Brad Cesmat
The shift in media coverage by one major network of the NFL swung swiftly 13 months ago when ESPN went through a change at the top. The results have put the reporting of the League back onto the field of play. Take away the horrific missed call the cost New Orleans a likely Super Bowl ticket, and you’ll see a League that doesn’t have much in the way of anyone questioning topics like Kaepernick, Anthem protests, domestic violence by players, and concussions. The story lines of these stories was bad for business.
When John Skipper resigned as President of ESPN, the network was producing content that wasn’t always warm and fuzzy towards the League.There was very good journalism being produced by the Outside the Lines group and then there were the ‘opinionists” who were merely giving their views on the warts of the League. Too bad, because good deep dive journalism is more important than ever. You may be one of those who believe that “Fake News” is real, that’s a YOU problem.
With Skipper gone, and Disney(which owns the World Wide Leader) trying to be in the right position for the next NFL TV contract, the network brought in a new voice to run the show. I don’t see very much if any reporting or a mention of Kaepernick, even when the NFL brought in quarterbacks late in the season, that weren’t very productive. This isn’t a shot at ESPN, it’s just a fact that the “partnership” has taken hold.
Argue all day about referees missing a call in New Orleans. Scream at the top of your lungs that Brady is better than any other quarterback in the history of the League. Just don’t bring up the underbelly, it’s bad for business…
