The beat: No media 1-on-1 with RG3; TV big for new Big East commish; Esiason new role on CBS Sports Radio

Apparently, the Washington Redskins don’t want to tax their new prize quarterback. Dan Pompei, a veteran NFL writer for the Chicago Tribune, writes:

Camp oddity: As the second pick in the draft, (Robert Griffin III) is one of the most coveted interview subjects in the NFL this summer. When he had his initial news conference at the start of training camp, three local television stations and NFL Network carried it live. But the Redskins have prevented him from doing any one-on-one interviews. He is believed to be the only high-profile player in the NFL who does not do one-on-ones. Instead, he does one weekly group interview. This week, he fielded 19 questions before media members were cut off.

I can understand the Redskins not wanting Griffin to be overtaxed. However, he seems to be plenty media savvy. Don’t think it will be Washington’s best interests to tick off the local media, especially when he starts doing one-on-ones with the network pregame shows once the season starts.

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Kudos to my old pal Mark Blaudschun of ajerseyguy.com for breaking the story of Mike Aresco being hired as the new Big East commissioner. Aresco’s background as an executive for CBS and ESPN shows how much television figures into the survival of the struggling conference.

Blaudschun writes:

There should be a sense of optimism about what will happen with the new television contract in football, whether it is with ESPN or NBC, which is looking for college football programming. Maybe each Big East school can get double the  $6 million annually from the present contract. Maybe they can get triple that amount.

Aresco knows that world as well as anyone. So does Bevilacqua, who brokered the billion dollar plus deal the Pac-12 signed last year.

If the Big East gets the money, maybe there is less of a reason for schools like Louisville and UConn and Rutgers to look elsewhere, as they are now doing. Maybe the Big East becomes aggressive again to re-establish its base turf in the East–would Maryland, strapped for cash, listen to a better offer?

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Boomer Esiason is going to have an increased role with the new CBS Sports Network. Already host of morning show on WFAN in New York, the former QB has been named as a contributor. He’ll provide commentary and updates for the “CBS Sports Minute” that will be distributed during morning drive to member stations.

From CBS:

Esiason will be heard weekday mornings near the top of the hour from 6:00-10:00AM on CBS Sports Radio stations, including premier outlets WFAN in New York, WSCR in Chicago, KNBR in San Francisco and WIP-FM in Philadelphia, among others. Audiences across the country will also hear directly from Esiason throughout the NFL season as he weighs in on players, coaches, upcoming match-ups, and the day’s trending topics. He will similarly be available to CBS Sports Radio stations as the news warrants in the pre- and off-season.