on anybody. So why don't you guys focus your misguided hatred on a more deserving person and get back down to moms basement to your cookie crisp, mountain dew.
Isn't the first "Sunday Night Football" or "Football Night in America" game actually Thursday Sept 10th?
Will Kostas be at that game or just the ones on Sunday?
Hey Bmored82, you didn't respond to my point that he is only there to help when it gets him national attention. He owes everything in his football career and life to one man...... Peyton Manning.......
And when this game of intrigue is over, the score will be as meaningless as any other preseason game.
I'd be 'energized' too if I was leaving Olbermann behind.
Gonna be a great year for Costas, no Tiki and no Olby to deal with.
Killachap,
Yeah, everybody knows that the place to spew political BS is PFT. Of course, that's only right wing/racist BS, spewed by simple minded Cowboys fans and Bob Nelson, who's a fan of...somebody.
BTW, Lawrence Phillips was mentored (unsuccessfully) by Dick Vermeil when he coached the Rams.
Hey Florio, now that you are "in" over at NBC can you ask the higher ups why in the hell they continue to employ Keith? On "Countdown" (which I only watch at work on his website when I'm bored) all he does is complain and doesn't ever debate his opinions. He has no credibility. On Football Night in America he is just a clown taking up space. I have watched it once or twice and had to turn it off just because he spoke. In fact, I didnt even watch the Superbowl pre-game show because he was on it. Help us out!
the more costas they have on the screen the better. when he was on inside the NFL, it was a fantastic show, I've got nothing against Jim brown, but he couldn't hold a telepromter for Costas. Olberloser is on there simply to try to plug his show on PMSNBC, with the futile hopes of raising himself out of the absolute gutter of cable new networks. the good news is that more costas has to equal less olbermann, which is always a good thing. Also, is Tom Curran required to wear a peacock feather in his pimp hat whilst doing his thing? Not only is the feather stylish, but it sticks nicely with the idea of pimping the brand.
@ Kevin from Philly:
I dont think you know exactly what you are getting yourself into with your post. You will lose. Especially since you invoked racism and right wing "BS" when in fact I did not even bring up anything race related or political. Furthermore, my affiliation with being a Cowboys fan is and wasnt menitoned either. You my friend are what those of us on here who can have a responisble debate would call an idiot.
You want me to debunk that point. Easy, Jon Gruden won the superbowl in 02 with the team that Dungy assembled. Saying that Dungy owes everything to Manninh is like saying Phil Jackson owes everything to MJ even though the coach before him couldn't get the job done with the same team. Mora couldn't get the job done done with Manning(cue the playoffs clip) in Mannings early years. It is the intangibles that make a good coach and also the Colts came to Indy from Baltimore in '86 in shadey fashion headed by a drunk for an owner and were irrelevant. Now because of the class and football knowledge of Dungy, they are listed with the Pats and Giants as one of the best sports franchises on and off the field. Believe me, as a Ravens fan this kills me to say, but it's indisputeable.
I am still pining for Prime Time. Best. Highlights Show. Ever.
At least I don't have to watch Tiki roll his eyes at his co-hosts while making me physically nauseous though, so that's something...
Boy I sure hope Costas gets a chance right off the bat to tell us how great mickey mantle and red barber were...
So they have Dungy, Harrison and King in the studio, yet Olbermann is going to host? Boy talk about leading with your weak foot. Oh well, all the more reason to skip pregame and tune in at actual kickoff.
Like I said before I will not watch this programming if that asshole Keith Olbermann is working.
I know people will say who the f%@k cares, your just one person. But its just principle. He is a flying jackass who just can't keep football and his political reteric separated. I want football not assinine political hack talk.
Can't they find someone with a less grating voice than Collinsworth to..well..replace him? Seriously who's brilliant idea was that?!
Olbermann as host? Just another spit ball to the viewers face launched by NBC. The hate that spews out of Olbermanns mouth on a nightly basis, gets him a promotion at NBC?!
I will not watch a second of FNIA. NOT A SECOND!
Olber"woman"...oh well no NBC sports for me the guy a punk
Olbermann...I thought that punk only talked about Sarah Aplin and Bush...ya mean he's another expert too....not ginna watch....Olbermann is a grade AAA PUNK with a mic.