While SportsNet NY has spoken with both Vinny Testaverde and Wayne Chrebet, it has signed former Jet quarterback Ray Lucas to be an NFL analyst, NYP TV Sports has learned.
Lucas, who last played in 2002 for Miami, has shown potential as an analyst during several TV appearances, including on ESPN and CSTV. Lucas will start on SNY’s draft-day coverage a week from tomorrow.
While Testaverde and Chrebet definitely are popular among Jet fans, it would be surprising if either would be very good on the air.
SNY had spoken with Boomer Esiason, but he signed a three-year deal to remain with MSG Network.
Jet radio studio analyst Greg Buttle also will be part of SNY’s coverage.
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While Met COO Jeff Wilpon has vowed that SNY would be candid in its coverage of the Mets, the network would do well to follow his example.
Without much prompting, Wilpon said he is not satisfied with the amount of money the network is making so far in advertising.
“I know I want them to get the ad rates up,” Wilpon told NYP TV Sports. “Obviously, if the team plays well, we’ll get the ad rates up.”
When asked about the network’s start – which has had numerous technical problems – Wilpon said the network is “off to a start,” not choosing to put an adjective such as “great” or “good” or, for that matter, “poor” in front of it. Wilpon did emphasize he was very pleased the network already is in 8 million homes.
“The greatest thing is we have coverage everywhere,” Wilpon said.
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On a conference call, we asked TNT’s Charles Barkley what he would do if he were Jim Dolan and he owned the Knicks.
“I would kill myself,” Barkley said.
“I’ve been associated with the NBA for 20 years, and I have never seen a situation that bad before. You have all those players making so much. If anyone trades for them, they are stupid, too.”
Barkley added the Knicks “haven’t made a trade that made any sense in the last two or three years.”
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Amityville’s Mike James, a Raptor guard, will be a reporter for NBA TV.
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For his health, we hope The Post’s Phil Mushnick missed it – but on Sunday’s Baseball Tonight, Chris Berman did a John Sterling impersonation.
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Bob Papa confirmed he will be SNY’s blow-by-blower on “Broadway Boxing’s” first bouts. Papa and SNY are in talks to make him the permanent play-by-player.
The show was scheduled to be taped last night and will debut April 30.
andrew.marchand@nypost.com
