My latest Chicago Tribune column is on all-Brandon Marshall, all-the-time. After his long, bizarre rant Thursday, which included railing on an ESPN E:60 profile, Marshall will should feel better after watching tonight’s A Football Life on NFL Network.

You also can access the column via my Twitter feed at @Sherman_Report.

Here is a video preview of the film.

From the column:

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Brandon Marshall will like the NFL Network’s treatment of his life story better than ESPN’s.

The latest entry in the Marshall media blitz features him in “A Football Life” at 8 p.m. Friday. The one-hour documentary, produced by NFL Films, examines Marshall’s turbulent career and his battle to overcome borderline personality disorder.

“A Football Life” doesn’t use the term “domestic violence.” The film does acknowledge Marshall’s troubled past, which led to him receiving a personal-conduct suspension from the NFL when he was with the Broncos. It also delves into the 2011 incident in which his wife, Michi, was alleged to have stabbed him; charges eventually were dropped.

By contrast the two-year-old “E:60” profile, which re-aired Tuesday on ESPN2, concentrated heavily on Marshall’s previous issues with domestic violence.

Keep in mind the platforms are different. The NFL owns NFL Network. The tone of “A Football Life” can be summed up when narrator Josh Charles says Marshall is “one of the NFL’s great turnaround stories.”

“We wanted the focus to be on his (overall) story,” producer Shannon Furman said. “We know his past is past, and Brandon talks about it. The important thing is to see how he overcomes it to become a role model for a whole group of fans (with mental health issues) who never knew who he was before.”

Marshall is among only a handful of active players to be featured on “A Football Life”; last week’s installment was on “Mean” Joe Greene. Furman said the initial plan was to do a 7-10 minute feature on the Bears receiver for NFL Films. But after spending time with him earlier this year, she made the pitch to do an entire film.

“We normally don’t do current players for (‘A Football Life’),” Furman said. “But he’s so fascinating. We realized there’s so much more than just 10 minutes.”

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The bulk of the film, though, is on Marshall’s struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder. Again, NFL Films’ access to game sound is able to graphically illustrate how the condition affects him. While on the sidelines during a game in Denver, Marshall is shown letting out a long, piercing wail that clearly shows his suffering.

Now armed with awareness and coping mechanisms, sound from Bears games dramatically reveals how Marshall still has to extinguish flare-ups that arise from his condition.

“The difference between him then and before is that it would take 2 or 3 days for him to come back,” Cutler said. “Now it’s a couple minutes.”

My latest column for the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana is on the impact of the week that was for the NFL.

From the column:

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The day after the opening Sunday of the new season, I was in the process of writing a column for this space about the massive popularity of the NFL. I asked the question of whether there was such a thing as too much.

Not to quote myself, but here were my opening paragraphs:

You probably would get sick if you had access to an endless supply of the world’s best chocolate. You might even get bored if you got to play Augusta National every day, although I would like to try.

Insert your favorite activity, food, whatever and chances are you will hit a tipping point where too much of a good thing is no good.

Yet the threshold of excess doesn’t seem possible when it comes to the NFL.

“If it’s on TV, I’m watching it,” said Jimmy Johnson, the former coach turned analyst for Fox Sports. “As far as I’m concerned, they can put it on every day of the week.”

Obviously, since Johnson’s life is football, you would expect him to think that way. But here’s the thing: many of us want the same thing.

America can’t get enough of the NFL. Thanks to the endless studio shows and programming from NFL Network and ESPN, the league has become 24/7 viewing for fans.

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Then the Ray Rice video bombshell hit. I put the column aside and detailed all the coverage aspects of that huge story.

When I finally had some time, I returned to my NSJC column in progress. Quickly I realized, this was not the week to write about the public’s insatiable appetite for the NFL.

Instead, last week’s string of shocking events showed that it is possible that the NFL could lose its grip on the public. It is conceivable that America’s No. 1 sport could screw this thing up.

