With a new NFL season just around the corner, Barrett Sports Media decided to take on a big project. We reached out to hosts, PDs, and reporters in every NFL city in the country. The question we wanted answered was simple: Who on your team’s roster has the brightest future in the sports media?
We spent the better part of a month sending emails and texts asking folks to participate. Some gave us an answer right away. Some required a little poking and prodding. Some didn’t respond at all. What are you going to do, right? It’s a busy time of year for all of us in sports radio.
This is our final batch of new answers. If you missed Part 1, you can find it here. Part 2 is here. Here is Part 3.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Matt Mosley – The Doomsday Podcast
The Cowboys have recently placed Tony Romo, Jason Witten and DeMarco Murray in broadcasting. They join an already crowded field that includes Troy Aikman and Moose Johnston. You could argue that the Cowboys are one of the biggest broadcasting pipelines in all of soorts. You also have players like Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders who’ve been in the studio for years.
The Cowboys are now the youngest team in the NFL. It will be a few years before the next player is ready for broadcasting. Sean Lee might be the next candidate. Like Witten, he studies film like crazy. He is a highly intelligent player, but I’m not sure he’s wired to be that critical of players. Dak Prescott will become the face of the organization. He seems to be an excellent communicator who actually has a sneaky sense of humor. He would certainly be considered for an analyst’s job, if he wants one someday.
DeMarcus Lawrence has become an engaging personality, too. He could be in a studio someday. Most of these players have no clue what it takes to do a three or four-hour radio show, so they will lean toward TV. I worked on the same ESPN radio affiliate with Irvin. He worked at it, but it was too much of a grind. Not many players want that sort of thing. Boomer Esiason is really rare in that respect.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Christian Arcand – 98.5 the Sports Hub
The easy answer here is Brady – he is by far the most recognizable Patriot and probably tied with Lebron for most recognizable athlete in the US – however something tells me his future post football does not involve broadcast booth or a seat at a round table previewing the slate of Sunday games.
Gronk would probably have the brightest future in broadcasting just because of who he is, but if it’s a question of who has the tools to do the job well I would say Harmon is the guy.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Bob Stelton – 710 ESPN Seattle
The answer couldn’t be easier in Seattle: Doug Baldwin! Without question HE would absolutely crush it if he were to pursue broadcasting, post NFL.
He’s incredibly intelligent and insightful. He has a great way of communicating his point and getting you to see why he is saying what he is saying. He also has a very underrated sense of humor.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Brent Dougherty – 104.5 the Zone
The 2018 Tennessee Titans locker room is filled with intelligent, hard working and charismatic men. There are several players on this roster that I believe will make great broadcasters following their careers should they choose that path.
Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota has likability which cannot be learned. Tight end Delanie Walker has a quick wit. Defensive lineman Jurrell Casey is measured with what he says and is polished like a politician. OLB Brian Orakpo and kicker Ryan Succup have amazing radio voices and should host a late-night R&B show called, “The Succup Rak Show.” Or, “The Quiet Storm With Succup and Rak. They have amazing voices and would be gifts to late night radio listeners.
CB Logan Ryan and Safety Kevin Byard have the ability to communicate exceptionally well to the masses no matter how technical the football topic. Punter Brett Kern is very intelligent, has a great sense of humor and a remarkable communicative ability. However, Kern has a .3 handicap and will be playing on the Senior Tour for as many years as he has left.
If I were to guess which 2018 Titans player might have the brightest broadcasting career after his football playing days are over, I would choose offensive tackle Taylor Lewan. Taylor has an enormous personality, is completely honest while offering thoughtful opinion and understands the fact that we are in the entertainment business. He’s smart, has a quick wit and is polished. Taylor commands presence, can communicate well and is very intelligent. Taylor also has a great sense of humor. Taylor Lewan would be my choice to eventually become a great broadcaster among many great Titans options.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Craig Hoffman – 106.7 the Fan
The Redskins have a really good locker room when it comes to talkers. Josh Norman has already started his national media career with appearances on FOX. Trent Williams is as smart and interesting as superstars come. Chris Thompson was our media “Good Guy” award winner last season for the constant insight he provides. Recently departed Titans LB Will Compton thinks the game at an extraordinarily high level, yet can translate it back to the every day viewer with ease. However, the player with the brightest future in sports media still in Washington belongs to backup quarterback Colt McCoy.
McCoy still has star power from his time at Texas, where he led the Longhorns to a national title game appearance. He’s phenomenal talking ball. We often don’t talk to him, simply because he’s been the backup here for the last five years, but I was reminded after the preseason opener just how good he is. After the rest of the media had dissipated, he and I talked about the differences in preseason and regular season football. He gave me concrete examples from the game and how they might have been different if it were a regular season affair. He made me smarter about football, and it’s something that he could do for viewers or listeners as a game analyst, studio analyst or talk show host.
He might have more credibility on the college football scene than as an NFL analyst, but that would change the second he started talking. He’s got the personality. He knows the game. If he wants to post-career, Colt McCoy could be a media star.
