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NFL Network Performance As Lousy As Cowboys

1:30 AM Sun, Dec 21, 2008 |
David Marcus
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Those of us who were not lucky enough to be at Texas Stadium (or unlucky, as the final outcome proved) for the final game at the Irving landmark...had to put up with one of the worst produced television sporting events in recent memory.

The dozens of technical errors on The NFL Network during the game were downright shameful and, at times, laughable. Of particular humiliation was the postgame report, during which the network switched abruptly back and forth from the Cowboys honorary ceremony on the field to the studio hosts with jarring video "jump cuts", sometimes with the anchors already in mid-sentence. At times, it appeared high school students were running the broadcast, not knowing when to switch to next or what shot to take. The Cowboys postgame press conferences were barely audible, with the audio quality horribly poor.

For a network that is supposedly the face of the NFL, it is surprising and shocking how amateurish The NFL Network looks on air. At least the top brass made the right decision in ridding us of Bryant Gumbel, as quite possibly the worst play-by-play man in the history of televised athletics.

As for the actual game broadcast, viewers were treated to inane pep rally speeches and rah-rah garbage from Deion Sanders and Marshall Faulk, who offered little insight into the game. Poor play-by-play man Bob Papa did his best to maintain composure, but it was hard to concentrate with Sanders and Faulk constantly fighting for microphone time. Of particular embarrassment was a postgame shot of Ray Lewis hugging Faulk in celebration. Nothing like impartial media, eh?

Amateurish to the bone.

It was appropriate, for a Cowboys performance that was equally as amateurish.



17 Comments

Kenneth Alexander said:

The network was sorry, but the Cowboys offense was just as sorry. I don't know what it would take to motivate them but Romo looks like a high school quarterback and dosent care. What's wrong with him, has Jessica snubbed him? Owen's looks like a weinnie and doesn't give a extra effort to catch the ball. Barber is a sissy and can't run on a sore toe. The only good thing is the line and Choice and Witten. The line gives Romo time but he can't make it work. The defense is outstanding but getting wore out because their offense can't keep em off the field to rest. Philips needs to go and Garret needs to do some more trick plays with the offense.

Dan said:

I dont think the NFL provided the coverage for the game. I saw several times that it was the Cowboys "Silver Star Network" This group is the same group that is now producing the lame in house show on the jumbo tron. It seem no one in that club is serious about putting on a good show.

Dan said:

I dont think the NFL provided the coverage for the game. I saw several times that it was the Cowboys "Silver Star Network" This group is the same group that is now producing the lame in house show on the jumbo tron. It seem no one in that club is serious about putting on a good show. Dose Jerry not care to put on a good show for the fans that are footing the bill for his new stadium. The new stadium is to have the worlds largest HD Display. Great! We will get a great view of a lousy show.

Brad McKissack said:

Sad Performance!! Most undiscipline and under acheiving team in league!! Too many penalties, too many mental mistakes, and Tony has too many turnovers!! Good coaching should have corrected this!Players just seem to go through motions! This team needs a Bill Cowher bad!

It wasn't the NFL Network that provided the coverage, but it was the Cowboys who provided the poor play. All is not lost though, #81 caught a pass and threw himself a birthday party this week and he is very happy with himself. What a collosal jerk!

Wesley Helton said:

Jerry had better call PTI and see if he can borrow some of the faces in the set background to prop up in his new stadium, cause if this playoff drought doesn't end soon he'll have to get the government to bail him out too!!! What is needed...Bill Cowher, Graham Harrell, and any past or present Penn State linebacker. Someone might also want to give Jason Garrett one of those old school electric football games so he can learn a little "razzle dazzle" to his vanilla offense. And as for Tony Romeo...what the heck if he has a bad back and throws a couple of picks, look who's gonna be around to sooth his boo-boos tonight!!!

