Two Media Notes from the NFL This Weekend
Media Gossip/Musings, NFL January 12th. 2009, 11:45am
Good: Moose and Goose sparring Saturday night. Arizona – Carolina was painfully boring (except to Norman Chad) after the Cardinals jumped out to that huge lead, but on at least two occasions, analyst Moose Johnson and sideline guy Tony Siragusa disagreed on topics like whether to kick a field goal or go for a score, and why Jake Delhomme kept throwing interceptions. It wasn’t your standard fluffy TV disagreement, either; it was two former athletes butting heads, and neither wanted to give an inch. We actually thought Goose was right both times, too. Apparently, their rapport has been going on all season.
Bad: Going into the weekend, we might have predicted Dan Dierdorf would uttered the dumbest line … but the honor goes to Troy Aikman. In the fourth quarter, with Philly comfortably ahead by 12, McNabb scrambled out of bounds, and then wound up near the Giants bench, where he saw a phone, picked it up and pretended to talk (to Howie Long?). Aikman said, “Sometimes, I don’t know what is running through that guy’s head.” A lot of folks loathe Aikman in the booth – probably has something to do with him being a former Cowboy – but we don’t mind him. Except here, he’s way off. The much-maligned McNabb is on the cusp of knocking out the defending champs, in their own building. Did he have visions of Shannon Sharpe (see below) dancing in his head? The guy gets pooped on all season for a variety of reasons; gets benched; and now he’s about to get into the NFC Championship game. Why can’t he have a moment of phone on the sidline? We’re surprised that’s even a flag, since he picked up the phone for all of 2.5 seconds. McNabb apologized after the game.
44 Responses to “Two Media Notes from the NFL This Weekend”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.

January 12th, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Another NFL post?
January 12th, 2009 at 11:50 AM
McNab on the Phone:”WHAZZZZZZUUUUUUUUUUUUPPPPPPPPPPPPP!”
January 12th, 2009 at 11:51 AM
I had Marv Albert on Westwood One calling the Ravens game, beats any TV broadcast by far
January 12th, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Aikman seemed lost. Has he done more than 5 non-Cowboy games all year? He isn’t actually a bad analyst, but he needs to see more than Dallas to have an informed opinion on anything. And, his dislike for anything “non-Dallas NFC East” really comes out when he has to do one of their games.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Yeah – it’s been at least 2 hours since a soccer post.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:54 AM
I like it. There’s precious little football left this season, then it’s all downhill for months and months. Let us have this.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Another ridiculous Aikman criticism of McNabb — end of first half McNabb scrambled for about 8 yards out of bounds with 10 seconds left (deep in Giants territory).
Aikman said “Really think he could have fought for more yards there. The old McNabb would have.”
Moron, the Eagles were out of timeouts. He has to get out of bounds.
He also uttered this beauty yesterday (after Eli’s first pick):
“Turnovers occur during the course of trying to win the game.”
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
January 12th, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Aikman seemed irritated by Bucks horrible jokes.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Aikman’s line might have been dumb but his thought process was spot on. WTF was McNabb thinking? Instead of 3rd and 1, it became 3rd and 16. And there was still over 3 minutes left in the game.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Alright, I’m just not looking forward to a Ravens/Eagles Super Bowl.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
The Shannon Sharpe clip never gets old to me for some reason
January 12th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
/jpq’d and tar baby’d
January 12th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
I saw this somewhere else, but I tend to agree: what would have been the reaction if this was a Brett Favre picking up the phone? Something about him having fun out there, no?
January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Same here. One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Call in the national guard!
January 12th, 2009 at 12:01 PM
that’s right clown. I’m a racist. Glad you figured it out
January 12th, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Aikman seemed to hate the Giants more than life itself.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Wow. Maybe I’m just horribly out of touch, but I thought the McNabb thing was classless and retarded (and I generally have no problem with elaborate celebrations). I just think it crosses a line to do something like that on the other team’s sideline, with the game pretty much put away. I also asked myself these two key questions:
1. @cracker jack: what if TO or Randy Moss had done it? APOCALYPSE.
2. Why the hell didn’t any of the Giants players put a helmet under McNabb’s chin? The game’s over, you’re out of the playoffs…if he wants to show you up on your own sideline, why not make him remember it?
