The NFL Network finally puts on its game face tonight at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium when the Chiefs host the Broncos.
“Our general plan is that all our focus is on that field,” producer Mark Loomis said. “Why are we there? To cover the football game. It’s not a show; it’s a football game. So we put a lot of effort into getting enough cameras, the right cameras. We’re in HD (high definition). We’ll have players wired. We’ll have a cable cam, we have super slow-mos.”
Tonight’s production won’t feature sideline reporters – Loomis said they distract from the broadcasters in the booth – but will feature veteran NFL Films cameramen Donnie Marx and Hank McElwee.
“They will be on the sideline in their normal handheld positions for (highlights) later in the week,” Loomis said. “However, those cameras will be hooked up to our trucks, and the hope is that they bring a little bit of the style that you’ve seen on the NFL Films stuff over the years.”
However, Loomis said the NFL Network won’t get special access from the league.
“I’m going to try to take advantage of every access we do get, but that’s not different than any other network would have, and by no means do we get any special treatment,” he said.
Bryant Gumbel will do play-by-play and Cris Collinsworth is the analyst. Gumbel, the former “Today” show host and current host of HBO’s “Real Sports,” has not done play-by-play in more than 30 years. Both Gumbel and Collinsworth said it would take a while to find their broadcast rhythm.
“Our first effort is not going to be perfect and we are not going to be as good in November as we hope to be in December. That’s the reality of it,” Gumbel said. “This is going to be our first effort and it’s not going to be without its bumps and bruises.”
Both men have earned reputations as opinionated broadcasters and tough interviewers. Both insist they won’t become mouthpieces for the NFL should controversial issues arise during the season or during a particular game.
“I hope that the two of us are at this point in our careers, that people understand and that people trust us, that if there’s an issue, that we go after it,” said Collinsworth, the former Cincinnati receiver who was an analyst for Fox, but now works for NBC and co-hosts HBO’s “Inside the NFL.” “We have a great football game in front of us. If there are no issues, we’re going to enjoy a great game. And if there are issues, we’re going to drill them right between the eyes.”
