Jim Nantz of CBS on WFAN

[QB12]

He was interviewed yesterday about the game and he intimated BB held somethings back defensively from the Colts in the November game.

Even Manning immediately after the Ravens game said the Patriots were a different team in the playoffs.

What do you think?

QB12

 

[BelichickFan]

In depth discussin right here :

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=49161

 

[patsox23]

In depth discussin right here :

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=49161

That's an in-depth discussion of the idea of "Holding back," but not of Jim Nantz's appearance on FAN - so if anyone has more details of the radio appearance, please add here.

 

[QB12]

The interview is at wfan.com

QB12

 

[Tunescribe]

How would Jim Nantz, of all people, know anything about BB's defensive game plan or holding anything back from the November game? He's just a talking head.

 

[BigMike]

hes friends with BB and Tom Brady - golfs with Brady in the offseason as well. He and Simms are closer ot the Pats than you think....

 

[patchick]

How would Jim Nantz, of all people, know anything about BB's defensive game plan or holding anything back from the November game? He's just a talking head.

Remember last year when Brady golfed with ex-presidents Clinton and Bush? They needed a last-minute fourth, so Brady brought in...Jim Nantz.

That's no ordinary talking-head relationship.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

How would Jim Nantz, of all people, know anything about BB's defensive game plan or holding anything back from the November game? He's just a talking head.

No way. Nantz is successful for many reasons, including his pregame prep, which involves spending considerable time with the teams. Nantz has a reputation for never burning a coach or a player when they grant him access with the caveat that he not reveal things on air, and as a result, he gets extensive access. I think he's usually in the city of the playoff game on Wednesday, sometimes on Tuesday, and he does as much as he can. At the final four, for example, he'll work an entire day just to get one 15 second nugget for the game telecast.

Nantz is a pro's pro through and through.

 

[borg]

Remember last year when Brady golfed with ex-presidents Clinton and Bush? They needed a last-minute fourth, so Brady brought in...Jim Nantz.

That's no ordinary talking-head relationship.

It was the other way around. Nantz was playing with the Presidents and he called in Brady to be the 4th.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

How would Jim Nantz, of all people, know anything about BB's defensive game plan or holding anything back from the November game? He's just a talking head.

Believe it or not the broadcast teams are a lot more than talking heads. Some are better at the job than others, but all are granted mandatory access to practice and hold a pre-production meeting with the HC and QB usually on the Friday of game week. I've seen clips from some of these sessions, including one with Dan Deirdorf earlier in the season, and BB seemed very open with them in discussing personnel performance and usage (Dan was asking if you know who had been a disappointment at WR).

Besides I think we all know that BB tends to never show his entire hand in a regular season game if he can avoid it, particularly against a team he believes he will likely see again in the post season. So it's not unlikely Nantz just knows that same thing and that makes it something he can comment on pre game.

 

[psychoPat]

It was the other way around. Nantz was playing with the Presidents and he called in Brady to be the 4th.

And as i recall the original report,
Nantz shot up in the estimation of both ex-Prezes
when he suggested that he could call Tommy's cell.
"What! You've got Brady's cell number? Wow!"

 

[patchick]

It was the other way around. Nantz was playing with the Presidents and he called in Brady to be the 4th.

Really? My mistake...but still an indication that he's seriously plugged in.

 

[NEPat]

This is a little off topic, but who do you think Brady is closest to in the media? I think it's probably Michael Silver, of Sports Illustrated. He's the writer who had the Brady quotes about Branch potentially leaving earlier in the year, and Silver sometimes mentions Brady's friends and family in his column. I think they're friends, and Brady gives him good information.

 

[Fogbuster]

No way. Nantz is successful for many reasons, including his pregame prep, which involves spending considerable time with the teams. Nantz has a reputation for never burning a coach or a player when they grant him access with the caveat that he not reveal things on air, and as a result, he gets extensive access. I think he's usually in the city of the playoff game on Wednesday, sometimes on Tuesday, and he does as much as he can. At the final four, for example, he'll work an entire day just to get one 15 second nugget for the game telecast.

Nantz is a pro's pro through and through.

That may all be true but he sure came across like a Bolts cheer leader, along with his side-car, Phil Simms, last weekend. Their voices went up two full chords when they were talking about the Chargers, then down to a dull bored tone when referring to the Pats. Guess that's the price for success; everybody wants to see you knocked off.

 

[Gon_Trevil]

This is a little off topic, but who do you think Brady is closest to in the media? I think it's probably Michael Silver, of Sports Illustrated. He's the writer who had the Brady quotes about Branch potentially leaving earlier in the year, and Silver sometimes mentions Brady's friends and family in his column. I think they're friends, and Brady gives him good information.

Silver is always talking about players like they all live in his neighborhood and he's known them since they were born.

 

[wdkantro2]

Keep in mind that these guys have covered a lot of Pats games over the years, and they have the production meetings before each one, which are private. Belichick says a lot more while in private than he ever would at a press conference. He is much more honest about the status of players in those meetings. All Access had a little segment about it, and BB answered all of the questions asked of him surprisingly honestly.

 

[Gon_Trevil]

That may all be true but he sure came across like a Bolts cheer leader, along with his side-car, Phil Simms, last weekend. Their voices went up two full chords when they were talking about the Chargers, then down to a dull bored tone when referring to the Pats. Guess that's the price for success; everybody wants to see you knocked off.

Actually, Simms has always spoken well of the Pats. And he once wrote a column where he criticized the fact that people were tired of seeing New England succeed. It went something along the lines of "people shouldn't be tired of seeing a class organization that represents all that is good about the sport" (I'm quoting rather loosely here, since I'm going by memory).

 

[Fogbuster]

Actually, Simms has always spoken well of the Pats. And he once wrote a column where he criticized the fact that people were tired of seeing New England succeed. It went something along the lines of "people shouldn't be tired of seeing a class organization that represents all that is good about the sport" (I'm quoting rather loosely here, since I'm going by memory).

Well, thanks. I'm glad to hear that. I've personally always liked Phil Sims, always thought of him as a classy guy. Maybe my ears were just tuned wrong last Sunday! (It's been known to happen. )

 

[NEPat]

Silver is always talking about players like they all live in his neighborhood and he's known them since they were born.

Ha, that's true, he does write like he's personal friends with a lot of the players. But I think Brady's even mentioned that they've known each other for a while, plus Brady seems to give him more quotes than he gives anyone else.

Simms praises the Pats quite a bit. Simms, in general, isn't really all that critical. Like some of the old players who are now analysts, they seem to stay away from being too harsh.

 

[Rob0729]

Nantz isn't saying anything new. Belichick has a reputation of holding things back against opponents in the regular season that he thinks he might face in the playoffs. He got that reputation starting way back in the 2001 season with the Rams. This is why Belichick has such a great record the second time he plays a team in a season. Most of the time it is in the playoffs.

I'm sure Belichick will throw in a few wrinkles that the Colts haven't seen before. But he has faced the Colts so many times, there is only so much new that he can throw at them.