Zolak & Bertrand: Hope that Brady is better color commentator than Tony Romo
On Tuesday’s Zolak & Bertrand, the guys discuss Tony Romo’s performance broadcasting Super Bowl LVIII. Also, will Tom Brady become a good color commentator for FOX in the future?
What’s Your Opinion on Tony Romo?
Parts of conversation abbreviated for clarity.
Bertrand: The thing that everyone is calling for with Romo is a firing from the top broadcast crew on CBS. That doesn’t speak to the ability of Jim Nantz to have chemistry with a broadcast partner, and not a good trend for him either. It’s not all Romo.
Romo obviously sucks. But you’ve got to put some blame on Jim Nantz in this as well. Put Nantz down as “Doesn’t play well with others.” You ever get that on your report card there when you’re in kindergarten. At least you used to. I don’t think that’s a thing anymore. But when we were kids, Phil, you know, “Does this child play well with others?”
Romo is not good at this. He steps all over calls and doesn’t shut up. He doesn’t have composure in the big moments. He doesn’t have any of that that we can obviously see. What about the guy next to him? Maybe the whole crew is bad. Did that cross anyone’s mind?
Zolak: Have some notes. He has a handler. You see it. He’s got a guy that travels with him. They put his music on before the game, they listen to 80s, and he hands him cards throughout the course of the game. It’s set up for you to be good. This is why Brady will be good at broadcasting.
Bertrand: Romo might be more tolerable if he was paired with someone who was a little less stiff. Someone who might be more engaging with the Romo nonsense. Someone who might be able to set him up a little better or engage with him a little bit more. Jim Nantz leaves this guy out on an island.
Zolak: Jim will take a shot at him, too. Like, when he’s wrong.
Bertrand: So this is not to say that Jim Nantz is doing a poor job. He’s obviously an excellent broadcaster. I’m just saying Jim Nantz is wrong for Tony Romo. Stuck with Romo. He should not be on the top crew. He’d be more tolerable if you paired him with somebody else. This is a bad pairing, too, and I think that’s part of the story of the Super Bowl.
Segment Audio
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A 7-point plan for the Patriots to fix their roster
The New England Patriots have a lot of work to do. This off-season, and the next, and the one after that.
But it’s still possible for the team to improve their roster in one year enough to return to playoff contention. It’s going to involve things that are never the ideal plan, like big free-agent spending. But that’s the situation the Pats have ended up in to start the Jerod Mayo era.
MORE: The big Patriots decision nobody is talking about
Realistically, this rebuild is going to take years. Especially if they draft a quarterback and decide to sit and develop him for his rookie year. But drafting a quarterback with that third overall pick seems like the most logical, realistic, and likely outcome for the Patriots at that position.
New England Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf is a key figure in the team’s roster rebuild. (Jim Matthews/Green Bay Press Gazette via USA TODAY Sports)
And even then, they’ll be far from done. They need at least one, if not two starting tackles. They could use multiple infusions of talent at wide receiver. And who knows, maybe the quarterback doesn’t work out and they have to draft another one down the road.
But! If the Patriots followed this 7-point plan, they’d position themselves well to turn things around quickly – provided they add the right players. Frankly, it would be great if they even did just one or two of these things. They almost certainly will, because some of these things are absolute musts and Patriots coach Jerod Mayo on the NFL draft:
“We’re gonna draft the best player for a position that’s very important. You put the pieces together.”
HERE WE GO. 👀🔥
pic.twitter.com/WZAetH6uHp
Here’s what I believe the Patriots can accomplish all in just this one off-season, and give themselves a good chance to become AFC contenders once again.
1. Sign a big-name free-agent receiver
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 21: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers catches a pass in front of Cameron Sutton #1 of the Detroit Lions during the second quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Ford Field on January 21, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The first big bullet: bring in one of the top free-agent wide receivers. This year is a time to strike, as the free agent market fluctuates from year-to-year as far as the level of talent at the top. The 2024 free agent receiver class is top-heavy with legitimate high-end players that make the kind of money you inevitably need to pay to have them.
