When I asked new NFL Network analyst Matt Millen if the Redskins were on the upswing or the decline, he did not hesitate with his answer.
“The Redskins are on the upswing and this is going to be a good season for them no doubt,” said the one-time Skins linebacker.
That begged the follow up question — why?
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“Jason Campbell is in his second year with coach Jim Zorn’s offense,” Millen said. “I think that Campbell is out to prove that he is a leader and someone who is going to be a quality quarterback in this league. The side issues of Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez will only help his focus. Meanwhile, to his credit, Zorn has never wavered from Campbell being his quarterback.”
The conversation was part of a conference call to announce that Millen was joining the NFL Network broadcast booth with Bob Papa for the network’s Thursday Night Football telecasts. He is replacing Cris Collinsworth, who is replacing the recently retired John Madden as the lead analyst on NBC Sunday Night Football.
Millen will be one of the busiest men in broadcasting this season because he will do a college football game of the week for ESPN, as well as both Sunday and Monday NFL Countdown shows.
“I have done this in the past with FOX,” Millen said, “so I am happy with the schedule and can’t wait to get going.”
The NFL Network will debut their 2009-10 schedule on Nov. 12 when the Chicago Bears are in San Francisco to take on the 49ers. The good news is that more fans will see these games this season with NFL Network being included in the classic basic service on Comcast cable.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
