Coverage Was a Jolt From Blue

Will the networks ever learn? Putting live microphones near testosterone-filled players is asking for trouble.

The expletive-laced player introductions were one of the worst things--besides the game--on a day when CBS did more things right than wrong.

One bad word was heard when the first Raven, Tony Siragusa, was introduced. Another was heard when Ray Lewis was introduced. The worst came through loud and clear when the Giants’ Shaun Williams, a former UCLA Bruin, was introduced.

At least NBC plans to put XFL telecasts on a five-second delay so that the expletives can be bleeped.

CBS had no delay. And CBS wasn’t even aware of the bad language that went out over the air.

“The league informed us of that late in the first quarter,” executive producer Terry Ewert said by phone from Tampa, Fla., after the game.

“We’re very sensitive about that,” Ewert said. “We certainly don’t want that happening, and we’ll be more cautious in the future.”

Ewert also said the NFL could ban live microphones around players during the introductions at future Super Bowls.

Might not be a bad idea.

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Maybe CBS should have figured out a way to bleep bad language rather than investing so much energy and money into developing a new replay system called Eye-vision. Someday it really may be something, but about all it did Sunday was give viewers motion sickness.

To be fair, it possibly provided a clearer view of Jermaine Lewis’ kickoff-return touchdown. And it may have helped show that Jamal Lewis did score the touchdown that was challenged by the Giants because Lewis lost control of the ball at the goal line.

But regular replay cameras sufficed in most cases.

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Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms turned in one of their typical solid performances. And Simms never showed a trace of emotion one way or the other that would indicate he used to play for the Giants.

Of course there were too many promos. Who cares that “Jag” is the No. 1 action drama?

But then this was the Super Bowl, so you knew what was coming. A promo for Ted Danson’s “Becker” even made fun of all the promos.

Most of CBS’ Super Bowl features were good, and the producers paid attention to details.

The one silly feature was a “Godfather” takeoff with Siragusa and the Giants’ Michael Strahan. It didn’t work.

But Armen Keteyian’s feature on Kerry Collins and his comeback from alcoholism was outstanding. So was Dick Enberg’s piece on former Giant quarterback Jeff Hostetler and his 10-year-old son Tyler’s battle back from a potentially crippling ATV accident.

Lesley Visser’s feature on Ray Lewis was thorough and even-handed.

But it was ESPN that offered the most riveting footage regarding Lewis. On “NFL Sunday Countdown,” as part of a feature by Andrea Kremer, ESPN showed Lewis addressing his teammates during training camp in August.

Jim Brown, also part of the footage, was shown praising Lewis as a team leader. Lewis, in a rare show of humility, then talked about what his teammates meant to him, how thinking of them got him through the tough times in jail a year ago, and how he was going to lead them to the Super Bowl.