Monday Night Football booth changes coming in 2007

[terpfan1980]

According to USAToday: Theismann to be replaced on 'MNF' (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2007-03-25-theismann-mnf_N.htm)

Joe Theismann will be replaced on ESPN's Monday Night Football, says an industry official with direct knowledge of the move.

{snip}

Candidates to replace Theismann include ESPN studio analyst Ron Jaworski, as well as Bill Parcells and Emmitt Smith, who were recently hired as studio analysts.

Theismann could end up with other roles on ESPN/ABC's football coverage ... {snip}

[RegBarc]

Candidates to replace Theismann include ESPN studio analyst Ron Jaworski, as well as Bill Parcells and Emmitt Smith, who were recently hired as studio analysts.

Jaws? They're getting freakin' Jaws to replace him?

Christ.

[Sparty99]

Jaws? They're getting freakin' Jaws to replace him?

Christ.
I thought Jaws had gotten pretty good reviews from his limited experience in the booth.

Addition by subtraction I think. Less Theismann is pure goodness.

[SFXYBFM]

Thank you, thank you, thank you...............I cannot stand listening to Theismann!

[MasterOfPuppets]

I also can't stand listening to Theismann...so, good riddance.

[lambertman]

Yes, bring in Jaws and Emmitt. If you listen to Tony Kornheiser's radio show, it's pretty apparent he would be thrilled to be disinvited... and his fans want him to do more radio and PTI. Win-win!

[DLL66]

Bring back Dennis Miller!!!! :p :D

[vikingguy]

Jaws? They're getting freakin' Jaws to replace him?

Christ.

I just hope if he gets the job it he still does his in studio coaches film break downs. I can't get enough of the coaches film breakdowns.

[Anubys]

Yes, bring in Jaws and Emmitt. If you listen to Tony Kornheiser's radio show, it's pretty apparent he would be thrilled to be disinvited... and his fans want him to do more radio and PTI. Win-win!

where did you get the impression that Tony would be replaced? it's just Joe being replaced...

Jaws would be perfect...Joe was the problem with the Monday night crew...I'll be glad when he's gone...

[wingerzzz]

I jumped for joy in reading that Theisman might be out. I hope it is true.

Mr. Tony lives to complain, but he likes the money and the prestige. I think he would not be devastated if they let him go but he is not going to quit. Mike Tirico guest hosted last Thursday and Friday on PTI so that means to me that Tony and him like each other.

Theisman had no sense of humor, could not shut up and has always been condescending. There was no way Mr. Tony could be any good with him in the booth. Jaws did the second game on ESPN opener double header with Vermeil and I forget the play by play guy. They were really good and in fact I thought much better then the A team. Jaws has been a guest on PTI a lot, weekly during football season and it is clear that he and Tony like each other and he has a sense of humor. I think this could be a good booth or at the very least the best alignment to see if Mr. Tony can be an asset.

I just hope this is true.

[Marco]

Jaworski would be a great hire ... Parcells and Smith might work, I suppose, but not (well) with Kornheiser.

[Gregor]

Jaws would be freaking cool. Can't wait to hear Parcells interview TO, though :)

[Sparty99]

Jaws would be freaking cool. Can't wait to hear Parcells interview TO, though :)
Never happen. Only time they have a former player or coach interview a player is when they think the interviewer will get the player to open up (a la Michael Irvin with TO). It would be great for ratings but bad for their rep if they set up an interview where Parcells strangles TO. :D

[Anubys]

as a Skins fan, I hate Parcells...but I have to admit I'm intrigued by him as the color man...his sarcastic attitude would mesh well with Tony and his knowledge of the game would be vast...

Emmitt doesn't strike me as a person who would be any good...he's too stiff...

[itsmeitsmeitsme]

Jeez, I hope it is NOT Parcells.

[garys67]

Good move for ESPN, at least from a fan perspective. Jaws is undoubtedly the most knowledgable member of the ESPN football establishment - his film breakdown is unparalleled. For the fan who is looking for solid analysis, he's a 'can't miss' addition.

Whether or not this translates into higher ratings (which is really the bottom line), time will tell.

[Anubys]

I read on Dr. Z's column one time that Theisman had talked to the Cardinals' offensive coordinator before the infamous Bears game last year...the OC had told him about his game plan and how he wished the head coach would not try to run at the end of the game...

then the Cards proceeded to kill the Bears until the end, when the HC ordered the OC to run the ball...the bears got the ball back and won the game...

