Tony Gonzalez To Join CBS Pre-Game Crew: Which Patriots Players Will Make The Best Analysts?
By Cyrus Geller
Dec 29, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end
Tony Gonzalez(88) on the bench in the fourth quarter of the game against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 21-20. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Tony Gonzalez, one of the best tight ends to ever play this game, retired from the NFL this year, and as a lot of ex-football players do, he has accepted a job to become an analyst for a major sports network. CBS Sports will feature Gonzalez on their NFL Today pre-game show next year, while Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe won’t be back on the set.
Because it is the offseason, things can be a bit dry on the football front. But I decided to take this opportunity to have a little fun with this subject, and “power rank” all of the current Pats players, in terms of best potential analyst skills.
Here we go:
Gronk might just want to retire and get on television right now. He is energetic, fun, wild, and unlike most Patriot football players, he isn’t sealed shut. He would give us good insight, and with all of his talent, I am sure that he will be able to bring a lot to any national television network.
I could definitely see Edelman going into a career in broadcasting after he is done in the NFL. Playing with one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game certainly would help his case. Add that to his intense playing style, and I think he could make a fine career on television breaking down other football games.
3. Tom Brady
I was reluctant to put Brady here, simply because I doubt he will end up as a television analyst. If he does anything football related after his NFL career is over, I think it would be coaching. He is one of the smartest football players ever to walk this earth, and I find it hard to believe that he would waste it in a television booth. With that being said, if a sports network was lucky enough to drag him onto the set, they would be getting a hell of an analyst. His knowledge of the game would blow away viewers, and his presence alone would probably amp up their ratings.
Based on his horrible dances, I don’t think Jones would be shy of a camera. He is a talented young pass rusher, and if he continues to produce at this level, he could probably land any job on television he wanted. I just hope he doesn’t try to do one of his dances on live TV.
It’s harder to rank potential “worst analysts”, but I gave it a shot:
1. Bill Belichick
I don’t really need to explain this one.
Mankins is one of the toughest guys in the NFL, and when he is done playing, I think he will just go back to his ranch, and hang out with his fellow bearded cowboys. He doesn’t seem like the television kind of guy.
Being a high profile character isn’t really Ninkovich’s thing on the field, so I doubt he would want to go after an analyst job off of the field. Unlike guys like Gronk and Brady, he seems like the type of dude to shy away from the spotlight, and gladly let others take it.
McCourty is quickly becoming one of the best safeties in the league, but much like Ninkovich, he generally is a quite guy in public, who likes to give other players the spotlight.