I’m not sure I’ll be posting this every week, but with CBS/NFL Network focusing on the Ray Rice situation before the Pittsburgh-Baltimore game, this was quite newsworthy in particular the first half of the program.
The first half of the program, the 7:30 – 8 p.m. ET portion was Ray Rice-centric with James Brown tossing to CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley at the beginning of the show to recap the story and also a discussion with CBS This Morning co-host Norah O’Donnell who had the only TV interview with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell the day after the now-infamous elevator video was released.
There was a taped interview of Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.
There were good discussions among Brown and his analysts Bill Cowher and Deion Sanders plus there was an appearance (albeit brief) from That Other Pregame Show analyst Amy Trask who was an executive with the Oakland Raiders.
But the strongest portion of the first half hour was the commentary from J.B. who called for an end to domestic violence and challenged the NFL to lead the way for social change.
Once the show moved to its second half leading to the game, that’s when the became weaker. An exchange between Cowher and Sanders did not go well, but there is plenty of time for their chemistry to improve.
Perhaps bringing in the Total Access Kickoff crew would give the show a spark, but again, still time to work out the kinks.
Overall, the first show gets a B minus, but the grade was brought down heavily by the second half.
Here’s the quotage.
CBS & NFL Network’s NFL Thursday Night Kickoff Notes & Quotes – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
NFL Thursday Night Kickoff aired from inside M&T Bank Stadium tonight at 7:30 PM ET on CBS and NFL Network, with host James Brown and analysts Bill Cowher and Deion Sanders providing pregame analysis leading up to Steelers-Ravens on Thursday Night Football.’
CBS’ James Brown’s Interview with Baltimore Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti
CBS’ James Brown sat down with Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti for an interview on NFL Thursday Night Kickoff:
On what the Baltimore Ravens’ own investigation consisted of and how far did it go:
“Of course we knew that there was other video and our security did the steps that they normally would. They called the casino and they would not release it. They called the Jets and the Giants and said, ‘Do you have any influence, is there any way that you can help us?’ They called back and said no, that they would not release it. The prosecutor said yesterday that would have been illegal. If I had said to Ray [Rice] and his attorney I can’t keep you on this team until I see that tape, I would have seen the tape and I would have sent it to Roger [Goodell] and said you have to look at this tape before you render your decision.”
On the report that the NFL was sent a copy of the tape in April:
“I believe Roger [Goodell] when he says he never saw it. If the allegation is true that it got to the league office, then somebody was negligent in not getting that to Roger. I’ve known Roger for 14 years. He’s dedicated his life to the NFL and as a man I can’t believe that he saw that video and gave a two-game suspension. That’s what makes it hard for me to believe.”
On the public cries for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to step down:
“I don’t agree with that at all. At all. Because again, this is an accusation from an anonymous source. Could it be trying to deflect blame from the police for being so light on them? Maybe. But why would I take an anonymous person’s word over a man that I’ve known for 14 years?”
On what he has learned through this process:
“If Ray Rice ends up being the reason and our Ravens’ failures and our shortcomings and the league’s shortcomings become a reason to change the legal process and their shortcomings, then if this is a seminal moment for domestic violence and the way we handle it as a society, then that’s not a burden for us to be that poster boy. It’s not. Now I’m embarrassed about it but five years from now if things have changed significantly for the better, I’ll be proud of it. That’s our recovery. What can we do going forward? Pray that this was a moment in time that changed everything.”
Pittsburgh Steelers – Baltimore Ravens Pregame Quotes:
– “I can’t believe that the man that I know, the Roger Goodell that I know, would cover that up. He’s been at fault for being too harsh on the players amongst the league. Now you’re saying he’s going to turn a blind eye to this ignorance that we saw on tape? That’s not the man I know.” – Deion Sanders on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
– “There is no doubt that in the wake of this incident many, many things were mishandled. But there exists right now a moment in time where the focus is on domestic violence that sports can once again serve as a catalyst for social progress and the NFL can lead in that regard. The NFL can foment transformative change, and energy spent in that regard is energy well spent.” – Amy Trask
– “John Harbaugh tonight is going to find out who his real leaders are because they need to have some leadership step up given the magnitude and importance of this game.” – Bill Cowher on head coach John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens
– “There is no answer for Antonio Brown.” – Deion Sanders on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown
– “I’ve never seen a game with this kind of magnitude – the importance – this early.” – Bill Cowher on the Steelers-Ravens game
– “Two years ago, I challenged the NFL community and all men to seriously confront the problem of domestic violence, especially coming on the heels of the murder-suicide of Kansas City Chiefs football player Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins. Yet, here we are again, dealing with the same issue of violence against women. Now let’s be clear: this problem is bigger than football. There has been, appropriately so, intense and widespread outrage following the release of the video showing what happened inside the elevator at the casino. But wouldn’t it be productive if this collective outrage, as my colleagues have said, could be channeled to truly hear and address the long-suffering cries for help by so many women and, as they said, do something about it? Like an ongoing, comprehensive education of men about what healthy, respectful manhood is all about. And it starts with how we view women. Our language is important. For instance, when a guy says, ‘You throw the ball like a girl,’ or ‘You’re a little sissy,’ it reflects an attitude that devalues women. And attitudes will eventually manifest in some fashion. Women have been at the forefront in the domestic violence awareness and prevention arena, and whether Janay Rice considers herself a victim or not, millions of women in this country are. Consider this: according to domestic violence experts, more than three women per day lose their lives at the hands of their partners. That means that since the night of February 15 in Atlantic City, more than 600 women have died. So this is yet another call to men to stand up and take responsibility for their thoughts, their words, their deeds, and as Deion [Sanders] says, to give help or to get help because our silence is deafening and deadly.” – James Brown
NEXT WEEK ON THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS — 8:25 PM ET
That is all.
