winmill1

Maybe this is just my imagination or does it seem like Billick has problem with Sean P and our team. He seems very negative towards us and not just this game. Last year I hated when he called our games. I know Mike Smith is his brother in law but something seems to be deep rooted there. Anyone notice this?

MatthewT

I am not sure if he has any issues with the Saints or Sean P, but for some reason he really annoyed the hell out of me yesterday. I was sick to my stomach listening to him. I think it's because he has little to say and finds it necessary to keep repeating himself or something...

fhotard

I loved his line about "the Falcons have overcome two huge penalties on this drive..."

No, in actuality Tony G. put on an Academy Award quality performance by falling down to draw a flag for interference. The Falcons O didn't overcome anything. An iffy penalty call sustained their drive.

papz

Billick's commentating was so repetitive it made listening to him very irritating. I think he tries to hard.

winmill1

it seems like i remember him criticizing payton and payton saying something sarcastic back. i will have to research this.

lumm0x

I cannot stomach the guy. He's the only guy I dislike calling our games. I can take anyone else.

winmill1

I feel the exact same way. He makes me uncomfortable watching the games. I think there is something he doesn't like about us and it comes out when he calls our games.

RailBoss

Billick is the grand expert of Football, go ahead just ask him. Baltimore couldn't wait to cut ties with him. He probably missed his calling he should have been a preacher. Even that would be cruel to the poor folks who would have to listen to him. Oh and by the way what team does he Coach?
Hit a nervvvvee!

winmill1

i guess i am not the only one that he makes uncomfortable calling our games.
On Saturday, we posted an item pointing out that FOX assigns former Ravens coach Brian Billick to work games involving the Falcons, whose head coach is Billick's brother-in-law.

We pointed out that the assignment created an awkward situation for Billick, Falcons coach Mike Smith, and the team facing the Falcons. "Though we realize that there are only so many games to which Billick can be assigned in a given week, we think he generally shouldn't be assigned to work Falcons games," we wrote. "It puts Billick and Smith in a delicate situation (especially if the men get together for dinner), and it surely makes the opposing coach for the upcoming game less inclined to share any secrets with the husband of Smith's wife's sister."

On Wednesday, Billick appeared as a guest on The Dan Patrick Show. And Dan asked him about the issue.

Without specifically calling us out by name, Billick called the suggestion of a potential issue "the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard." But then Billick offered up an observation that pretty much proved our point: "I can understand a team might be uncomfortable."

Indeed, that's the point. The Saints might have been uncomfortable with Mike Smith's brother-in-law having access to practice and production meetings. The week before that, the Cardinals might have been uncomfortable with it, too.

Given that Billick seems to realize the core concern -- that the family relationship gives rise to the appearance of potential impropriety -- his complaint regarding the fact that we raised the issue seem hollow and self-serving.

"You got nothing else to write about," Billick said. "I know someone blogged on it, whatever, don't know football whether it's stuffed or pumped, so let's come up with some asinine, 'Well, they're brother-in-laws so I don't know that he should be doing the game.'"

Coach, we realize you think that you can be trusted not to share the inside information you receive with your brother-in-law. But you shouldn't have to be trusted not to share it, and your brother-in-law shouldn't have to be trusted not to ask for it. The family relationship rises to a higher level than the various friendships and acquaintances that exist throughout the sport. FOX should have realized this, and FOX should have made its assignments accordingly.

"I can understand a team might be uncomfortable." From FOX's perspective, that's all they need to hear to conclude that Billick shouldn't be doing Falcons games.

QBREES9

Aw he just Jealous thats all