There’s a “Big 4” of sorts among the free agent receivers this off-season: Mike Evans, Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman Jr., and Calvin Ridley. All will probably come at high price tags, but would have a good chance to deliver a high impact to their new teams.
2. Re-sign Mike Onwenu to play right tackle
Dec 7, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New England Patriots guard Mike Onwenu (71) blocks against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
This should be a no-brainer. The Patriots offensive line markedly improved once they moved Mike Onwenu to right tackle, and they desperately need a starting tackle as Onwenu heads for free agency. He won’t be cheap – Onwenu may be able to command an AAV in the range of $17-20 million – but it’s the price you pay when you have no tackles.
But Onwenu is a high-end homegrown talent at his position, and so he deserves to be rewarded with a second contract in New England. They need him. He and the receiver can round out their big free-agent spending, with the rest going toward complementary pieces. That would qualify as a successful free agency spree.
3. Draft a quarterback at 3
Oct 21, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) looks to pass against the Army Black Knights during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Three or higher. The Patriots really shouldn’t draft any lower than No. 3 overall. You can’t move down from 3 when there are three quarterbacks sitting there ready to be taken. Head coach Jerod Mayo recently said in an interview that the Patriots are going to “draft the best player for a position that’s very important.” So, it’s quite possible he was referring to this year’s “Big 3” quarterbacks of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels.
When things go as bad as they did for the Patriots, and you end up that high in a quarterback-heavy draft, you pretty much have to gamble on the quarterback. Daniels, for example, would certainly be a bigger gamble than a safer pick like wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. But you can’t risk being the team that passed on a franchise QB, either. Especially a team in the Patriots’ position. So, they should absolutely take a QB with their first pick.
4. Draft a tackle high
TUCSON, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 30: Offensive lineman Jordan Morgan #77 of the Arizona Wildcats during the second half of the NCAAF game at Arizona Stadium on September 30, 2023 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Patriots have the 34th pick at the top of the second round, and they should be able to get a good tackle prospect at that spot. Perhaps they could move back up into the first round to get one. But it’s a deep tackle class, and someone like Arizona’s Jordan Morgan should be available at 34.
Tackle may not be a sexy position, but it can’t be ignored. Any quarterback is limited without good protection, and the Patriots have an urgent need. So, they should definitely dip into this tackle pool, and with a high pick.
5. Draft another cornerback
ATHENS, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 05: Kamari Lassiter #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after a play against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second quarter at Sanford Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
This one might be the first outside-the-box kind of idea for the Patriots, as the preceding points are more like “How do we approach this obvious need?” Cornerback is not an obvious need for the Patriots, but they should keep drafting them with legit picks.
Why? The Patriots don’t have much after Christian Gonzalez in terms of legitimate outside corners. They can and probably will get out from under J.C. Jackson’s contract, and Jonathan Jones is another year older and has never been a perfect fit on the perimeter, anyway. Could Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter be an option on day 2 of the draft? This is a position that shouldn’t be ignored, despite the Patriots’ needs on offense. Cornerback remains a premium position, regardless, and should always be replenished with talent.
6. Add a veteran backup QB
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 13: Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass against the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs at NRG Stadium on January 13, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Yes, we’re putting a picture of Joe Flacco. He was just in Cleveland, working with the Patriots’ new offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt. Flacco came off the street and posted an admirable 90.2 passer rating for the Browns, leading them into the playoffs, so he should be able to get another job if he wants one.
Especially if the Patriots are going to move on from Mac Jones and/or Bailey Zappe, they’re going to need a veteran backup QB. Perhaps they could turn to old friend Jacoby Brissett, too. But regardless, that room could use some experience and maturity.
7. Cut back on special teams
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 07: Matthew Slater #18 of the New England Patriots waves to fans while walking off the field after a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
Matthew Slater is a possibility to retire and Bill Belichick is gone. It’s time to de-emphasize that third phase of the game. Not that the Patriots need to employ ZERO specialists. But they can absolutely coach up their backup offensive and defensive players to also play special teams. They don’t need half a squad of pure special teamers. It’s time to take that space and invest it in offense.
