As expected, CBS added Bart Scott to its NFL Today panel this morning.
On the surface, it is a sound move. Scott shined as an analyst on That Other Pregame Show on CBS Sports Network. He seemed destined to get the promotion.
Yet is Scott a big enough name to lure viewers over to NFL Today? While he was a solid player for Baltimore and the New York Jets, he only played in one Pro Bowl during his 11-year career. He never played in a Super Bowl.
Consider the panel on Fox NFL Sunday: Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson. Three Hall of Famers and a two-time Super Bowl winning coach.
NBC, ESPN, and NFL Network also have a wealth of Hall of Famers and Super Bowl winners on their panels.
Now Scott’s new teammate, Boomer Esiason, isn’t in the Hall of Fame and never won a Super Bowl, but he did play in the big game. He also was a MVP and a high-profile quarterback. Scott’s other new teammate, Tony Gonzalez, is a lock to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Scott, meanwhile, was a linebacker and outside of New York wasn’t a big name. In Chicago, where I live, Scott isn’t going to have instant name recognition.
CBS is banking on Scott’s broadcast skills to lure viewers to NFL Today. It is a novel concept. Let’s see if it works.
Here is the official release from CBS:
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Bart Scott has been named studio analyst for the CBS Television Network’s NFL pre-game show, THE NFL TODAY, elevating his role from last season where he was a studio analyst on CBS Sports Network’s weekly Sunday pre-game show THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW (TOPS). The announcement was made today by Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports.
Scott will join James Brown, Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason and recently named Tony Gonzalez on THE NFL TODAY.
In addition to THE NFL TODAY, Scott will expand his role at CBS providing analysis across multiple platforms, contributing to INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME and appearing in weekly segments on TOPS.
“Bart joining THE NFL TODAY is a natural progression from his outstanding work during his first season on TOPS,” said McManus. “Bart brings a dynamic personality and unique perspective as a recently retired player providing strong opinions on all the hot-button issues on a weekly basis. We are confident he will continue to bring that perspective and those opinions to THE NFL TODAY.”
Scott joined CBS Sports in August 2013 serving as a studio analyst during the 2013 NFL season for CBS Sports Network’s Sunday football studio program, THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW. Before joining CBS Sports, Scott’s NFL career spanned 11 years playing with the Baltimore Ravens (2002-08) and New York Jets (2009-12). In 2006, he was a Pro Bowl selection and earned All Pro honors.