The announcement of Dan Patrick joining NBC Sports came rather unexpectedly. NBC put out a press release about “a major Football Night in America talent announcement” and during the conference call, there was NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol giving word that Dan Patrick was indeed joining Football Night in America.
Last year when Dan left ESPN, we all speculated what his next move might be. Well, the Sports Media Watch got it right feeling that Patrick would join FNIA, but as co-host to replace Bob Costas, not join him as is the case. SI’s Richard Deitsch also called Patrick going to NBC sometime in 2008.
To have Dan reunite with Keith Olbermann is a good move and should make Football Night in America a stronger show. But with three people doing highlights, what time will Costas have? Also, the segment where analysts Cris Collinsworth, Jerome Bettis and Tiki Barber all discuss highlights may be cut down. Ebersol says that has yet to be worked out.
But to have Dan Patrick on NBC only makes its bench stronger and if Ebersol is looking for its next generation of Olympic hosts, Dan is certainly a viable candidate to be on the NBC Olympic roster.
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