NBC voice advocates Herbert over Tua if Dolphins have choice. And Super Bowl media notes.
The question facing the Dolphins during the next three months is how much they should be willing to relinquish in draft capital to move up from 5 to 3 in the draft to position themselves to select Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, provided his medicals check out after hip surgery.
But count NBC announcer and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms among a small group of NFL people who would opt for Oregon’s Justin Herbert over Tagovailoa if given the choice of the two. Former Dolphins executive Mike Tannenbaum is another voice in that camp.
“I think Justin Herbert is the most talented guy in the whole draft, if I just said who has the highest ceiling,” Simms said Monday while making the rounds on Radio Row at Super Bowl headquarters at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
“He’s really a top-notch thrower of the football. Is he as polished or knows how to play the game as well as [LSU quarterback and likely No. 1 overall pick] Joe Burrow? No he does not. Is he going to be behind Joe Burrow in that aspect? Yes because he played in a horrible offense in Oregon taught by an offensive line coach. Sorry, that usually doesn’t translate to knowing the passing game. Burrow got taught by a guy [Joe Brady] that got taught by Sean Payton.
“Herbert might have to be a year on the sideline behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. If you ask me who is the guy in this draft that maybe has a chance to be the next Patrick Mahomes, who in Year 3 of their career, you are going, ‘this guy is unbelievable,’ I think Herbert from what I’ve seen, has got superstar talent. I really like Tua too; don’t get me wrong. The risk is real with that injury. That’s an injury you say, ‘That could be career-altering.’ He could end up having issues with his hip.”
The Dolphins are aware they might need to trade up to No. 3 to assure themselves of getting Tagovailoa, whose skills they admire.
“Let’s not leverage our future over one guy,” Simms said. “Let’s not trade all the assets we’ve accumulated over the last few years just for one guy. The 49ers are going to the Super Bowl with Jimmy Garoppolo. He’s a second-round pick.”
Herbert helped himself in the Senior Bowl and practices leading up to the game.
“Beyond the 6-foot-6 size and the big arm that everyone talks about, we saw Hebert make significant strides as a leader this week, specifically in how he interacted with teammates and took control of the offense,” ESPN’s Todd McShay said. “He is my No. 3-ranked quarterback overall and is looking like a top-10 pick.”
MONDAY TV PLANS
Marlins Park, which can feel as quiet as a library on a weeknight during baseball season, comes alive Monday night for the NFL’s ultimate media spectacle.
The NFL — which does everything big — in recent years has transformed Super Bowl media day into a prime-time nationally televised event, airing on NFL Network and Fox Sports 1 beginning at 7 p.m.
Now called Super Bowl Opening Night, the event features interview opportunities for every Chiefs and 49ers player and coach, plus live entertainment, special appearances and autographs by NFL players who aren’t playing in the game, as well as fan photo opportunities.
Admission is $25, and fans in attendance will receive a free radio, which gives them access to NFL Network coverage and player interviews taking place at the individual podiums. Doors will open at 5 pm.
Chiefs players and coaches will speak from 7:10 p.m. to 8:10 p.m., with the 49ers available from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
LOTS OF PROGRAMMING
ESPN and Fox Sports 1 have each constructed sets around Lummus Park on South Beach, giving them snazzy backgrounds for their daytime programming.
So if you want to give Fox’s Skip Bayless a piece of your mind (I would not recommend this) or tell ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith why you agree with him that the Miami Heat can be “special” this season, you will now know where to find them.
Here are the ESPN shows airing live beginning Wednesday at the Lummus Park location, with the network encouraging attendance by viewers who aren’t inebriated or insulting: Get Up with Mike Greenberg and Laura Rutledge (8 a.m. -10 a.m.); First Take with Smith, Max Kellerman and Molly Qerim Rose (10 a.m.-noon); SportsCenter at noon and 6 p.m.; and NFL Live at 1:30 p.m.
Around The Horn at 5 p.m., Pardon The Interruption at 5:30 p.m. will originate from The Clevelander, where Dan Le Batard’s ESPN Radio show airs weekdays at 10 a.m.
And here are the Fox shows airing weekdays from Lummus Park beginning Monday: First Things First with Nick Wright and Jenna Wolfe (6:30 to 9:30 a.m.); Skip and Shannon: Undisputed with Bayless and Shannon Sharpe (9:30 a.m. to noon); The Herd with Colin Cowherd with Cowherd and Joy Taylor (noon to 3 p.m.); Speak for Yourself with Jason Whitlock and Marcellus Wiley (3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.); and Lock It In with Rachel Bonnetta, Sal Iacono, Clay Travis and Todd Fuhrman (4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.).
Next to the broadcast compound in Lummus Park, Fox will host a weeklong interactive fan experience that includes a 70-foot Ferris wheel, a screening room on the beach airing Fox prime-time series and a 10-foot-tall Super Bowl-themed Lego Masters mural that fans can help build.
Fox will also have an official NASCAR vehicle on site ahead of its coverage of Daytona 500 and a photo opportunity with an oversized WWE championship belt.
Additionally, radio talk shows from around the country will originate their programming from the Miami Beach Convention Center, in what is traditionally called Radio Row. (This is not open to the public.)
Here’s how it works: Current and former NFL stars, accompanied by publicists or marketing people, hop from show to show, answering football questions on the condition that they also can promote the mosquito repellent, neon bedroom slippers or whatever product they’re hawking.
As you were reminded repeatedly during the NFC Championship Game, Fox gets the Super Bowl this season, meaning Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will call the game. Fox Deportes also will air the game.
TICKET UPDATE
Still hoping to attend the game by purchasing a ticket on the secondary market?
According to ticketiq.com, this is on pace to be the most expensive Super Bowl to attend in 10 years, with the cheapest ticket available at $4,060 as of Friday afternoon.
The average ticket price for all tickets is $7,704. The most expensive singe ticket is $38,459 in The 72 Club. And the cost for an 18-person suite is $299,674.
As of Friday afternoon, there were just under 3,500 tickets available for sale.
The NFL warns secondary-market buyers to be wary of purchasing counterfeit tickets.
This story was originally published January 27, 2020 at 2:54 PM.
