Inside the NFL

I've been watching this show since Len Dawson and Nick Bonticanti hosted Inside The NFL. The 2019 cast is just OK. James Brown is a great host, but the show goes off the rails with Brandon Marshal's constant uniforminant rants. Brandon Marshall brings this show down, and actually has to look on his phone for stats during the show (horrible). Ray Lewis tries very hard. I appreciate that it looks like he prepares before the show. Phil Simms is very knowledgeable, but is too often cut off by Brandon Marshall. As my title to this review stated, Less Ego More Football. There must be a ton of qualified exfootball players that can articulate a weeks worth of football without making it about themselves.

You need to bring back Cris Collinsworth, get rid of Ray Lewis (Lawrence Taylor would be a great add!), Boomer is ok but how about Joe Montana, as for Simms he and Collinsworth were hilarious so you could keep him around to be picked at but Collinsworth, Montana, and LT would be all you need! Please consider these recommendations! Thank you!

When the original team of Bornacotti and Dawson was ended, the show should of ended, or at least should have had a name change. The new format is rather dry, uninspired, and the show feels like it is slickly over produced. Nothing against Costas, Dan Marino,Cris Collinswoth, and Cris Carter, the show doesn't have that same feel it did during the 1980's and into the 90's. The beginning of the end was when the producers discontinued the segment "Where are they Now?" which highlighted the stars of the past, and honored the history of the game. One of the most chilling was one the featured former St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals Quarterback Niel Lomax, who only two years before was one of the best QBs in the NFL, but was now recovering from total hip replacement, and reflecting on a career that ended way too soon. The show reached a low point when it added the very unfunny Wanda Sykes (who's own Fox show was canceled after three weeks, but the originals were allowed to run), to be in some of the worst , and sadly forced comedy segments ever seen on cable TV. Being a fan of the original, I would have simply preferred if HBO had changed the name of the show, to maybe The NFL Report hosted by Bob Costas. I admittedly have not be able to watch an entire show in almost three years, because it simply just isn't worth it anymore. I get more highlights, better insight, and overall, a bit more fun watching Chris Berman's fastest 3 minutes on ESPN then I do watching the New Inside the NFL. pretty sad when someone can do in 3 minutes what you can't do in 60.

For HBO viewers, "Inside the NFL" has brought detailed analysis and game recaps every week of the season and postseason for over 25 years. Dramatically edited and narrated game films are the main reason to watch; after all, you can't see every game every week, and unless you're satisfied with the 15-second recaps on ESPN, you can't get a feel for out-of-market teams any other way. The game films are balanced with commentary, analysis from the hosts and from experts on both the game and the business, some great interviews, and occasional "where are they now" segments.

However, it seems to me that the current line-up is a step down. First off, Bob Costas was brought in to host the show, replacing Len Dawson after 25 years. Maybe Dawson wanted to retire, and Costas is a terrific sports presence. However, Costas is mostly about baseball and seems lost in discussing game elements of football. (He is outstanding on business matters.) Dan Marino is a good but not spectacular addition, replacing Nick Buonoconti, who was also good but not spectacular. Cris Carter replaces Jerry Glanville, which can only be a step up, but not by much. Carter is not suited for this format -- he just seems out of place here. He's much better on the sidelines or in a game situation as a third man. The only continuing presence this season is Chris Collinsworth, an erudite, knowledgeable, and supremely annoying egomaniac. He was easily #3 in the old lineup (only Glanville was more annoying) and has an attitude that he should be #1 in this lineup. He talks over people, talks down to people, and talks around people.

However, Inside the NFL is still heads above the pregame shows on Fox, CBS, and ESPN. The only thing that it gives up to those three is that it's taped on Thursday, so any breaking news after that will be missed. If you already have HBO, you should be watching this if you are a football fan. If you don't have HBO, try catching this on one of their free recruiting weekends (it's repeated several times until game days). It may be a factor in deciding whether to subscribe. Hopefully, by next year there may be another lineup change.

For years Inside the NFL has been the best NFL football recap game. This year there are 4 "nobody's" hosting it and they can barely read the teleprompter. It is terrible. Bring back James Brown, Phil Simms, Michael Irvin, Ray Lewis, Steve Smith Sr, and Julian Edleman.

I Could tolerate Brandon Marshall but the crew hosting now is terrible. They barely know their subject matter and between them they probably don't have as much NFL experience together as any one of the ones I listed above.

I can't believe that the ratings this year are reaching 10 percent of what they were reaching on Showtime or Paramount.