Cowboys: Dak Prescott is the victim of the latest NFL pandemic
If you have kept up with sports media at all you have likely noticed a trend as of late. More and more former players have gotten into the space and are making names for themselves. While there have been plenty of former players take over the mic in the past, it feels like Tony Romo […]
If you have kept up with sports media at all you have likely noticed a trend as of late.
More and more former players have gotten into the space and are making names for themselves. While there have been plenty of former players take over the mic in the past, it feels like Tony Romo got the trend popular again.
Fans were infatuated with Romo's work in the booth, his ability to process the offense and predict what was coming was something America had not seen before.
Then Romo suffered the same fate that most new trends tend to suffer in America: It got old.
Now we see the likes of Greg Olsen, Mark Sanchez, Peyton, and Eli Manning have their own TV broadcast separate from the regular broadcast of the game; we even saw Jason Witten take his shot at broadcasting.
That's not even mentioning the players that have their own TV segments that are separate from broadcasting. LeSean Mccoy has taken a job at FS1 and has become a host on Speak. His takes since joining the show have been, more often than not contradictory.
But why does he still have a job? The answer is simple; because he is loud and opinionated. The sports TV media sphere as a whole has become less about knowledge of the game, and more about how can you bring attention to our show.
Unfortunately, that's led to the latest pandemic in sports media: Former players dunking on current players. We've mentioned McCoy already, who has made it "his thing" to thrash Dak Prescott. Recently, Rodney Harrison blasted New York Jets QB Zach Wilson by calling him "garbage." The moment raised controversy among fans, media, and even current NFL players.
Add former Pro Bowl safety Dante Whitner to the list of unclassy "sports broadcasters" who are giving hot takes on national TV in exchange for staying relevant in an overcrowded media space.
Now I'm not going to sit here and act like I listen to Dante Whitner on a regular basis, nor do I seek out his opinion on things. But the statement he said the Cowboys game against the 49ers is frustrating.
It's frustrating for a primary reason. It lacks context.
Let's start with his explanation of how they "cut half the field off (for Dak), and giving him easy throws."
News flash, that is exactly what the 49ers are doing with Brock Purdy (and most OCs do for their QBs in the NFL). Shanahan is simplifying the offense for Purdy. Shanahan is framing the offense in a way where his quarterback can make linear reads working from one side of the field to the other, and with how open the 49ers receiver are getting it is not all that often he has to get to his final read. This is further evidenced by this stat.
Props to Whitner for doing his job, he generated engagement. I just feel like America would benefit as a whole from people who care enough to go in-depth on what they're saying rather than try and be on the front page of Google every time they're on TV.
To be completely fair, Whitner just might still be bitter about what happened the last time he played Dak.
© Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