At the end of the day, credibility and reputation still carry quite a bit of weight in this country. Clearly, it wasn’t a good week on both ends for the NFL.

“What a sad week for the National Football League,” said Tom Jackson on ESPN’s NFL Countdown. “I can’t remember as many mistakes as have been made over the course of the last week. Actually, it even begins before that.”

In a column for Sports Business Daily, executive editor Abraham D. Madkour writes the NFL’s credibility now is at an all-time low:

“In the sports business, belief in the NFL and its executives remains strong. But the public looks at the league with distrust, and feels it is socially, and perhaps morally, out of touch. That’s been the collateral damage of this decision-making style, this drive for $25 billion.”

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And the link to the rest of the column.

In 1983, Christine Brennan covered Miami-New York Jets in the AFC Championship game for the Miami Herald. She received her credential from a young man who was working for the Jets: Roger Goodell.

Years later, Goodell told Brennan, “I think I handed you your credential.”

Fast forward to Tuesday evening, and Brennan, the national sports columnist for USA Today, is on the phone with the NFL commissioner. How did she get the interview everyone wanted? She thinks it had something to do with a relationship with not only Goodell, but also NFL PR chief Greg Aiello that dates back more than 30 years.

“I think the fact that we’ve known each other for such a long time was a huge factor in this,” Brennan said. “There’s an advantage to being around a long time and having some trust built up.”

Brennan, though, stressed it isn’t as if she is close to Goodell or has regular contact with him. Also, if you read her columns on the Ray Rice debacle, she has been as hard on the commissioner and the NFL as anyone out there.

“I don’t spend any time trying to figure out why anyone talks to me,” Brennan said. “If someone wants to talk to me, I’ll listen.”

Brennan initially made a request to speak to Goodell in July. Nothing came of it. Then when the latest Rice video was released Monday, she put in a request to Aiello on Monday and then again on Tuesday.

Aiello replied on Tuesday, telling her Goodell would be available. She spoke to him at 6 p.m. ET for 14 minutes, 28 seconds.

“Nothing was off limits,” Brennan said. “I homed in on things that troubled me and asked him about it.”

Brennan opened by asking if Goodell had seen the elevator video prior to the TMZ disclosure? Goodell said no to that question and two follow-ups.

Brennan then asked, given what everyone saw in the first video, why should anyone have been surprised by what occurred inside the elevator in the second video?

“To me, that is the crux of this,” she said. “I’m still trying to figure out as a columnist and a person why it took the second video for the NFL to do what should have been done after the first video?”

Brennan pressed hard, asking a variation of that question four times. Goodell replied that there was some ambiguity about Rice’s testimony prior to seeing the second video.

“When I asked him four times, that’s what journalists do,” Brennan said. “I didn’t ask him once, twice, or three times. I asked him four times. I did the best I could do. I got an answer and I quoted his answer.”

Brennan asked a few more questions, including whether Goodell felt his job was in jeopardy. He said no.

Then Brennan quickly wrote her story.

It all happened so fast that Brennan didn’t have time to reflect on her performance until Wednesday morning. Was she satisfied with her interview and Goodell’s answers?

“I don’t know if you’re ever satisfied,” Brennan said. “This story went from 0 to 60 (this week). So I don’t know if I’m satisfied with anything right now…I had no idea this (interview) was going to happen until it happened. I addressed all the issues I felt strongly about. In (14 minutes, 28 seconds), I felt I absolutely did the best I could do.”

One more thing, Brennan added, at the end of our conversation.

“From my point of view, (getting the interview) was good, old-fashioned journalism,” Brennan said. “You ask and then you ask again. I asked in July. I asked on Monday. I asked on Tuesday. You keep asking. Often in journalism, that’s exactly what it is.”

I just clicked on TMZ Sports’ post that claims the NFL never asked for the Ray Rice elevator video.

