On The Air
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
October 6, 2006

Fox pre-game show analyst Jimmy Johnson doesn’t think that Terrell Owens will gain 100 yards receiving against the Eagles’ secondary, which has shown a proclivity to give up the big play.

“Owens isn’t the only one to worry about,” Johnson said in a phone interview. “Dallas has three Pro Bowl-caliber receivers: Terry Glenn, Owens, and Jason Witten.”

The Fox pre-game show with Johnson, Joe Buck, Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long is making its second appearance in Philadelphia this year. The former Dallas head coach said the show’s new format, which requires the team to travel to a different city each week, has its ups and downs.

“It’s more exciting to be out of the sterile studio environment, but it’s a little more stressful dealing with the autograph-seekers and people wanting to take their picture with you,” Johnson said.

The Eagles and Cowboys meet at 4:15 p.m. Sunday on Fox. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver will announce the game. It probably will be the top rated game of the week.

Reality check   

Whatever happened to that Terrell Owens’ reality show that Philadelphia’s Banyan Productions announced was happening a few months ago?

Banyan’s Ray Murray placed the blame on “Team T.O.”

“I wish I could tell you that there was an avalanche of interest, but that has not happened,” Murray said in an e-mail. “I would suggest that you call his people and ask them if they feel he made himself available to help sell the show, as celebrities and personalities often do.”

Owens’ “people” did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Keeping up with Jones   

It will be difficult keeping up with Keith Jones when he adds analyst duties for Flyers’ games this season.

That is in addition to his role as studio analyst for the NHL games on the Versus network, his bi-weekly appearances on the WIP 610-AM morning show, and his various responsibilities for Comcast SportsNet’s Flyers coverage including “Flyers Post Game Live.”

“I never thought I would be a broadcaster,” said Jones, 37. “I was a communications major in college [Western Michigan University] and switched majors after my first communications class.”

However, after Jones was forced to retire from the NHL six years ago due to injury, he suddenly was thrust into a broadcasting career, appearing on ESPN as an analyst for the former “NHL Tonight,” and joining his friend Al Morganti on WIP and CSN.

Jones joins the Flyers’ broadcast team of Jim Jackson and Steve Coates. He replaces Gary Dornhoefer, who retired this season.

Channel flipping   

The season premiere of the high school football drama “Friday Night Lights” on NBC got clobbered by Emmitt Smith and “Dancing with the Stars” on ABC Tuesday at 8 p.m. Something else that is probably hurting “Lights” is the high school football reality show “Two a Days” on MTV. … Boxing champion Bernard Hopkins visits “Out of Bounds” tonight (Friday) at 7 p.m. on CN8. … Former “Out of Bounds” host Lou Tilley has been back on CN8 doing some college football games.