Blaine Bishop made a living for 10 years in the National Football League by chasing down running backs and pass-catchers, building a reputation as one of the hardest-hitting safeties of his era.
His hits now are delivered through a microphone as he talks sports for three hours every weekday on sports talk radio and each gameday for the Tennessee Titans radio network.
Though drastically different, Bishop loves the view from his chair inside the studio of 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, Tennessee.
“As a player you give a ‘corporate’ answer,” Bishop said Saturday during an appearance at the grand opening of Dick’s Sporting Goods. “You can’t tell everybody what you think or feel because it’s not appropriate.
“Now I can give my opinion, and there are no ramifications in the media. I like that. I can’t be fired for giving my honest opinion.”
Bishop made the most of his opportunity to play in the NFL after being selected in the eighth round of the NFL Draft in 1993 after starring at Ball State. He played for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans for nine seasons, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl four times, and finished his career after one season with Philadelphia in 2002.
Giving honest assessments of the Titans on the radio sometimes goes opposite the opinion of players and coaches, but Bishop says he just tries to comment truthfully on what he sees.
Last year, when Titans safety Michael Griffin was having issues with his tackling, Bishop wondered – somewhat light-heartedly – on-air whether Griffin was closing his eyes when he tried to make stops.
“With his athleticism, I think he can be a top-five safety in the league,” Bishop said. “If I had his talent, I could be in the hall of fame. I just thought he could have played better.”
The two talked – Bishop said it was a pleasant conversation – and Bishop imparted some advice to help Griffin become a better tackler through different practice habits.
Bishop used the same approach when his radio crew (Three Hour Lunch, from 3-6 p.m. weekdays) discussed the recent – and ongoing – issue of domestic violence by NFL players.
Bishop said he was disappointed in NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s initial two-game suspension of Ray Rice and equally discouraged when that decision was changed to an indefinite suspension.
“He should have got it right the first time, probably (suspended him) half the season,” Bishop said. “As a former player, I question the (NFL’s) leadership and whether I trust what the league will do.
“It will be interesting to see how long (Goodell) will be with the NFL. I don’t think he’ll be there (long term). He didn’t sound good or convincing in his interviews. He didn’t sound trustworthy.”
Bishop also is disappointed with the manner in which all pro athletes and entertainers forget about being responsible when it comes to dealing with social media.
He noted social media “has changed the game” and athletes need to be educated about it at the high school level. It’s too late when they reach the NFL, he said.
“There’s always going to be a group of guys who think they’re bigger than life and think they can use (social media) any way they please,” Bishop said. “There’s always going to be knuckleheads in the NFL or any major sport.
“All you can do is tell players, ‘You represent yourself, your family and the team. You are a brand and you have to think before you press send.’ I don’t think guys think before they press send.”
Credit to the Star Press who originally published this article
