CBS deserves heavy criticism for handling of pre-Super Bowl car accident involving Andy Reid’s son
Looking back to Super Bowl LV and still drawing the same conclusion:
CBS should not have ignored the impact a car accident involving Andy Reid’s son, leaving a five-year-old girl in critical condition, had on the Chiefs’ performance while being thrashed by the Bucs four days later.
Britt Reid, part of the Chiefs coaching staff since 2013, hit two cars while driving his pickup truck near the team’s headquarters the Thursday before the game. According to a police statement obtained by ESPN, Reid, 35, said he had been drinking. James Brown mentioned the facts of the situation at the top of CBS’ five-hour Super Bowl pregame show. He would go on to recite the same report later in the show. The two recitations of the facts were not enough.
No analysis. No emotion. No discussing how the tragedy might impact the game.
Jim Nantz and Tony Romo waited until late in the fourth quarter of Tampa Bay’s 31-9 hammering of Kansas City before even bringing up the accident.
Like Brown, Nantz gave the facts. That Nantz finally mentioned the accident was not enough either. The accident is a tragic occurrence. A parent’s worst nightmare. At the same time, we’re not using it to diminish the Bucs thoroughly dominating performance.
But in order to tell the story of this game, doesn’t someone need to explain and discuss how this kind of tragedy, involving a team staffer (in this case the head coach’s son who has a history of drug and other legal issues) and a child now in a coma, affects the attitude, mental state, and overall performance of the Chiefs?
Considering the lopsided nature of the game, the broadcast crew had plenty of time to fill, plenty of time to fully address the ramifications of this horrible situation.
Nantz should have asked Romo if he ever played under tragic circumstances. If so, how did it affect the psyche of the Cowboys?
Romo’s not shy. He likely had an opinion if the pain Andy Reid was feeling flowed through his team. Isn’t Romo being paid to transcend the routine X’s and O’s analysis?
That “The NFL Today” voices didn’t discuss how the tragedy might affect the Chiefs performance was a failure — a miserable one at that.
The potential on-field impact of the tragedy was definitely a storyline going into the game. And with a five-hour show, the CBS brainiacs could have deviated from their script and carved out two minutes to discuss it BEFORE the game.
With Bill Cowher, a former coach, on the CBS panel, the network had the perfect analyst to gauge how Andy Reid and his team would handle the situation. Also, had Cowher ever coached with emotional clouds hanging over his head? The rest of the cast is full of opinions. They should have been asked.
After the fact, Phil Simms, one of CBS’ pregame cast, offered his opinion when asked about the accident fallout by Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo during the former Giants QB’s regular SiriusXM spot on “Mad Dog Unleashed.”
“I don’t know how Andy Reid did it,” Simms said. “He owed it to his team to coach the game. But how could you concentrate on coaching your team? ... They never played with any poise or a sense of urgency.”
Simms, and his colleagues, could have offered similar relevant opinions last Sunday. They didn’t. Instead, they were stymied by network suits who did not want the harsh reality and sadness of crucial analysis interfering with their Super Bowl celebration.
BERMAN ON REID
It was choppy, but Chris Berman’s lead in into a discussion about the impact of the accident on the Chiefs performance eventually cut to the heart of the matter. Unlike some of his peers, the veteran ESPN voice was not avoiding the issue.
“Coach Reid is only human … Coach Reid is their leader,” Berman said on ESPN’s post Super Bowl show. “To see him hurting like this. They (the Chiefs) were hurting. And I think it reflected (in their performance). We’ll never know (how much) and they (the team) will never say that.”
In the course of his soliloquy, Berman was balancing the tragedy of the accident experienced by all who it ravaged and also what it meant in a football sense. Not easy. At least he tried. And the discussion that followed, featuring Berman, Steve Young, and Anthony (Booger) McFarland, brought another dimension and more context to the sad situation.
CALLING OUT KEVIN
The interestingly dressed streaker who dashed towards the end zone during Super Bowl LV was engaging in a look-at-me moment. So was Kevin Harlan, who called Chiefs-Bucs on the radio.
For reasons known only to him, Harlan felt compelled to bring attention to himself by doing play-by-play of the streaker’s mad dash.
This isn’t the first time Harlan has delivered a radio call of the exploits of an attention-grabbing fool running on the field.
Harlan knows the call will be regurgitated in the Valley of the Stupid as well as the internet. This is good for Harlan’s business. It must not have occurred to Harlan, or the geniuses running Westwood One, that in these times of heightened security, those responsible for keeping stadiums safe don’t need someone suddenly running on the field.
Or Kevin Harlan endorsing such twisted behavior with self-aggrandizing play-by-play.
FAN FRENZY
Some in the media went gaga after Gov. Cuomo announced local arenas and stadiums will soon be open to a limited number of fans.
Whimsical columnists and sentimental Gasbags knee-jerked. They were figuratively brought to tears over the notion of fans having the opportunity to return to the seats for live sports. Oh my God! The more realistic, and there were a scant few, saw this as an opportunity for owners of these local teams to price gouge.
With a limited number of seats available because of COVID-19 protocols, the owners will be charging outrageous prices to season ticket holders whom have first crack at purchasing the ducats. This is what is being preached by WFAN’S Craig Carton/Evan Roberts. They’ve devoted much time to discussing this matter, more than any other FAN show. They are busting through the jive.
AROUND THE DIAL
You’ve got to stay up late, or wake up early Saturday morning, to catch Sal Licata’s WFAN/CBS Sports Radio show. The wild ride starts at 2 a.m. and one never knows who Licata will be Night Stalking. We have heard him shoot at any number of eclectic targets. Like last week, when Licata critiqued the home-backdrop Alan Hahn uses while working on MSG Knicks studio shows, which prominently features four Emmy awards. “He (Hahn) is showing off,” Licata said on WFAN. “Even I have one Emmy. It’s no big deal.” Ouch! Seriously, I know nothing about Emmys. I do know that checking out Licata on FAN is worth losing sleep over. ... YES suits must be absolutely thrilled over the Yankees starting all April games at 6:35 p.m. Historically, the early starts have a negative impact on YES Bombers ratings. ... Howie Rose and Suzyn (Ma Pinstripe) Waldman are scheduled to work a FAN baseball show Sunday morning. What happened to Ed (Baseball Boy) Randall? Is “Talking Baseball” returning to its traditional Sunday morning spot?
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: ANDREW SICILIANO
For his play-by-play of Tom Brady throwing the Lombardi Trophy over to Bucs tight end Cameron Brate, who was celebrating on another boat. Siciliano, the NFL Network anchor, captured all the drama of this unique moment as the QB prepared to toss the iconic award, saying: “Big old boat parade. ... Wait. ... Wait. ... don’t. ... don’t do it! ... Goooaaaaaaaaa ... OK ... Touchdown!” Sheer brilliance.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: DALLAS COWBOYS
For leaving Dak Prescott out of the team’s offseason video. The organization chalked the omission up as an “error.” More like stupidity, unless the Jones Gang is trying to send a message to the QB, who missed the final 11 games of the season after tearing up his ankle. Dallas and Dak have been unable to agree on a contract extension for almost two seasons. Will the video snub make the situation worse?
DOUBLE TALK
What Tom Thibodeau said: “He (Derrick Rose) is a great guy to be around. I think we’ll benefit from that.”
What Tom Thibodeau meant to say: “With me running the show, he won’t be going AWOL — that’s for sure.”
