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HOT TAKES: “He’s Just That Dude!”

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 14:10
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Jesse Minter will be formally announced as the Ravens new head coach during a press conference scheduled for Thursday, January 29 at 11:30 AM which can be seen on the team’s YouTube Channel. Minter will be joined by GM Eric DeCosta and team president Sashi Brown.

The hiring of Minter ushers in a new era of Ravens football and the product on the field promises to be an exciting brand, something that escaped the Ravens over the past few seasons during which they lost their identity as a team. Or should I say, they lost a worthy identity. Under John Harbaugh, the team morphed into a bland, homogenized squad that lacked character. “Who Let the Dogs Out?” wouldn’t apply to Harbaugh’s Ravens because there were no dogs to let out.

One Man’s Trash

You’ve heard the cliché used often in the world of sports, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. And this axiom certainly applies to John Harbaugh. John wore out his welcome in Baltimore, and his departure works for both the Ravens and him. In New York, at least until the Giants step on the field in September, Harbaugh has been universally welcomed by the media and fans alike. His charm, ball talk and debonair demeanor, reminiscent of a candidate running for office, has tantalized The Big Apple – for the moment.

And now that John has added to his staff with names familiar to Ravens fans, the smitten New York press has gotten a bit carried away. What a blissful honeymoon it has been so far.

Yinzer World

Up until the hiring of Mike McCarthy, the Steelers have had just 3 head coaches since 1969, namely Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin. Noll, a former defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Colts, was hired at the age of 37. Cowher and Tomlin were both 34 when each took over the Steelers sideline in 1992 and 2007, respectively.

McCarthy’s coaching record stands up to that of John Harbaugh, yet their hirings are viewed so differently. Harbaugh takes over a team in dire need of a cultural adjustment. He’ll be given a bit more latitude. McCarthy takes over a team that has older, expensive players, some not performing to the level of their contract. Oh, and they need a franchise QB. And therein lies the rub for Yinzers. They hoped for a reboot – a season during which the Steelers would make some tough decisions, maybe even take it on the chin a bit in 2026, to set the stage for a run in 2027 and beyond.

Instead, Steeler fans are saddled with the vision of a 62-year-old coach, older than any of his predecessors when they retired, and presumably a quarterback who turned 42 in December. It’s as if the Rooney Family needs to remain relevant – they crave the attention of a playoff-caliber team even if it’s one that limps into the postseason and is then embarrassed when they get to the dance. With the hiring of McCarthy, the Rooneys have opted to run it back again. It remains to be seen whether McCarthy can get the same level of play out of the Steelers’ roster that Tomlin did. I have my doubts.

Brady v. Romo

Like many of you, I watched both conference championship games, the nightcap being far superior to the matinee. The AFCCG was wrought with intrigue mostly due to the weather conditions in the second half. There’s something special about watching an NFL game played in the snow. That said, it does tip the scales a bit. The conditions can act as an equalizer when one team is more talented than the other and perhaps some of that was at play on Sunday between the Broncos and Patriots. Nevertheless, the game was captivating thanks to the support of Mother Nature. Well, at least most of us thought the weather added an extra element to the viewing pleasure.

The NFCCG was the better of the two games by a wide margin. And the broadcasting teams followed suit. CBS’ Jim Nantz and Tony Romo have gotten tired, lazy and uninteresting particularly when compared to the FOX tag team of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady.

Burkhardt’s energy and awareness dwarfs that of Nantz who should stick to golf and The Masters. Meanwhile, Romo has become a cartoon character and when contrasted against Brady, he’s like a practice squad player while Brady is an All Pro.

I want an analyst to teach his audience about the game – to be insightful and provide a perspective that heightens the football IQ of those tuning in. Brady has improved by leaps and bounds since 2024 and given his work ethic as a player, we shouldn’t be surprised by his ascent. I loved this little gem he shared on the route running skills of Jaxon Smith-Njigba:

And then there’s Romo who wondered aloud what the ruling would be if a forward pass was tipped and then went backwards. Seriously? This is the “analysis” Romo provides to justify his 10-year, $180 million contract extension he signed with CBS in 2020?

More Broadcasting Faux Pas

Her politics aside, I respect the work of ESPN’s Mina Kimes. She’s a perfect example of what blossoms when hard work and talent collide. But mistakes of the past are never lost on X, aka Twitter.

Kimes’ ESPN NFL Live sidekick Dan Orlovsky probably breaks down in tears listening to this squealing over the Bills’ draft pick of Josh Allen. But the former Lions quarterback best known for stepping out of his own end zone, backstepped out of bounds again here:

It’s ok to make a mistake. It’s ok to admit it. It’s ok to change your mind about a player who has shown marked improvement during the playoffs. It’s not ok to pretend you didn’t say what you said.

NFL Live was once a great program. But somewhere along the way Kimes started feeling her oats a bit; Orlovsky can’t control his infatuations with various players and starts to sound like a fanboy; Ryan Clark has agendas and they aren’t disguised at all. And then there’s Laura Rutledge holding it all together. She’s a pro and continues to get better. It would not surprise me one bit if she’s snatched up by another network and paid handsomely. Maybe she should hire Tony Romo’s agent.

Championship Sunday Goes Fab

I don’t know about you, but while watching a singular NFL game that goes to a commercial break, my attention immediately goes to Twitter. I’m a sponge for any NFL insights and a TV timeout represents an invite to soak them in. But like a beam of light in a pitch-black sky, these TV ads immediately captured my attention.

Being a huge fan of The Beatles, hearing their music on TV ads seems odd. Despite thousands of requests to feature their exquisite work in ads, the four members of the band were in lockstep, never wanting their music to be associated with a product, company or service. But since the lads don’t have a controlling interest in their music (Sony does thanks to the estate of Michael Jackson), I guess we can expect more of the same moving forward.

It’s a development that I’m torn about. On one hand, I’d prefer that the interests of the band members take priority. On the other hand, I couldn’t help but smile, particularly when they dust off a 58-year-old throwaway song as part of an effort to keep Starbucks baristas busy.

“To inspire and nurture the human spirit—one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.”

Cheers!

The post HOT TAKES: “He’s Just That Dude!” appeared first on Russell Street Report.


Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/01/27/tltakes/minter-accolades/


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