Dukes is a pretty bright guy, but in glibly going off on tangents to play to his audience he really downgrades his value as anything more than a snappy entertainer. He needed a spanking and not that many folks want to mix it up with a former big ugly. It is good when a guy like him has to start to think before he yaps off the cuff. That is what having a guy like Mayock on set with him forced. Even Marshall was rather subdued. I see a trend on NFLN of late - substance over flash. They've even made Casserly sound intelligent because unlike the network they are not asking him what he hears and what it might mean, but what he knows after being a GM for years. Mike Lombardi is also a tremendously solid analyst.
I know they have to have a certain amount of flash and entertainment value to hold the attention of the ADHD demographic and attract casual fans. But they are doing a far better job than ESPN of tempering it with real valuable insight from thoughtful analysts. When you can make Deion stop and listen, you be on to something....
Instead of shouting each other down, this weekend NFLN brought together a number of pretty smart guys who ultimately pushed each other to think before they speak. For me that was compelling must see football TV.
