Madden Musings
John Madden was riding on his bus Monday with the NFL Network on his television. He was watching a news conference in which Nick Saban was deflecting questions about his interest in the University of Alabama's coaching job and talking about what moves he planned to make this offseason with the Miami Dolphins.
Madden turned to someone who was riding with him and said, "If this guy is going to Alabama, this is the best acting job I've ever seen in my life."
Saban must have been doing a pretty good acting job, indeed. On Wednesday, he left the Dolphins to accept Alabama's $4 million-a-year contract offer.
Madden, the former Oakland Raiders coach turned longtime broadcaster, told that story Thursday during a conference call with reporters to promote NBC's coverage of this weekend's first-round playoff games. During the conference call, Madden also said:
*He stands by his statement on NBC's Christmas day broadcast that he thinks Coach Bill Parcells will be back with the Dallas Cowboys next season and wide receiver Terrell Owens won't.
*He thinks the mechanics of Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo have gotten sloppy during his recent struggles but Dallas still needs to use its passing game to attack Seattle's injury-depleted secondary this weekend. The Seahawks likely will have rookie Kelly Jennings starting at one cornerback spot and Jordan Babineaux, usually a safety, starting at the other.
"Geez, you have to throw against that," Madden said. "You can't let that off the hook."
*He still believes in New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning--just not enough to think he's going to be as good as his older brother.
"I like Eli Manning," Madden said. "He's not going to be Peyton Manning. But I think he's going to be a top quarterback."
*The league has never been more balanced--or mediocre, depending upon one's viewpoint.
"The line between the good teams and the average teams and between the average teams and the bad teams is so thin right now," Madden said, "that it's easy to go from one side to the other."
By Mark Maske |
January 5, 2007; 9:00 AM ET
| Category:
Television
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Posted by: Joe in Raleigh | January 5, 2007 9:29 AM
Madden's a boob. How much longer will he be inflicted upon us.
Posted by: mart | January 5, 2007 12:51 PM
John Madden may have been the greatest NFL coach, I believe that he won 100 games faster than anyone else
And is the best commentator in my book
Posted by: Tom Hickman, Pristina | January 5, 2007 1:55 PM
Hey Mart,
You anti-american commie rat. Take a hike loser. You suck!
Posted by: Fan 4 Life | January 5, 2007 2:07 PM
Sometimes he is a geezer, but he is quite often right. He called out Brunell in the 1st 3-weeks of the season. the bottom line is he is entertaining. I take him over aikman any day. College football actually has the best announcer folks. And isn't Brent Musburger much better when he is not Mr. CBS sports. I can actually deal with him now. can't wait for NBC to give Costas the Musburger treatment and bring him down a few notches.
Posted by: RobGreg | January 5, 2007 3:32 PM
Fan 4 Life, well played. You are 2 for 2 today, sir. (Merriman's a cheater)
Posted by: Joe in Raleigh | January 5, 2007 5:20 PM
Hey Joe (where you goin with that gun in your hand?...to find Mart I hope)
Mart is on the HIGHWAY TO HELL with a HEATSEEKER missile poised to make sure he is SHOT DOWN IN FLAMES.
Bon and Madden forever!
Posted by: Fan 4 Life | January 5, 2007 7:34 PM
Madden is wonderful. Kids who are avid and good players of the Madden games would not make the same mistakes that Dan Snyder has done while using their annually purchased PS2 and now also Xbox 360 games. Yes my son and his friends could run the Redskins more successfully. His real Brunnell commentary was priceless. The Redskins are peculiar and you did not see Garcia getting the sort of deal that brunnell was offered when they essentially were to perform the same role in the organization. Then we have Archuletta complete with injuries. There are certain things I do not like about the NFL which are owners like Dan Snyder and stadium locations like Fedex Field. No NFL stadium should be closer to it's rival territory like the Ravens in Baltimore than much of it's fan base. NFL teams should be owned by their communities not businessmen.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 7, 2007 8:12 AM
A few comments: Like navels, everyone has opinions. Here a few of mine.
I think Madden is super. He brings a flavor to the game that few others come close to providing.
As a second thought, whenever I am watching a Notre Dame game, I turn off the sound and play background music because it gets tiring hearing announcers begin their every comment with Charlie Weis' or Brady Quinn's names, irrespective of what others are doing on the field. During the recent LSU - Notre Dame game, you hardly heard them mention LSU's coach. It was as though Charlie Weis was coaching both teams!!!
Finally, I wish the networks would show more of the college halftime shows. Those bands practice long and hard with the reward of never to be seen by the T.V. viewing audience. After having watched the game, why is it necessary for "talking heads" to tell me what I just saw? If they must analyze to earn their money, why can't it be a voice-over? I'd rather see those college co-eds than to see some empty suits looking into my living room.
Posted by: Eugene Allen | January 7, 2007 12:55 PM
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Madden is awesome. The NFL is lucky to have this guy. Seriously. Every other broadcaster is like dry toast compared to this man.