Theisman knew all that and didn't mention it during the broadcast...the head coach promptly fired the OC to deflect the blame from himself...

that's all I needed to know about how bad Theisman is... :down: :down: :down:

[TonyD79]

Paper this morning said Theeeesman out, Jaws in.

Sounds good to me. Tony K and Jaws get along well. Theisman never got the fun part of the game.

[Anubys]

Paper this morning said Theeeesman out, Jaws in.

Sounds good to me. Tony K and Jaws get along well. Theisman never got the fun part of the game.

you mean the Washington Post? they just said that it was an unconfirmed report...

but the AP just announced it's official ;)

[cheesesteak]

I love Jaws (in a manly man, football way) but I think I prefer him as a studio analyst. With our luck, ESPN will replace him with Skip Bayless who is probably the biggest dope at the network.

I still think MNF should just have two announcers - play by play and color. We don't need a comedy guy. I love Kornheiser (in a manly man, sports enthusiast way) but MNF is not the event it was 20 years ago and the entertainment landscape has changed dramatically. Put the two best guys in the booth, cut out the movie star/music star interviews and talk some football.

[HDTivoDesire]

I wish they would bring back Mike Patrick. I really enjoyed his ESPN Sunday Night work. I think he can really add a lot of excitement to any game. He may not have been considered for the job due to recent health reasons, though. I know he is working college games for ESPN and his college schedule might be less strenuous than a 17-game MNF schedule.

I don't think Joe Thiesman was the problem. I thought Mike Tirico was boring and I can't stand Tony Kornheiser.

Also, MNF is over-produced. The stupid introductions by celebrities, the god-awful "Are you ready for some football" song, the lame opening sequence, and 2 worthless sideline reporters (2 more than they need) would all make the presentation better if they weren't there. Just show the damn game.

[Anubys]

you forgot the worst sin of all...the celebrity interview and talking over the game...completely ignoring the game action while talking to an insipid celebrity about their upcoming movie or show...

[Sparty99]

I wish they would bring back Mike Patrick. I really enjoyed his ESPN Sunday Night work. I think he can really add a lot of excitement to any game. He may not have been considered for the job due to recent health reasons, though. I know he is working college games for ESPN and his college schedule might be less strenuous than a 17-game MNF schedule.

I don't think Joe Thiesman was the problem. I thought Mike Tirico was boring and I can't stand Tony Kornheiser.

Also, MNF is over-produced. The stupid introductions by celebrities, the god-awful "Are you ready for some football" song, the lame opening sequence, and 2 worthless sideline reporters (2 more than they need) would all make the presentation better if they weren't there. Just show the damn game.
Oh God no, Patrick was worst of all. "AND HE RUMBLES FOR A 4-YARD GAIN! THAT WAS INCREDIBLE! IT'S SECOND AND 6!" There's bringing excitement to a game and there's doing what Patrick does, which is kind of like Gus Johnson, only at the least appropriate times.

[lambertman]

where did you get the impression that Tony would be replaced? it's just Joe being replaced...

I was hoping. He's terrible on MNF, and it takes him away from what he's good at.

[MasterOfPuppets]

There's not many football announcers where I think "hot damn, glad I'm watching this game so I can listen to" him.
I like Jaws, don't know about him as an analyst, but I'm remaining hopeful.
Really looking forward to him calling a Detroit Lions Monday Night Football game sometime around 2012.

[Bierboy]

Getting rid of Theisman is the best move they could make. He's always been an a**.

[terpfan1980]

I grew up a Redskins fan (and a Colts fan too, but that is a different story) and hold most Redskin players in high regard... most that is, because I have to have exceptions for people like Joe Theismann.

Terrell Owens has nothing on Joe T.

Joe T. was the original "I love me some me!" egotistical blow-hard.

I remember a story about Joe T. getting caught cheating on his steady squeeze where his statement about the issue was "God wants Joe Theismann to be happy." (See link (http://deadspin.com/sports/espn/its-slap-joe-theismann-day-114500.php) here for more on that statement and others).

I like Tony Kornheiser a lot, at least on his radio show and in his newspaper work. I didn't catch a lot of the Monday night games last season, primarily because I really didn't care to hear Joe T.

I guess Mike Tirico was ok (by what I heard), and I certainly have no love lost for Al Michaels (his style is ok, but I've grown tired of him over his many years in the business).

