Theismann not changing his broadcasting style
Not a fan of Joe Theismann? He hears you, and has for many years. But don't look for apologies, or a personality change, not at age 61 and after a quarter century in television.
"I don't think people sit on the fence when it comes to liking what I do, or not liking what I do," the NFL Network analyst said as he prepared for tonight's Bengals-Jets game (which also will be carried by Channel 11). "I'm well aware of that. I am opinionated.
"But I'm not going to back off from what I believe or see or feel because somebody doesn't agree with me. I'm delighted people have an opinion about what I say. It's great. I'd rather have them care than not care."
Oh, they care, all right.
That was obvious in the avalanche of social media criticism that buried Theismann and fellow analyst Matt Millen during and after their first game together Nov. 11.
The general consensus: They both talked too much. Which was true, often providing tag-team mini-speeches after every play, important or not.
To their credit, they adjusted after a postmortem with producer Ed Feibischoff, in which he suggested, as Theismann put it, that they "give the viewer a chance to watch the game a little bit without us blabbering over it."
They struck a better balance last Thursday and now will get their first exposure in the many New York-area homes that do not receive the NFL Network.
Theismann is under no illusions everyone will like what they hear. But he also promised he is open to constructive criticism, including from his followers on Twitter (@Theismann7).
"If somebody says, 'Hey, you talk too much!' I say, 'You know what, you're right, you're 100 percent correct!' " he said.
"I constantly try and improve the quality of what I do, keeping first and foremost in mind it's about the game and about the fan."
ESPN parted ways with Theismann after a two-decade run only one season into a failed experiment to pair him with Tony Kornheiser in 2006.
At the time, Theismann said he was told he talked too much about football; during the next several years the Monday night telecast evolved into a straightforward, football-oriented production, a vindication of sorts.
"My latter year at ESPN they wanted to make it a Tony-driven show about entertainment," Theismann said. "I enjoy their telecast [now]. I like to listen to a football game and talk about football."
Theismann rejected an offer to work college games for ESPN and eventually landed on the NFL Network's "Playbook" show. In January, he and his former coach, Joe Gibbs, analyzed the Jets-Bengals playoff game for NBC, an idea that flopped mostly because of Gibbs' discomfort.
The NFL Network came Theismann in July, and he jumped at the chance to join Bob Papa and Millen, a two-man team in 2009.
"I'm loving it," Theismann said. "If you've played the game, being in a stadium, there's something electric about it. It's live, no do-overs."
Why add a lightning rod personality such as Theismann?
Before the first game, senior VP Mark Quenzel, said, "I think what he brings obviously is an offensive expertise, and he's very, very opinionated. He's not afraid to put it out there and call it as he sees it."
Quenzel added, "I think three-man booths can work and they cannot work, and I'm feeling really good about this one."
Two games in, not everyone agrees. But those who get the network can experience an alternate reality Saturday. NFL Films will mike 15 coaches and players tonight and replay the entire game . . . minus announcers.
