...(after the recap, that is) was homage to the show from which NYPD Blue was derived -- a show that was also produced by Steven Bochco and David Milch and that also featured Dennis Franz. Think about it: The commander has to make a decision against the express wishes of his superiors to pursue a politically-hazardous investigation. He does, and he gets chewed out as a result, but he wins the respect of his precinct.
How many episodes of Hill Street Blues featured that exact same plot? Frank Furillo, meet Andy Sipowicz.