I'm still curious how things really fell out in this dismissal though. I'm not certain that Kornheiser was really that worried about Joe T. being there or not being there. It is possible that he really wanted him gone, but he hadn't (that I heard) said any such thing on his radio show or elsewhere that would have gotten rumors going.

The way it seems to have come to pass, I almost wonder if both Tirico and Kornheiser had come together to press for the change. Tirico was in town (D.C.) the other day and spent a good while on Kornheiser's radio show. I suspect that the two may have been talking things over at the time, and perhaps as a result of their discussion both may have pressed ESPN brass to dump the motormouth.

[Sparty99]

There's not many football announcers where I think "hot damn, glad I'm watching this game so I can listen to" him.
I like Jaws, don't know about him as an analyst, but I'm remaining hopeful.
Really looking forward to him calling a Detroit Lions Monday Night Football game sometime around 2012.
You're being really optimistic. Brady Quinn will be a bust and by 2012 Jimmy Clausen will be well on his way to a ruined career with the Lions.

Plan on 2022.

[super dave]

Tony signed a guaranteed 2 year contract, he can only leave by his own accord. He didn't want the same treatment Miller received, so they signed him with his stipulations.

[LiveBlues]

I'm glad to see Joe gone. He just gets on my nerves. I warmed up to Tony K by the end of last season though. He's a little dry, but could be funny. I don't really have an opinion on Jaworski yet. We'll see.

[mqpickles]

I love Jaws (in a manly man, football way) but I think I prefer him as a studio analyst. With our luck, ESPN will replace him with Skip Bayless who is probably the biggest dope at the network.So you've never seen a game with Dan Dierdorf in the booth?

Theisman had no sense of humor, could not shut up and has always been condescending. There was no way Mr. Tony could be any good with him in the booth. Jaws did the second game on ESPN opener double header with Vermeil and I forget the play by play guy. They were really good and in fact I thought much better then the A team. Jaws has been a guest on PTI a lot, weekly during football season and it is clear that he and Tony like each other and he has a sense of humor. I think this could be a good booth or at the very least the best alignment to see if Mr. Tony can be an asset.Agree that the B team showed up the A team. Vermeil was good too, and I really hadn't expected much out of him.

[scottjf8]

Supposedly it's "official" that it's Jaws

[jonblaze]

Tony Kornheiser is the only person who can make me nostalgic for the days of Paul Maguire in the booth.

[philw1776]

How about if they just kept the camera on the field and played the stadium sounds with NO announcers? I cannot think of any value add by the announcers and worse yet their distracting pimping for upcomming network shows and inane discussions with visiting booth guests.

[Bierboy]

How about if they just kept the camera on the field and played the stadium sounds with NO announcers?....I'd second that....of course, it really doesn't matter to me, because I usually watch it with the sound down and music playing...http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k137/Bierboy/24_shocked.gif

[garys67]

How about if they just kept the camera on the field and played the stadium sounds with NO announcers? I cannot think of any value add by the announcers and worse yet their distracting pimping for upcomming network shows and inane discussions with visiting booth guests.

They (NBC??) did that about 20 years ago or so as an experiment. Most viewers despised it, so they dropped it very quickly.

I watched it - and remember not taking a liking to it either.

[Redux]

They (NBC??) did that about 20 years ago or so as an experiment. Most viewers despised it, so they dropped it very quickly.

I watched it - and remember not taking a liking to it either.1980 Jets/Dolphins. Again, with much more sophicticated use of non-announcer sound, in 2004.

Reaction was certainly mixed tilted negative, from what I've read about the 1980 experiment. Never read much reaction to the 2004 Broncos/Bills version.

[DevdogAZ]

Jaws does a couple segments on our local sports radio show every Friday during FB season. He's amazing with his depth of knowledge and his ability to explain concepts. And it's very clear that he meticulously goes through tape of every NFL game every week. I think he'll do a fabulous job in the MNF booth.

[Anubys]

Jaws does a couple segments on our local sports radio show every Friday during FB season. He's amazing with his depth of knowledge and his ability to explain concepts. And it's very clear that he meticulously goes through tape of every NFL game every week. I think he'll do a fabulous job in the MNF booth.

I don't think that's the issue...the issue to me is this: when the offensive coordinator makes a bad call, will he have the guts to call him out?