Yesterday we learned that ESPN will have a Monday Night Football B-team consisting of Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, Mike Ditka and Bonnie Bernstein on the first Monday of the NFL season. That announcement has prompted a lot of discussion, both pro and con. But the most interesting response I've seen came from a comment at Football Outsiders asking this:
Honest question: Can we get ESPN to put Ditka on the sideline and Bernstein in the booth? Wouldn't that ultimately be cooler and more informative?I don't know how Bernstein would do in the booth, but I couldn't agree more about Ditka on the sideline. In fact, now that I think about it, if we're going to have sideline reporters at all (and I'm not sure that we should), why aren't they always ex-coaches?
Who can provide better insight from the sideline level than someone who patrolled the sidelines as an NFL head coach? Who will know what to ask the coaches at halftime better than someone who was once in their shoes? Who would have a better chance of actually getting a coach to say something insightful than a former colleague in the coaching fraternity? This makes too much sense not to happen.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-21-2007 @ 5:32PM
John S. said...
Hello! Caller of the Day! Great POint.
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6-21-2007 @ 5:50PM
TwoNuse said...
The only problem with this theory is a current coach may not want to give sensitive information to a former coach who may get another job in the league. I know Ditka isn't getting another job, but we know Bernstein or Tafoya aren't going to be asked to join any NFL staffs anytime soon.
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6-21-2007 @ 6:58PM
The Roach said...
Eh, you'd have to pay a lot of money to get a old guy former coach on the sideline, especially in the dead of winter. I dont think they really pay the bimbos. Plus, they are only on camera for a short period of time. FOX flirted with the idea when they got Tony "the goose" Siragusa down there. But hey, anything is better than another Lisa Guerrero mess. That was just painful.
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7-24-2007 @ 5:04PM
leslie ungar said...
Former coaches on the sidelines is a stroke of genius.
As a Communication Coach, I see sports differently than the armchair quarterback who THINKS he knows it all. Sports is now entertainment, and what great value to have someone sharing the strategic thinking that goes into the decision to go for it at 4th and 4, what the QB is saying in the huddle, or why the WR is staying clear of the coach on the sidelines. Football isn't about football on TV. It's about entertainment. Actually, I'd like to see thte average Joe asking questions on the sideline. or average Josephine.
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