We really don’t even know how to begin this edition of the Media Circus, so we’ll just jump right into it:

Sean Salisbury has his own Web site. 

It’s not the standard profile site of former athlete-turned announcer, nor is it the short-lived seansalisburyonline.com of yesteryear.  It’s a site fit for a king, if the king was loud, brash and eager to “get after it”.  It’s Sean “Big Mouth” Salisbury [dot com], people!

Simply stated:

“This site is dedicated to bringing to you, the Big Mouth Member, THE INSIDER’S INSIDE view of the National Football League. Come join Sean “Big Mouth” Salisbury in the Ultimate NFL huddle! Sean’s more than 20 years of experience in the NFL as a player and analyst, will be delved into like never before! Finally, the real inside! You will NOT find this anywhere else.  This is not a place for the weak. As Sean so eloquently states on a regular basis, “Nobody puts Baby in the Corner! GO BIG MOUTH OR GO HOME!!!”    

We swear, we didn’t make any of that up, nor did we do any unnecessary capitalization of words – it was all “Big Mouth’s” doing (as if you’re surprised).  It’s worth noting that in Sean’s special welcome video to his fans, he mentions he’ll soon be hawking for Salisbury shirts and restaurants (guarantee the chicken wings will kick ass in that joint).  He also stresses that if you're faint of heart, the Big Mouth site isn’t for you.  He wants to get after it! 
 
Lastly, we really enjoyed documenting Sean’s Week 3 picks online.  Please take note of the Philly/Detroit game.

We asked you to do that because on NFL Live, Sean picked the Lions to win 31-17.  Nothing like covering all your bases.  It’s not the least bit surprising he’d do that, considering that on ESPN programming last Friday, he picked the Bears to win the Sunday night game, but stated “the Cowboys are the better team.”

That’s all a part of being a Big Mouth, people.  Nobody puts a baby in the corner!

Crap that actually came from somebody’s mouth
"When Terrence Newman is out, the Cowboys kind of lose 3 guys." - John Madden

All we can say is that we firmly believe Madden believes this to be true.
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“Today’s Yankees loss was damaging in that they would like to win the division because that would ensure that the Red Sox would not end up with the best overall record.” – Steve Phillips
 
We’d like to poke fun at this Madden-esque obvious statement but we can’t, for the simple point that it’s the most factually-based Phillips statement we’ve ever documented.
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“When it comes to fourth-quarter comebacks, perhaps (Jay) Cutler will be Tiger to Elway's Golden Bear.” – Mike Klis, Denver Post
 
Or perhaps Klis should give it another 10, maybe 15 years from basing an entire column on something so ridiculous.  Or maybe even like 2 years.  
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”This is how you know "The Greatest Show on Turf" is six feet under: Rams quarterback Marc Bulger completed 17 of 26 passes against Tampa Bay for 116 yards. Former Rams receiver Kevin Curtis had more yards receiving (132) in one quarter Sunday than the Rams did the entire game.” – Clark Judge  

Another reason you know: it’s 2007, not 2001.  Also, Judge implies that Kevin Curtis was a part of those teams, even though he didn’t join the Rams until that magical 8-8 2004 season.

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"What was the Greatest Show on Turf needs a rehearsal." - Kenny Mayne      

Imagine if after every Marlins loss, announcers referenced the fact that this Marlins team is no longer as good as the ’03 champions.  It would get kind of annoying, no?
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"Favre still has the ability to will his team to victory, which is exactly what he did in leading the Packers to a 31-24 win over the San Diego Chargers." - Vic Carucci

Yes; it was the will of Favre (much it’s the will of Jeter for every past Yankees victory).  Green Bay’s Week 3 win had nothing to do with holding the ’07 MVP to 62 rushing yards or forcing an interception inside 2 minutes.  

