NBC puts on a clinic with exceptional coverage

This, quite simply, was a blueprint for how a Super Bowl broadcast should be done. With exceptional announcing, timely but restrained use of graphics and nifty angles on replays, NBC delivered exemplary coverage of Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday.

As usual, analyst Cris Collinsworth wasted few words and offered analysis rich in insight and details.

He had a strong case in suggesting the Giants not score a touchdown, and instead opt for a short field goal, late in the game if it meant leaving too much time on the clock for the Patriots. The Giants clearly considered that, with Ahmad Bradshaw hesitating at the 1-yard-line before scoring. And Collinsworth’s argument proved justified, considering Tom Brady’s desperation pass to end the game wasn’t that far off from being caught for a winning touchdown.

Collinsworth correctly pointed out that Jason Pierre-Paul regrettably went out in pass coverage on Tom Brady’s touchdown throw to Danny Woodhead, thus eliminating one of the Giants’ most proficient pass rushers.

Collinsworth spotted that the Patriots defense had 12 men on the field on a key early play, thus negating a Giants fumble.

He paid close attention to line play, noting who made key blocks or who was victimized on sacks.

Al Michaels was typically diligent about disseminating pertinent details quickly after plays and added flavor to the broadcast with anecdotes and tidbits, such as noting Bill Belichick took his team off the field for 30 minutes during Wednesday’s practice to replicate a Super Bowl halftime.

NBC limited graphics largely to meaningful numbers and records, including Eli Manning becoming the first Super Bowl quarterback to complete his first nine passes, and Brady setting a Super Bowl record with 14 consecutive completions. The network made prudent use of isolations on replays, one of which showed how Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was slowed early by an ankle injury. And Michele Tafoya had fast updates on injuries to two Giants tight ends.

Nitpicks? Very, very few. Collinsworth said he had never seen the Patriots “quite so unsettled to start a game,” when they were trailing 9-0. Collinsworth or Michaels should have noted that New England trailed its final two regular-season games 17-0 (to Miami) and 21-0 (to Buffalo) before winning both. And when Wes Welker couldn’t make a catch, Collinsworth said he makes the play “100 out of 100 times.” He presumably meant 99 out of 100.

Pregame report

• All networks use their Super Bowl pregame platforms as promotional vehicles for their prime-time lineups, but NBC took that to particularly blatant extremes, to the point of absurdity at times.

Stars of a dozen NBC programs belted out a “brotherhood” song that served no purpose other than to waste everyone’s time. NBC aired highlights of a Boston-Washington NHL game — but didn’t mention the Boston-Memphis NBA game (of somewhat wider interest) earlier in the day — simply because the network owns NHL rights, but not NBA rights. We also were “treated” to a London Olympics preview, because, well, the Games are on NBC. No matter that they’re still six months away.

And what about the TV series stars who were interviewed by Nick Cannon in NBC’s “celebrity suite”? Well, what do you know? — all four appear in NBC series. Three movie stars not affiliated with NBC also were interviewed.

• But the five-hour pregame marathon, deftly anchored by Bob Costas, had some highlights, most notably Peter King’s poignant piece on former Saints player Steve Gleason’s battle with ALS disease. Not far behind: Rodney Harrison’s in-home visit with a whimsical Vince Wilfork, whose wife said her husband gave her a football quiz when they met, asking her — among other queries — “What’s third down?”

Aaron Rodgers and Hines Ward were smart additions to NBC’s studio, better than current players typically tend to be in guest-analyst roles. Rodgers was concise, analytical and particularly polished.

• Other fun pregame snippets: According to Olivia Manning (Peyton’s and Eli’s mother), Eli jokingly told Peyton that he could use Eli’s spare bedroom if Peyton signs with the Jets.