It might not be stunning if Tony Romo carries added baggage into CBS Sports activities’ AFC Championship Sport sales space Sunday night.
Romo, a former Cowboys quarterback, will likely be below strain whereas dissecting two of the sport’s greatest sign callers, Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes and Buffalo’s Josh Allen.
But Romo’s largest problem is the cloud forged by one other former Dallas QB, ESPN’s Troy Aikman (final week he bluntly said the officers tilted towards Mahomes), that will likely be hovering over CBS’ No. 1 NFL analyst.
Aikman lashed out a few instances on ESPN through the Texans-Chiefs Wild Card Sport. After Mahomes slid late, drawing a penalty flag on the Texans, Aikman mentioned: “Oh, come on. He [Mahomes] is a runner and I could not disagree on that one more….They [the NFL] gotta address this in the offseason. You can’t, as a quarterback, run around and play games with defenders and be able to draw a penalty.”
Then, in one other sequence, Mahomes took a pratfall, aka flop. Aikman rendered a transparent judgement: “He [Mahomes] is trying to draw the penalty. You see that rather than run out of bounds, he slows down. That’s been the frustration for these defensive players around the league.”
Now, NFL fits are hoping the topic of Mahomes being “protected” by the officers doesn’t grow to be a dominating theme through the AFC Championship Sport.
So, what about that imaginary baggage Romo will likely be carrying? Romo is aware of what Aikman mentioned about Mahomes getting preferential remedy through the Texans tilt. Will Romo, if Mahomes will get an analogous name Sunday within the title sport, make such an enormous concern out of it? Or will he deal with the decision and transfer on?
Final week throughout Ravens-Payments on CBS, Romo piped up after what he believed was a late hit by Payments defensive deal with Ed Oliver on Lamar Jackson. Romo is simply as able to taking a stand as he’s taking a light-hearted method.
Nonetheless, it’s attainable that Roger Goodell’s TV lieutenants already delivered a message to CBS. In the meantime, NFL fits shouldn’t be sweating over whether or not one in every of CBS Sports activities studio analysts makes a pregame concern of Mahomes getting preferential remedy from the officers. When CBS is airing its pregame present, America’s eyeballs will likely be targeted on the Commanders-Eagles NFC Championship Sport.
It will likely be as much as Romo and Jim Nantz to determine how far they need to push any controversy involving Mahomes. Our fabulous instinct suggests the person holding the bag, will likely be CBS’ guidelines analyst Gene Steratore. He normally is aware of find out how to ship the phrase with out ticking anybody off.
However Romo is able to taking a stand while you least anticipate it. Particularly after Aikman has set the bar so excessive.
LONG HONEYMOON FOR GLENN
With one transfer — the hiring of Aaron Glenn — Woody Johnson briefly de-fanged a media wrapped up within the controversy the Ambassador ignited after he fired Robert Saleh.
Even an assortment of VOS Gasbags, who wished somebody with earlier head teaching expertise to get the gig, have been neutralized by the WoodMan’s determination to rent the previous Jets cornerback, who has paid his dues alongside the teaching path. Nobody, and we imply that actually, has a foul phrase to say about Glenn.
The media honeymoon is on for Glenn. Until he verbally journeys over his introductory press convention, or will get slowed down in some kind of Aaron Rodgers controversy, the great vibrations will final, at the least, to the start of coaching camp.
DUNKING ON ALL-STAR GAME
One other sign the curtain is quickly closing on the NFL season is when the TV debate emporiums begin discussing the NBA All-Star Sport.
On Tuesday’s version of ESPN’s “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith ripped the exhibition sport to shreds, going so far as saying he telephoned Adam Silver “on his own” to debate the failing Fiesta.
Bravo!
What we didn’t perceive is when FT individually handled the next matter: “Has the All-Star Dunk Contest lost its luster?”
Wow, we thought orators like SAS didn’t deal in rhetorical questions.
A RATINGS LOSER
Ohio State’s 34-23 title win over Notre Dame Monday night time, went out with a whimper. At the very least when it comes to viewership.
Solely 22.1 million viewers watched a championship matchup between two of faculty soccer’s largest manufacturers. It was the third lowest playoff championship sport viewership on document.
If something, the anemic numbers had been doubly disappointing for ESPN, recorded within the yr the sphere was expanded to 12 groups. Whereas the enlargement created legit pleasure it didn’t halt a notion in regards to the event dragging on making the grand finale really feel anticlimactic.
AROUND THE DIAL
Even with extra politicians getting concerned, the carriage standoff between the MSG Community and Altice-owned Optimum continues. Newest transfer had MSG saying it could conform to binding arbitration to settle the monetary dispute. Altice countered by calling the transfer a publicity stunt. … In case you might be one of many Knick-less Optimum subscribers, it is best to know that some issues don’t change through the telecasts. Like throughout Hawks-Knicks Monday MLKD matinee. When Mike Breen criticized an official’s determination, he mentioned they’ve a troublesome job however then recommended the foul name on the Knicks was rotten. At the very least he’s constant. … Judging by their tone of voice, and ambiguity, VOS Gasbags don’t know a lot in regards to the NFL GM candidates they’re casting aspersions on. … Shaquille O’Neal says the Knicks “are not a championship team.” He’s proper. However can Shaq let the Free World know who even recommended that nonsense. … 880-ESPN’s “new” exhibits haven’t precisely set the radio world on fireplace. … Does anybody on Sports activities TV interact in additional “feuds” than ESPN’s Ryan Clark?
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: LAURA RUTLEDGE
She’s been pulling double-duty for ESPN on two high-profile assignments — the CFP and NFL playoffs. On every occasion Rutledge has met the problem. Good things.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: CHRISTOPHER (MAD DOG) RUSSO
The Canine normally has a legitimate motive for sinking his tooth right into a goal. His logic for ripping Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark for doing nothing greater than watching a Chiefs sport made no sense in any respect.
DOUBLE TALK
What Ryan Day mentioned: “You’ve got to be strong enough to withstand the storms to come out the back end.”
What Ryan Day meant to say: “Our life would be easier if we could beat Michigan.”