The display for the post is disgusting. At the top is a photo illustration of Roger Goodell in a blindfold. By the way, the text of the story spells the commissioner’s first name as “Rodger.”

You might want to clean that up, TMZ.

Actually, that is the least of TMZ’s problems here. In the background of Goodell is the video on autoplay repeatedly showing the blow Rice delivered to his now wife.

The same image also runs on autoplay at the bottom of the post.

I did a bit more checking and saw this is the display TMZ is using in its previous posts of the Rice story.

What is the point of showing repeated images of Janay Rice getting brutally attacked? Is this yet another example of the victim getting exploited here, as Dave Zirin of The Nation wrote yesterday?

I get that TMZ is trying to make a comment about Goodell. But the site needed to find a much better way.

Just ask yourself a question: How would you feel about the display for this post if that woman was your daughter or good friend?

The whole thing makes me sick.

Only one game in, and I have had my fill of Dallas.

The Cowboys should be re-dubbed “America’s Most Over-hyped Team.” Never has so much prime exposure been focused on such a mediocre team.

There they were again Sunday, playing in the late afternoon Sunday doubleheader window on week 1. It was over by halftime, as San Francisco humiliated Jerry Jones’ motley crew.

After waiting since the Super Bowl for some real football, it was really disappointing to be served this Dallas clunker.

What did the Cowboys do to merit such a prime slot? They are coming off three straight 8-8 seasons. And they have won all of one playoff game since 1996.

Yet the networks love the Cowboys. NBC will air them on Sunday Night Football twice; Sept. 28 against New Orleans and Nov. 23 against the Giants. ESPN has the Cowboys on MNF on Oct. 27 against Washington.

Fox, meanwhile, likely will use its doubleheader windows on the Cowboys on Oct. 12 against Seattle and Oct. 19 against the Giants. Plus, there’s a Dec. 4 Thursday night game in Chicago on NFL Network and a Thanksgiving Day game against Philadelphia.

There’s the potential for a lot of bad Tony Romo to be forced down America’s throats.

Not for me. I’ll be watching something else.

Agree or not? Let me know.

In my latest column for the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana, I try to envision the scene in Arizona if Washington makes the Super Bowl. If there’s such a thing as bad karma, it’ll happen for the NFL.

From the column:

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I really hope Washington reaches the Super Bowl this year. I am going to be pulling for Robert Griffin III to be the real deal and for new coach Jay Gruden to engineer a turnaround in the nation’s capital.

Big time.

I mean, can you imagine the media feeding frenzy that would occur over Washington’s nickname if they made it to Phoenix for the big game? It would be of epic proportions.

Two weeks of relenting pounding from press all over the world on the issue. Endless debate on every platform imaginable, from ESPN to NPR and beyond. There would be minute-by-minute coverage of the protests from various Native American groups that surely would descend on Phoenix.

The game, what game? The controversy could dwarf what takes place on the field.

Indeed, Washington reaching the Super Bowl would be the NFL’s worst nightmare. And it would be fitting that Dan Snyder, perhaps one of the worst owners in sports, would have his big moment overshadowed by a mess he should have resolved years ago.

The NFL deserves all the havoc that this controversy has created. The Washington nickname firmly is part of the narrative on the eve of the new season.

In fact, ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” dedicated an hour in primetime Tuesday in a special exploring all facets of the debate. It included an extensive discussion about whether the furor over the Washington nickname is a media-driven issue.

In an excellent show-closing commentary, Bob Ley noted:

“(The controversy) is a free shot on a defenseless receiver for any columnist, blogger or opinion leader whether or not his or her concern about American Indians extends more than on hitting upon a 17 at one of their casinos. Dan Snyder makes opposition easier considering how he has treated the media and fans.”

Ley then answers his own question: “Is this a media creation? Of course, it is. But so was Watergate when it first started.”

