Madden Has Lots of Fans, If Not All the Facts

John Madden's on-air analysis isn't always right—zealous fact-checkers will attest to that—but the elder statesman of NFL commentators is usually on the money, writes Matthew Futterman in the Wall Street Journal. "I know there's talk he's lost a step," his former boss acknowledges, but the onetime Raiders coach remains a force in the broadcasting world—and in video games.

If you're befuddled by the webs of arrows that commentators draw over replays, blame Madden. And if you appreciate the talking heads who seem to know insider details about the coaches and players, thank him. But "as a broadcaster, Mr. Madden remains the standard-bearer of the old guard," Futterman writes. To see how NBC integrates him into its whiz-bang Super Bowl coverage, tune in Sunday.
(More John Madden stories.)