On Monday’s episode of “Good Morning Football,” NFL Network co-host Kyle Brandt took a moment to critique ESPN’s approach to covering the Dallas Cowboys, throwing subtle jabs at the rival network for its tendency to focus on “America’s Team” even when the spotlight should be elsewhere.
The context of Brandt’s comments came after a dominant performance by the New Orleans Saints, who dismantled the Cowboys 44-19 on Sunday. While the Cowboys’ struggles often dominate sports headlines, Brandt was keen to point out that it was the Saints who deserved the attention after their impressive showing. Rather than diving into tired Cowboys narratives, Brandt decided to focus on the team that actually secured the victory.
“The New Orleans Saints—did we do a single segment on them in the summer?” Brandt asked, aiming his critique at sports media’s coverage priorities. “Did anyone at ESPN do a single segment on the New Orleans Saints over the summer? I don’t think so. There was more buzz on the Panthers, more buzz on the Patriots — we talked about them a lot. The Saints were just nothing, nothing — and now they’ve completely lit the world on fire in their first two weeks.”
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Brandt praised the Saints for their under-the-radar emergence, particularly highlighting the strong performances by veteran players on defense and the surprising play of quarterback Derek Carr. “We knew they were going to have those old war horses on defense — they always have,” Brandt said. “But I just didn’t see this Derek Carr coming through the first two weeks looking this good. It’s been unbelievably fun to watch.”
In an apparent dig at ESPN’s usual Cowboys-centric approach, Brandt emphasized that Good Morning Football wouldn’t be falling into the same trap. “We’re not taking this game and pushing it into a Cowboys conversation. We have bylaws here, alright? If you win the game 44-19 to go 2-0, we’ll talk about you,” Brandt declared. “I don’t care what market you’re in. I don’t care if you’re a high school team. I’m sure if you flipped a few channels away, they’re making this a Cowboys thing. We’re gonna talk about the Saints fans… and we’re gonna do ‘Who Dat’ this morning.”
Brandt’s commentary struck a chord, as he not only praised the Saints for their impressive start to the season but also highlighted a broader issue within sports media: the overemphasis on certain teams, particularly the Cowboys, at the expense of others who may be equally deserving of attention.
While the Cowboys are undoubtedly a marquee franchise with a massive fan base, Brandt’s remarks underscored the importance of giving credit where it’s due. His decision to keep the focus on the Saints, rather than shifting it back to Dallas, was a refreshing approach, especially on a “Victory Monday” that belonged to the Saints.
By choosing to spotlight New Orleans, Brandt sent a clear message: on Good Morning Football, winning matters more than market size or established narratives, a philosophy he made sure to emphasize throughout the show.
The Saints’ commanding win and their surprising 2-0 start deserved the recognition they got, and Brandt made sure they didn’t get overshadowed by another round of Cowboys discourse.
It’s evident that NFL Network’s crew is paying close attention to how their competitors operate, and Brandt’s subtle critique was a call for more balanced coverage across the league.