Showtime’s Inside The NFL thought Brandon Marshall might make headlines while working as a player-analyst this year. It turns out they came on the first show when he discussed his personal issues with domestic violence.

I wrote about Marshall’s debut and spending his off-day in New York for the Chicago Tribune. You also can access the story from my Twitter feed at @Sherman_Report.

From the story:

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Brandon Marshall kept his word that nothing was off-limits during his first appearance on “Inside The NFL” on Showtime Tuesday. That included talking about the league’s new policy on domestic violence.

The Bears receiver candidly weighed in on the issue from a personal perspective in his new role as a regular analyst on the show. Marshall was twice arrested for domestic violence allegations, but was acquitted in one case and the charges were dropped in the other. He was suspended for three games in 2007 for personal conduct violations.

When Boomer Esiason asked if the new policy had been in place back then, would it have been a deterrent for Marshall, he replied he “really didn’t see fault in myself” as a young player and there was a possibility he could have been hit with a lifetime ban for a second violation.

Marshall said he was a product of a volatile home environment as a child and that contributed to his problems.

“I’m just thankful where I’m in a position where I can take my story and tell these guys, ‘Listen, you don’t have to be a product of your environment,” Marshall said. “…I went from being a problem in the locker room to being a guy where not only players, but coaches and executives come to me for advice. How we can change procedures to help these guys.”

Showtime sports general manager Stephen Espinoza said Marshall was apprised of the show’s complete rundown, including the domestic violence issue, during a call Monday afternoon.

“As we expected, he was willing to take on all topics,” said Espinoza after a taping of the show. “He spoke in a very authentic and honest way.”

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I was on tight deadline for my story. Dan Wiederer, one of the Tribune’s beat reporters for the Bears, followed up with a post with more extensive quotes from Marshall.

Boomer Esiason: Brandon, I know you were arrested and you were suspended three games for domestic violence. How would these rules today apply to you when you played?

Marshall: Honestly, I really couldn’t answer that. Back then, I was the type of guy who really didn’t see the fault in myself. First, I think this is an amazing platform for all of us. The NFL has this following and an ability to be able to shape and mold a country, a world. So I really appreciate what the NFL has done, led by the commissioner. But my only issue is that we make sure that we’re not judge and jury and let the process take its course.

For me, it’s a very personal perspective. I come from an environment where it wasn’t the family that prayed together, stayed together. It was the family that fought against each other stayed together. I saw women as the aggressors. I saw men as the aggressors. And I think the first half of my career really painted a picture of me being a product of my environment. So I’m just thankful that now I’m in a position where I can take my story and tell these guys, ‘Listen, man, you don’t have to be a product of your environment. That is the wrong path.’

My latest Chicago Tribune column is on the logistics and expectations for Brandon Marshall being a regular member of Showtime’s Inside The NFL this year.

You also can access the column via my Twitter feed at @Sherman_Report.

From the column:

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Showtime always wanted to have a current player on its panel for “Inside The NFL,” but the logistics never could be worked out. Even with the show moving this season to Tuesdays, the day off for NFL players on most weeks, Stephen Espinoza, the general manager for Showtime Sports, still thought the prospect of landing an active player was “a longshot.”

With the cast of “Inside The NFL” being revamped this year, Espinoza was thinking former players when he asked Josh Pyatt, an agent, if he knew of any potential candidates.

“Josh asked if I would be interested in a current player,” Espinoza said. “He said, ‘I have somebody willing to do it.”

It turns out Pyatt represents Brandon Marshall.

After many discussions and getting approval from the Bears, Marshall now becomes the first active player to work a weekly NFL studio show. He will make his debut Tuesday at 8 p.m. with the season premiere of “Inside The NFL” on Showtime.

Espinoza is thrilled to have Marshall on board. During most weeks, Marshall will be in New York in the studio with Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason, and Ed Reed.