Favre = Fun
Honestly, since we’ve been doing it for 4 years now, mocking the media’s coverage of Brett Favre isn’t something we yearn to do.  But it’s just so damn ridiculous that it can’t be ignored.  Case in point the fallout from Week 3…

”This is a team that is like the New Orleans Saints last year.  Everybody loves the Green Bay Packers.  Everybody loves Brett Favre.  You can see Brett, you can see the excitement, running into the end zone, jumping on the wide receivers.  He’s enjoying this year!” – Woody Paige

”The number one site in football thus far has been Brett Favre running down the field into the arms of his receivers.  It’s wonderful.  America loves that.  This team can play.  Brett Favre is back.  This guy has captured America.” – Bill Plaschke

“These young players are just grabbing a hold of what Favre’s energy level is, and they’re picking it up.” – Woody Paige

”Favre is rewriting NFL history, but the 37-year-old is still having fun doing it.” – Kansas City Star

"We all know that Brett Favre is a little kid." - Ron Jaworski

”You can't go against Favre.  I like Favre.  I like Favre right now.” – Brian Baldinger

“He’s having fun again... it’s kind of fun to watch.” – Chris Berman

“Brett Favre is going to be 38 October 10th.  October 10th should be a national holiday.” – Chris Berman

Reasons 856-858 why ESPN College Gameday is Great
Reason #856 – Within the crowd in Tuscaloosa, there were signs that read “Auburn players can’t read this” and “Auburn – about as cool as a fanny pack”

Reason #857 – Alabama wasn’t playing Auburn.  

Reason #858 – Lee Corso put on an elephant mascot head in front of a crowd of thousands. (and yes, we realize that in the picture below, Corso is wearing a Longhorn head, but let's face it, it's funny anytime Lee Corso wears a giant mascot costume.) 

Let’s Have a Conversation (sponsored by Charles Schwab)
PI: Josh, let’s have a conversation.

JB: Sounds good – I’m ready.
 
PI: I was watching snippets of the Notre Dame/Michigan State game Saturday, and noticed that during a break in the action, play-by-play man Tom Hammond asked Pat Haden to “have a conversation, brought to you by Charles Schwab.”  It was their Charles Schwab Conversation.
 
JB: So even conversations are being sponsored now? That’s not overkill at all. Remember last January when Jimmy Johnson was brought to us by Sam’s and MasterCard?  I’m officially declaring that I am being brought to you by Natural Light.  Why Natural Light?  Because it’s tasty.  
 
PI: I was a fan of the ESPN cross promotion with Pittsburgh Pirates highlights and Pirates of the Caribbean this past May on SportsCenter, and the single SC episode built around Live Free or Die Hard.  John McClain can sponsor me any day.  

JB brought to you by Natural Light: About the only thing left to sponsor is various body parts of sports personalities.  And if they start doing that, it might cause a bidding war to sponsor Brian Baldinger’s mangled pinky.  

Special thanks goes out to Charles Schwab for making this all possible. 

Bob Carpenter Memorial Snappy Line
During this month of transition from summer to fall, we inform you with heavy hearts that JSF’s resident blackbelt in snap-kwan-do, Bob Carpenter, will not return to the Washington Nationals TV play-by-play booth in 2008.

“Bob Carpenter has been told by the club his contract will not be extended when it expires after the season.  Carpenter, who has done play-by-play for all Nationals games on MASN the last two seasons, was informed during a Monday meeting with team president Stan Kasten that he will not be asked back for 2008 and the club will hire a new TV announcer to partner with analyst Don Sutton.”

Why, because he doesn’t have a snow white perm-curl like his Hall of Fame partner?  The Bobber doesn’t need hair to provide snazz and zest, he does it the natural way: through family friendly snappiness.  Please Major League Baseball: see to it that Robert C. finds a new broadcasting job.  Otherwise we may have two thumbs down for a long while.

The Media Circus is written by Josh Bacott and Pat Imig.  They swear this stuff is real.  Email them at info@joesportsfan.com