/get off my lawn
January 12th, 2009 at 12:04 PM
My lord, poor Joe Buck’s head would explode.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Maybe he didn’t know that was against the rules. You can’t expect McNabb to know everything that’s in the rulebook.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I have never been a McNabb fan until this year. For all the crap this guy has endured over his career, he is my newest hero.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:07 PM
@Nixon — My problem wasn’t necessarily that it was classless (it wasn’t).
My problem is that it wasn’t funny. Just a goofy thing to do, and he apologized for it.
And there are plenty of guys on the Giants who have no problem expressing their feelings. If what McNabb did bothered them you would be reading about it today.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:07 PM
America seemed irritated by Bucks horrible jokes.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Anyways, he just wanted to call someone to ask if a playoff game can end in a tie.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:08 PM
I wouldn’t worry too much, if the Eagles lose to the Cardinals this weekend McNabb will get all sorts of shit, once again. I don’t know why NBA players make so much money, NFL QB’s are the ones with the toughest job.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:09 PM
@cracker jack: what if TO or Randy Moss had done it?
My lord, poor Joe Buck’s head would explode.
It only explodes when you take a shit on the goalpost
January 12th, 2009 at 12:10 PM
The McNabb thing was fun and Favre would have been praised for it. It was fun. Always remember guys:
ITS A GAME!
January 12th, 2009 at 12:12 PM
QB’s get paid fairly well too
January 12th, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Always remember though, NO SNOW ANGELS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!
January 12th, 2009 at 12:13 PM
that was also fun, any celebration is fun and should be allowed within some reason.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I just realized how much i said “fun”.
/Fun-poilice out.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Just saying, NBA players on average make about 30 to 40 percent more and don’t have to deal with half as much shit.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:21 PM
How about when Simms said “That Raven’s defense really gets under your, uh uh I don’t know what to say here” only to be beat by this exchange:
Nantz: The Chargers have seen Big Ben three times this year
Simms: I don’t think that’s right Jim
Nantz: Twice in Pittsburgh and once in London
Simms\Nantz: (contrived laughter)
(these were paraphrased, so if I’m wrong please correct me)
January 12th, 2009 at 12:22 PM
*Ravens’
January 12th, 2009 at 12:27 PM
what is classless about picking up a phone on the sideline?
January 12th, 2009 at 12:34 PM
It depends on what he said.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Picking up the phone may have been dumb but it wasn’t “classless”. I agree 100% that if it was Captain Greybeard that had picked up the phone that Buck would have talk about how #4 is “just funin’” and that he was probably calling Tim Tebow to tell him what an inspiration and great leader of men he is.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:53 PM
we dont know what he said. so is it still classless?
is the fine line between fun and classless that thin?
January 12th, 2009 at 1:19 PM
i wouldn’t call it classless, but i share the exact sentiments as aikman on mcnabb. mcnabb really thinks he’s cute sometimes, and this time it hurt his team. if the giants had been able to capitalize on the next drive and made a comeback because of that penalty, TBL would be tearing into mcnabb right now.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:24 PM
the penalty wouldnt have been to blame if the giants came back to score twice in 3 minutes or so. The defense who had been great up until then would be to blame.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:27 PM
i’m just saying, winning forgives all faults
January 12th, 2009 at 1:37 PM
I have said this the past two years and especially this one… I have no idea how Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are Fox’s No. 1 team. They are both clearly Cowboys homers and don’t broadcast anything outside of the NFC East.
Even when the cameras aren’t on Buck, you can sense he’s got that sheepish grin on his face and the smugness oozes into his play-by-play. Aikman is a dunce. Just because he was a good NFL QB doesn’t mean he’s a good NFL analyst. I think that was on full display yesterday.
Man, I really hate Joe Buck. I bet his father rolls over in his grave every time Joe calls a game.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:46 PM
The best part about having DirecTV is having NFL Ticket. I must say that I watched every single game the Moose and Goose covered. They have been fantastic all season. They may be blubbering idiots and be terrible on the mic, but they are honest and do not try to cover for the players, at least not all the time.
I am not picky about who calls the games because of the mute button, but I don’t recall ever hitting mute when these guys were on.
I don’t have time to read through avery comment, but whoever said that
January 12th, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Unfortunately you were right.