A consumer’s guide to the best and worst of sports media and merchandise. Ground rules: If it can be read, played, heard, observed, worn, viewed, dialed or downloaded, it’s in play here.
What: Denver Broncos video ($19.95)
You don’t have to be a Bronco fan to enjoy this tape, but it helps. If you’re a New York Giant fan or a Miami Dolphin fan, don’t expect to see much of the Broncos’ regular-season losses to those teams. But there is much to see in this 50-minute NFL Films video, which became available at retail stores Feb. 23 and is being distributed by PolyGram Video (www.polygram.com).
NFL Films, with its can’t-miss formula of behind-the-scenes looks, outstanding game footage, captivating music, classic radio calls and microphoned players and coaches, followed the Broncos through their second Super Bowl season. The Broncos won 13 in a row, then lost to the Giants and Dolphins, and finished the regular season with a win against Seattle, a game in which Terrell Davis went over 2,000 yards.
A highlight of the video comes during the Super Bowl. Remember when Falcon kicker Morten Andersen missed a 26-yard field-goal try in the second quarter and Rod Smith scored on an 80-yard pass play from John Elway on the next play? Fox almost missed it, coming back from a commercial break after the ball was snapped.
Anyway, while Fox was off on its ill-advised break, the NFL Films cameras and microphones picked up Elway and Shanahan in an excited conversation on the sidelines. They had spotted a weakness and were sure an X post would result in a touchdown.
A regular-season highlight came during the Broncos’ home victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 25 when, right before halftime, Jason Elam kicked an NFL record-tying 63-yard field goal. In the same game, Davis went over 1,000 yards, the first back to do so in seven games. Afterward in the locker room, Shanahan tosses a game ball to Davis. “Oh, I almost forgot Jason,” he laughs. “I’m always forgetting kickers.” He then tosses Elam a ball and says, “Nice job.”
Shanahan isn’t always so pleasant. After a preseason practice, he angrily lectures his players about looking like a .500 team.
It is moments like that, where you get things you can’t get from network television, that make this video a worthwhile buy.
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