On paper, it appears to be a net loss for the Sunday night studio show, which is coming into its fourth season.

There wasn't anything special about the amiable Bettis, who was with the show since its inception but whose contract was not renewed.

Collinsworth, who has taken over John Madden's role as a game analyst on Sunday night game telecasts, was special.

He provided first-rate analysis, could direct group discussions with Bettis and Tiki Barber with ease and handle highlights commentary later in the evening with Bob Costas.

It will be hard to replace all that, no matter how good Dungy and Harrison turn out to be.

Based on what he said during a conference call with reporters this week, Harrison will be blunt. He appears not interested in delicacy.

Commenting about Peyton Manning's publicly expressed frustrations about the Colts' coaching transition, Harrison said Manning was in "panic" mode and that Harrison's former teammate Tom Brady would never say such things in public.

"That really gives Tom Brady the edge over Peyton Manning in terms of leadership," Harrison said.

When asked what he thought of NFL players in the past who became commentators on TV, Harrison said: "Certain guys you definitely respect their opinions but other guys I felt like they were afraid to come out and really tell the hard truth, and as an analyst, it is your job to be fair but honest. Sometimes you have to be brutally honest with guys who you have played with, guys who are your friends."

These comments suggest Harrison has an appetite to be candid and tell the truth as he sees it, good news for the viewer.

As for the soft-spoken Dungy, he's already demonstrated he can deliver compelling observations.

For those who have been able to hear Dungy on Sirius NFL Radio over the last few years, he's among the easiest to listen to among NFL coaches hauled in regularly by that channel. He doesn't have the presence or sheer analytical force like Bill Parcells, but Dungy is alert to details and willing to engage the issues.

He could turn out to be a find for Dick Ebersol, the chairman of NBC Sports and executive producer of "NBC Sunday Night Football."

Both Dungy and Harrison contributed to NBC's pregame coverage of the last season's Super Bowl, along with former Detroit Lions general manager Matt Millen and former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren. Millen was later hired by ESPN.

"I was in a car with Al Michaels after a game in San Diego early last season," said Ebersol, "and I told him about one of the glaring weaknesses, which I blame totally on myself, is not having a coach in the studio for 'Football Night in America.'

"I asked him for his thoughts, and he said, 'Well any idea about having a coach should begin and end with having Tony Dungy.' So Al first put the thought in my mind."

Ebersol said there will a change in the show this season so that there is more emphasis on analysis and less preoccupation with highlights.

"In the format of the show we have failed to clear out enough time to discuss football," Ebersol said. "We have been too locked in on highlights for every game. We will still have highlights for every game, and every big game of the day will get special attention, but there will be much more emphasis on the whys of what happened in that game than we have had in the past."

Bob Costas returns as studio host of the show. Keith Olbermann, Dan Patrick and Peter King also return.

Barber will report and comment from game sites, according to Ebersol.