Former NFL linebacker Bart Scott wants to show respect to players in his new role on CBS’ national pregame show. He doesn’t want to be condescending.

But if he sees something he doesn’t like, Scott has no intention of biting his tongue – even if it means the player he decides to criticize might end up firing back.

“I’ve got big shoulders, man. I can handle it,” Scott told USA TODAY Sports on Monday, shortly after the network announced he’ll join THE NFL TODAY as an analyst.

“If anybody decides to call me out on it, I’ll be able to back it up, because at the end of the day, the film doesn’t lie. I’m not afraid of anybody. Nobody’s going to kick my ass. I don’t mind saying how it is, and if you play well, I’ll also tell people how you play well.”

Scott, 33, was hobbled in 2012 by a serious toe injury that required total reconstruction and didn’t play last season, joining CBS Sports Network’s pregame show instead after 12 NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets.

But he said Monday he “absolutely” still can play and had workouts lined up with teams in the coming weeks before opting to join CBS, which is revamping the show with Scott and recently retired tight end Tony Gonzalez replacing Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe.

“I think we identify with today’s athletes,” Scott said. “We understand the transition that’s going on within the game. They’ve seen it from the sidelines. We’ve seen it through our facemasks, and I think it gives us an advantage for being able to communicate with the viewers about what’s going on and what teams are attempting to do and what the philosophies are.”

A person with knowledge of Scott’s decision told USA TODAY Sports the Cleveland Browns – and new coach Mike Pettine, who’d been an assistant with the Ravens and Jets throughout Scott’s career – wanted him badly, just as the Kansas City Chiefs did last year.

But Scott still couldn’t push off the surgically repaired toe properly, making the offer to move from a job to a career at CBS a no-brainer, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.

James Brown, Bill Cowher and Boomer Esiason form the rest of the panel along with Scott and Gonzalez, a surefire Hall of Famer who played 17 NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons and was announced as part of the show last week.

In a statement, CBS chairman Sean McManus said Scott “brings a dynamic personality and unique perspective as a recently retired player providing strong opinions on all the hot-button issues on a weekly basis. We are confident he will continue to bring that perspective and those opinions to THE NFL TODAY.”

Scott is no stranger to the spotlight. His rant to ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio after the Jets beat the New England Patriots in a January 2011 playoff game was capped by the two words – “Can’t wait!” – that now serve as something of a catchphrase.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJshw2Axsqc

“When the time is right and it feels good, we’ll try and top it,” Scott said. “But we won’t force it. We’ll keep it natural and we’re going to make sure that we do our research, and if guys mess up, I will be there to point it out. I’m going to bring you the uncut, reality truth.

“I’m not a Hall of Fame player, and a lot of times, these shows are filled up with Hall of Fame players. But hopefully, I can be a Hall of Fame-worthy kind of announcer. I understand to step on this stage brings a tremendous amount of responsibility and expectations and I’m up for the task.”