Every once in while a sports TV personality "cro ses over," as they say
Los Angeles Rams Jersey , into the world of entertainment.
They have the talent, the style, the chops to relate with Hollywood stars as seamle sly as they do pro football or basketball players. They're as comfortable on a red carpet as they are on a sideline. As dual threats, they get more opportunities.
Think Michael Strahan, Erin Andrews and Chari sa Thompson of Fox Sports or Robin Roberts of ABC. This small but exclusive group could be joined by another up and comer: Nate Burleson of CBS Sports and NFL Network.
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Only two months ago, the 37-year old Burleson was a ubiquitous TV presenceduring Super Bowl week. On Super Bowl Sunday, he co-starred on"The Super Bowl Today" pregame show with James Brown, Bill Cowher, Phil Simms andBoomer Esiason. All week from Atlanta, he co-hostedhis popular"Good Morning Football" morning show on NFL Network with Kay Adams,Peter SchragerandKyle Brandt.
The offseasontypically means a dry spellfor NFL analysts like Burleson. Right? Wrong.
Instead, the formerwide receiver/kick returnerappeared
Kayvon Webster Jersey last week as a"special correspondent" on the entertainment show "Extra." Sporting atwo-tone jacket andripped jeans, the stylish Burleson about hisTBS show, "The Last O.G."
During their sitdown, Morgan told Burleson how "Us" director Jordan Peele helped him recover from the horrific 2014 car crash that killed his friend James McNair.
McCARTHY:
Said Morgan: "That man was a part of my healing proce s, a big part of the healing proce s after I got hit by that truck. My youngest son turned me on to Key & Peele and I watched it every day and I wanted to meet him thats how it connected."
"So laughter was healing for you
John Johnson Jersey during that proce s?"askedBurleson.
"It's healing for all of us," Morgan answered.
It's been a meteoric TVrise for the Calgary, Alberta native. Only five years
Gerald Everett Jersey ago, Burleson was pondering his next move after playing11 years in the NFL for the Lions, Vikings and Seahawks. Now he's co-starring on two of the biggest NFL studio shows. Mark Lepselter, the MAXX agent who representsBurleson, told Sporting News he believes he has the"appetite, the ability and the gravitas to do whatever he wants in the sports and entertainment broadcasting world."
One of the smartest things the NFL does for ex-players is hold an annual "broadcast bootcamp" for players looking to move from the playing field to the media.
While still playing for the Lions, Burleson attended the camp andlanded local TV/radio gigs.When the locker room leader was cut by the Lions in 2014,he was ready for life after football.
FROM MONOPOLY TO MONOTONY
His big break came when NFL Network tabbed him for the debut of "Good Morning Football" in August2016. Like other former players/coaches turned TV analysts, Burleson was reluctant to rip his former teammates and pro athletes.
"When I first got to the NFL Network, I was just like every other player protecting brand, protecting the fraternity," Burleson recalled to. "I was always complimenting guys and I never wanted to step on people'
Kenny Young Jersey s feelings.
"I remember, one of my mentors was like, 'Say something.' I was like, 'What do you mean? I am saying something. I was clever. I'
Brandin Cooks Jersey m clever, I make people laugh, I smile." He was like, 'You did that in the locker room, but say something, man. You know the game. Take a risk and criticize these players. They'll respect you more when they see you.' I was like, 'Damn, this feels so awkward.'
"It literally was a cringeworthy feeling when I had to criticize a guy, even when I knew the player was in the wrong, like he dropped the ball or said something stupid."
As the only ex-NFL player on the show, Burleson quickly stood out. TV big shots took notice.
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Within a year, Burleson landed a national broadcast role on CBS's "The NFL Today," the granddaddy of all football pregame shows.Burleson is decades younger than the show's other stars. Heinjecteda youthful vibe to a show's graying cast.
More importantly, headdeda just-off-the-field insider'sknowledge of today's pa s-happy NFL. It was the same quality that helped make Tony Romo an instant hit in the CBS broadcast booth
Austin Blythe Jersey with Jim Nantz.
Talking NFL football five mornings a week with the league's top stars, coaches and GM's has turned Burleson into a walking encyclopedia.
"I think hes got a lot of credibility having retired fairly recently from the game," CBS Sports bo s Sean McManus ."His credibility and his perspective on the league and its players is first rate. His presentation is smooth yet he can be very pa sionate about what hes talking about and he feels strongly about his opinions. The fact that he lives and breathes NFL football seven days a week gives him a really solid perspective and a really good foundation of knowledge that
Andrew Whitworth Jersey he presentsto an audience."
Burleson has a long-term contract with NFL Network to continue hosting "Good Morning Football," sources told SN. But his initial deal with CBS expires after the 2019 season, according to .
That means Burleson could become asought-after free agent at the same time as Romo. Romo's reps are seeking a contract extensionat an annual salary of $10 million or more. Like Romo, CBS is interested in extending Burleson's contract, sources said. Like Romo, Burleson will have to think twice before leaving a network that's put him in his best light. CBS declined to comment.
On Super Sunday, somecriticslike Marchand thought Burleson was the "star" ofCBS's pregame show. His performance on TV'sbiggest stage indicated he'sready to hostentertainment shows.
Eric Dickerson Jersey The best example isStrahan, the Super Bowl-winning former Giants star who hosts ABC's "Good Morning America" and "The $100,000 Pyramid," while retaining his sports gig on "Fox NFL Sunday."
Don't be surprised if "Extra" is just the firststep intoentertainment media for Burleson.
Ive said for some time now that I truly really believe Nate is going to cro s over into
John Franklin-Myers Jersey the lifestyle/entertainment-hosting world in a significant way," Lepselter said. "Were in the proce s of that happening. Its something were going about in a methodical way. Weve had some high level meetings in LA and New York. I will leave it at that.