Bradshaw said:

Yes the Cowboys looked and played horrible. But the NFL Network took took so much more from those of us who have been there since the beginning of Texas Stadium. Those memories-if we could have heard and seen most of them-were something that should have been so special to us. Seeing all of the old players, wives, and families of the heros we grew up knowing and seeing since 1971 should have been priceless to all of us. The NFL Network screewed that up so horribly they should be sued!! That was the worse thing I have EVER seen. What idiot at that network couldn't hear the back ground noise? What idiot camera man couldn't work the camera? This was appalling and I feel so cheated from not being able to hear and only get quick glimpses of the past greats. You couldn't even hear the crowd and that also took so much away from the broadcast. Personally I will NEVER watch the NFL Network. The game is honestly what I expected from a season with so many ups and downs. But we must also remember it takes time to build a great team from the bottom up. So many injuries this season-not the coaches falut Jerry!!!
So I say we all boycott anything on the NFL Network. In this economy they should have shown up with bells on-they did NOT!

Charlie said:

Dallas has not done anything for 15yrs now, whats the suprise, i am 21 and i dont remember anything from the early 90's when i was 3 or 4 yrs old, this team isn't really much of a factor to the NFL and jerry keeps feeding us like this team is, other parts of the country dont worry its been to long now, Everybody think romo is not that good, but these texas sports keep soothing our brains by saying everything fine and we are good, blah,blah,blah, i dont believe any of it,, GO PATRIOTS

Charlie said:

Dallas has not done anything for 15yrs now, whats the suprise, i am 21 and i dont remember anything from the early 90's when i was 3 or 4 yrs old, this team isn't really much of a factor to the NFL and jerry keeps feeding us like this team is, other parts of the country dont worry its been to long now, Everybody think romo is not that good, but these texas sports keep soothing our brains by saying everything fine and we are good, blah,blah,blah, i dont believe any of it,, GO PATRIOTS

Charlie said:

Dallas has not done anything for 15yrs now, whats the suprise, i am 21 and i dont remember anything from the early 90's when i was 3 or 4 yrs old, this team isn't really much of a factor to the NFL and jerry keeps feeding us like this team is, other parts of the country dont worry its been to long now, Everybody think romo is not that good, but these texas sports keep soothing our brains by saying everything fine and we are good, blah,blah,blah, i dont believe any of it,, GO PATRIOTS

Sven Goonsen said:

The entire company of anyone who is remotely affiliated with channel 33 should be completely humiliated and ashamed of the hideous production they put on as a "tribute" to the cowboys. Everyone at that company should be fired. I don't care who you are, the lowest person on the totem pole should have called in and demanded that someone fix the audio. The thought that they even attempted to blame it on the PA system at the stadium is laughable. While trying real hard to listen to the festivities, you could hear background interviews with TO and others which was simply ridiculous. This is 2008 and if this is the kind of quality that these people deliver, they should be disciplined and blackballed from ever working in the industry ever again.

Jerry said:

It was the NFL network's broadcast. The Silver Star network was only picking up the broadcast and replaying it on CBS channel 11 for you cheapskates who are to tight wadded to buy cable or satellite TV.

gMON said:

Wade everybody blames him how about Garrett you bunch cry baby Texan. Wade is a good Coach Garrett is the problem so quit blaming Wade

David Marcus said:

Jerry is right (Jerry Jones?). The Silver Star Network was simply providing the local outlet for the game to be show on tv in the DFW area, but the NFL Network was responsible for the production of the telecast. Unfortunately. Sounds like many of you were as frustrated as I was.

Perly said:

NFL network should be ashamed. It looked like they used consumer grade cameras that were too contrasty and too bright and no image stabilization, unacceptable sound quality, poor choice or lack of replays. I do not understand how a pay channel can produce such a cheap looking sporting event. I thought I was watching a high school production on public access cable.

luke said:

TO is a disgrace..Landry would have sent him packing, no--Landry would never take such a malcontent..All he does is create disention, and hurt morale....The post game should have been a tribute, but the camera work, was so lousy, and looked like a high school production....On a positive note, Witten is a solid performer, and a class act......................

Rebel499 said:

The NFL network did not screw up the tribute to texas stadium. Channel 33 was responsible for that disgracefull attempt at producing a show. It was second rate and without a clue on how to produce a show. The person responsible for this should be sent packing.


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