Having already established themselves as part of the process, which ended with Aaron Glenn being selected the new Jets head coach, what does the future hold for ESPN’s Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum?
The conflict of interest, attached to Tom Brady, Fox’s No. 1 NFL analyst and part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, will remain an issue, even during Super Bowl week, when an overflow media crowd in New Orleans engages in a desperate scramble for content.
When it comes to the NFL’s pecking order, Ryan and Tannenbaum are way down the stature list making the likelihood of their issues being exposed again slim. That, and the fact ESPN suits, at least publicly, don’t think either man did anything wrong.
Buy that school of thought if you want to, but what is Ryan, who used ESPN’s multiple platforms as self-promotional vehicles (”I’m the best guy for the job. It ain’t close, trust me”) going to say if Glenn’s Jets get off to an 0-3 start?
“I told you I was the best man for the Jets job,” Ryan might boast. “They went in another direction and are now paying the price.” But would anyone believe what he has to say knowing Ryan has an ax to grind because he coveted the Jets job? All he got was one interview.
Back page for Jan. 8, 2025: As promised, former coach interviews for his old job. Fans loved Rex Ryan and he loved coaching Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship Games, so Tuesday, with team fallen on hard times, Ryan sits down with his old bosses to discuss a return to Gang Green.
And what if the opposite happens? What if Glenn’s Jets get off fast 3-0 start? Knowing Ryan said (multiple times) that he was the “only” man for the job, could he bring himself to give Glenn the credit he deserves? And if Ryan doesn’t, it will only come off as sour grapes damaging his and ESPN’s credibility.
For Tannenbaum, ESPN’s in-house GM, this is about business. His “The 33rd Team” acted as a paid consultant assisting Woody Johnson in the organization’s extensive search for a new coach and general manager (Darren Mougey).
If the Glenn regime is not successful, Tannenbaum will be directly linked to its failure. If the Jets get off to a successful start the flip side is true — Tannenbaum can take credit.
But if the results are mixed, will Tannenbaum be perceived as nothing more than another conflicted ESPN analyst cutting the Jets slack, because he hand-picked Glenn? And if the results are bad, will Tannenbaum, on an ESPN show, spin, saying the new Jets system needs more time to jell?
While Tannenbaum’s TV mission is to bring reality to his analysis, it’s hard envisioning him, even if deserved, trashing the Jets. Or the way Glenn is running the team.
For all intents and purposes Tannenbaum would be ripping himself, his company, and the process “The 33rd Team” used to pick Glenn. And it would be the longest of shots to see that type of honest self-analysis actually come to fruition.
SAD TO SEE GREENY GO
It was unfortunate but not unexpected when Mike Greenberg called it a day on Monday, finishing his run as host of the ESPN Radio program “Greeny.”
Greenberg vows to return to the medium someday, which would be welcomed. As much as the radio industry is in turmoil, transition and cost-cutting, there is still something compelling when a Talkie like Greenberg delivers a bold, original opinion without resorting to cheap tricks.
Even better when Greenberg, whose other ESPN assignments limited his radio appearances, issued a proclamation before taking live phone calls from those in agreement or listeners who hated the commentary.
DON’T LISTEN TO TIKI
Tiki Barber, a Talkie who doubles as a network (CBS) football analyst, recently delivered media “lessons” to Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt, Fox’s No.1 NFL broadcast team.
WFAN’s Barber said the duo should keep all snarky Giants-Saquon Barkley references out of their upcoming Super Bowl telecast.
“I think it’s been played out and if they are anything other than tone-deaf, they will get it,” Barber said on WFAN,
Tone-deaf?
Barber must have forgotten about the millions of casual fans who will tune into the Super Bowl, having no idea how Barkley got from the Giants to Philly. The Fox voices have an obligation to tell that story.
And if they want to put a humorous twist to the tale, that seems to offend Barber, well that’s called entertainment. Isn’t that what a Supe telecast should be all about?
Tone-deaf? Hardly.
RAISE A GLASS …
Saturday (Michigan State vs. Rutgers) was a good day for CBS’ Bill Raftery. He was able to make Ian (The Bird) Eagle squirm.
Raf put Eagle on the spot asking his Buffalo-K.C. AFC championship game pick. The Bird was not landing on that wire. He ignored Raf’s question.
Raf would later go on to reveal his favorite player in the country — “Zach Martini,” for obvious reasons. Eagle was not going to be denied. When the Rutgers grad student missed a shot, Eagle, chirped: “Martini, on the rocks.”
You just can’t get this kind of brilliance on NBA telecasts.
AROUND THE DIAL
It wasn’t what Nate Burleson said. It was how he said it. On CBS’ AFC championship game postgame show, the former wideout and versatile TV personality, had some choice words for those fans “suffering” from Chiefs fatigue. “And just be happy that you are alive to be there to see it,” Burleson said. Unfortunately, Burleson was talking down to his audience, some who might dare to disagree with him. In those few seconds the normally likeable Burleson became very haughty. … The CW has a solid ACC hoops pairing in Thom Brennaman and Mike Gminski. Watching Boston College vs. North Carolina, Gminski’s humor and insight was on full display. And Brennaman got the most out of it. … St. John’s coach Rick Pitino must be a great friend. Or have a lot of time on his hands. Pitino put in the work to release a video on X pleading with Kentucky fans to give a warm welcome to Arkansas coach John Calipari when he returns to his former home, Rupp Arena, this weekend to play the Wildcats. “Show him what respect and admiration is all about,” Pitino urged. The artist, formerly known as Slick Rick, was booed when he returned to Rupp as Louisville’s coach in 2001.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: NICK SIRIANNI
Changing attitudes. That’s what the Eagles coach is doing. A year ago, he was being roasted in Philadelphia on a regular basis. This week he’s leading his team to New Orleans to play Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX. Will a win finally earn him some respect?
DWEEB: STEVE PIKIELL
Entering this season, there were sky-high hopes and as much optimism as any other team in the country. With two future NBA draft picks, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey on board, the Rutgers coach had all the ingredients for greatness. Now, they will have to scuffle to make the Big 10 tournament.
DOUBLE TALK
What Saquon Barkley said: “The dream wasn’t just getting there [the Super Bowl]. The dream was about winning it.”
What Saquon Barkley meant to say: “I would like to thank the Giants organization for making this all possible.”