NFL Network: All NFL, All the Time
By Jonathan Berohn
OK--Let me get this straight. The NFL has a new cable network. It’s 24-hour football—a fan’s dream. Oh—wait…there are no games? On the NFL network? Hmmm. Yes—that’s all true: 24-hour coverage of everything NFL except actual games. And believe it or not I’m here to say that’s it’s a great thing for all football fans—especially those who live in a city that’s not the home of their favorite team.
Lots of Talking Helmets
Want to start getting your pre-game analysis on Tuesday? Need to see those highlights of the big game again…and again…and again? NFL network is all that and more. To be fair, the NFL has assembled a quality cast of ex-players and football pundits to keep die hard fans in the know (just in case SportsCenter, NFL PrimeTime, etc., leave you somehow wanting for information). Really though, even for the rabid fan who thinks basketball and hockey just take up time when ESPN and Fox could be showing more football, the NFL network analysis shows can be a little much.
The Highlights You Want to See
That said, the highlight packages NFL network offers through On-Demand cable make it well worth any fan’s attention. If you’re a fan of the hometown team, you can watch 10 minute recaps of each week’s game any time throughout the season. Things are even better if you follow an out of town team. Local highlights are hardly anything new. But highlights of the game that you don’t get to see are quite a treat. We’re not talking the 5 or 6 plays (if it’s a compelling game) that ESPN shows. We’re talking a full 10 minutes—narrated by one of the two team’s local announcing crews for added color—of highlights you just don’t get to see being, say a Steelers fan living in Denver. As an added bonus, you can also watch different selections from NFL films like old Super Bowl highlights and various best of compilations.
Not only will the NFL network help ease the pain of making it from Monday to Sunday, but it will help you follow your out of town favorites and maybe even scout the opposition for upcoming games. Er—if you were so inclined. I’d never do that. Really.