Quite a bit was product of Fox’s sales space earlier than the Tremendous Bowl, as broadcasters Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen made their debut calling American sports activities’ greatest occasion. With the specter of Tom Brady looming over Olsen’s future as Fox’s No. 1 analyst, the duo was spot on all evening.
Burkhardt received excited when he was alleged to be excited, Olsen’s key factors had been related, and the sales space was current however not overbearing all through. Probably the most gradable second — aka the decision as soon as the winner clinches the title — was superb. “And the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have received Tremendous Bowl LVII” received’t blow anyone’s thoughts, and Burkhardt didn’t essentially need to.
A play-by-play man must be senile, supremely unlikeable, or the son of a well-known broadcaster for the general public to activate him, and Burkhardt is none of these. Nevertheless, he’s not up for alternative, so let’s discuss half of the duo that’s.
Olsen earned a shot as anyone’s go-to analyst
It may’ve been straightforward for Olsen to overdo it, and take a look at too exhausting. The perception he provides to a name as a former tight finish spans from the passing sport to blocking schemes, and he did an excellent job of explaining with out making issues difficult.
G/O Media could get a fee
He was on the teaching dangers all through, with Nick Sirianni taking dangers and Andy Reid choosing area objectives on fourth and never that dangerous. The sector circumstances performed an element though it was the Tremendous Bowl, and Olsen, as an excellent analyst would do, noticed what we noticed.
My greatest pet peeve is when guys have on-air orgasms over quarterback play, and Olsen saved his composure even after Jalen Hurts hit Dallas Goedert on a 3rd and 14. He was on Sirianni’s jock a bit over the fourth downs, but it was an enormous a part of the primary half, so I wasn’t too bothered by it.
There wasn’t a ton of controversy exterior of THAT holding name, and Olsen was on high of it. Mike Pereira can defend the zebras all he desires, however Olsen was proper. It was 50-50 name, and Eagles followers won’t ever — NEVER — let that go.
A word on variety
The NFL checked off each variety field they may earlier than the sport kicked. Babyface opened for anthem singer Chris Stapleton. We received a Native American signing the anthem, and the first-ever all-women army flyover, which the NFL made positive to notice.
That was adopted by Burkhardt and Olsen reminding us that even Fox’s B-team doesn’t function a Black particular person. It might be good if all this vitality over Olsen presumably getting ousted by Brady additionally might be directed at getting extra variety on the decision.
