Former Patriots and Chiefs executive Scott Pioli is following in the footsteps of Bill Polian and becoming a full time television analyst covering the NFL. Pioli will be linking up with NBC and will appear on Football Night in America as well as NBCSN's Pro Football Talk. Richard Deitsch first had the news in the weekly SI Media Column and here's more from the peacock's announcement:
"Longtime NFL front office veteran and former NFL Executive of the Year Scott Pioli is joining Football Night in America, NBC’s NFL studio program and the most-watched regularly-scheduled studio program in sports. He will also appear regularly on Pro Football Talk, NBC Sports Network’s daily NFL program hosted by ProFootballTalk.com founder and NFL Insider Mike Florio.
Pioli, who helped the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls as head of their player personnel department and who most recently served as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, will provide insight across both Football Night and Pro Football Talk into the workings of NFL teams’ front offices.
“Scott is an intelligent, articulate and well-respected NFL front office veteran, who brings a new element to our NFL coverage,” said Sam Flood, executive producer, NBC Sports & NBC Sports Network. “We are thrilled to welcome him to our team. His front-office voice will complement those of our former head coach, former players, and NFL Insiders.”
Football Night in America is the best NFL studio show on television because it's dialed back from its CBS, Fox, ESPN, and NFLN counterparts. Whereas those other networks cram as many people on set as possible and tell them to yuk it up like the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, NBC limits the amount of people on screen at one time and all deliver a purpose. Whether it be the main team of Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison with Dan Patrick doing highlights or analysis, Peter King and Mike Florio's reporting, and even Bob Costas on site with Hines Ward, everything has a purpose. All of them are smartly kept apart and the show has a rhythm as it bounces around and gains different perspectives.
Pioli may fill the one missing piece NBC had – that of the former NFL executive. It's a role that has taken on more significance in recent years with Charlie Casserly and Bill Polian among others being featured as analysts. If Pioli can pop in like the others and provide smart analysis and that new perspective, this will be a good hire. But NBC should be wary of adding too many more voices to FNIA, lest it become just another studio show with too many cooks in the kitchen.
[SI]