“From our perspective, having Brandon is a no brainer,” Espinoza said. “He’s articulate, intelligent and he’s one of the best players at his position…For instance, the (change in pass interference rules) is going to be a big issue this year. Now we’re able to get the perspective of a current player on it. It’s a huge boon to the show.”

Espinoza is well aware of the concerns of Marshall’s participation in Chicago. First, there’s the travel issue and whether it will sap his energy on what should be a rest day.

The plan calls for Marshall to fly on a private plane to New York on Tuesday mornings. He would tape the show from 11 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m. Then he would hop back on the private plane and return home by late afternoon/early evening. It’s not as if Marshall will be waiting in lines at LaGuardia.

“It’s a fun show,” Espinoza said. “It’s not a taxing day.”

There are contingency plans in place if there are weather issues regarding flying; if Marshall needs to stay in Chicago for treatment for an injury; and for the weeks the Bears play Monday and Thursday games. He will do the show via satellite from the Bears’ studios at Halas Hall.

“Brandon has made it clear that his performance on the field is No. 1, 2, and 3 priority,” Espinoza said. “We’re clear on that as well. All deference will be given to his team obligations.”

Yes, they better apologize.

Yesterday, ESPN reporter Josina Anderson talked about Michael Sam’s shower habits in the St. Louis Rams’ locker room.

Obviously, way off base.

This morning, the network issued an apology:

“ESPN regrets the manner in which we presented our report. Clearly yesterday we collectively failed to meet the standards we have set in reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports.”

Right. Time for more training on LGBT-related topics in sports.

Cyd Zeigler of Outsports was among those who blasted Anderson for the report. In the youtube video, he mocks Anderson by doing his commentary alone from the shower. “God forbid I might shower with straight guys,” he said.

Zeigler brought up a good point. He compared the situation to the women reporters in the locker room issue. Why didn’t Anderson ask the Rams players how they felt about her being around men who were naked and showering after a game?

Perhaps because that question was confronted and handled by a previous generation of women reporters, allowing Anderson the freedom to be in the locker room.

My latest column for the Chicago Tribune is on how ESPN hit the jackpot with the Little League World Series.

You also can access the column via my Twitter feed @Sherman_Report.

From the column:

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The big winner besides Jackie Robinson West and Mo’Ne Davis at this year’s Little League World Series is ESPN.

The kids provided the network with the best bargain in TV sports this year.

ESPN hit the jackpot with incredible storylines that captivated the country. The combination of a star girl pitcher and an intercity team from Chicago not only generated record ratings for the Little Leaguers, but viewer levels well beyond what their idols in Major League Baseball are delivering this year.

An estimated 5.5 million viewers tuned in Wednesday to see Las Vegas beat Davis’ Philadelphia team on ESPN, shattering an all-time record for the Little League World Series. Then Thursday, nearly 4 million viewers watched Jackie Robinson West beat Pennsylvania on ESPN.

Ratings for the championship games over the weekend on ABC won’t be available until Monday. Since the games were played in the afternoon, they might not be as high as the primetime telecasts on Wednesday and Thursday. But they still should be robust given the following for Jackie Robinson West.

To put it in context, MLB hasn’t generated a comparable rating for a national telecast of a regular-season game on ESPN or Fox this year. It isn’t just baseball. The peak numbers for this year’s Little League World Series would be welcomed by many other college and pro sports during the regular season, if not post season.

Meanwhile in Chicago, where local ratings for the Cubs and White Sox are at historic lows, an estimated 270,000 area households watched Jackie Robinson West’s victory on Thursday. The last time a Chicago baseball team pulled that kind of number was back when fans still had hope manager Lou Piniella would lead the Cubs to the World Series. And just wait for the final Chicago rating tally for the weekend games.

ESPN is the main beneficiary. Last year, the network signed a new eight-year, $60 million extension to air the Little League World Series through 2022. Even though it was more than double the previous pact, it looks like a steal at $7.5 million per year compared to rights fee deals for major sports properties that go deep into the millions, if not billions.