NFL broadcast thread (née ABC to kill MNF?)

[SD_Eagle5]

God I hope this is true

SUNSHINE OUT AT MNF

A source with knowledge of the situation tells us that ESPN is yanking analyst Joe Theismann from Monday Night Football. Earlier this year, the network said that the lineup for the weekly NFL broadcast would returned unchanged in 2007.

Per the source, the likely replacement for Theismann is Ron Jaworski, who performed well (despite wearing ladies' glasses) during the back half of a season-opening Monday night doubleheader and who currently is handling booth duties for the ESPN/ABC coverage of the Arena Football League.

It's unknown whether Theismann will be reassigned to other ESPN NFL-related shows, or possibly to ESPN's college football coverage. After Mike Patrick and Paul Maguire weren't shifted with Theismann from Sunday night to Monday night, Patrick and Maguire landed with the network's NCAA broadcasts.

The problem, as we understand it, is that Theismann received a lucrative contract in the waning days of Mark Shapiro's tenure, and the network is unlikely to eat the balance of it. We're told that there are at least two years remaining on the deal.

Per a source with knowledge of the in-house dynamics at ESPN, Theismann and Tony Kornheiser didn't mix well, and there's a school of thought that Kornheiser would be better without having to worry about tiptoeing on eggshells with Theismann. (And we agree with that. Completely.)

The information came to us in response to an item we posted earlier on Saturday indicating that ESPN had offered a spot on Monday Night Football to former Cowboys coach Bill Parcells.

Stay tuned.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Theisman is farging terrible, and I've always been a fan of Jaworski's, the guy's a ham, but at least he has a sense of humor. I'm also a fan of Kornheiser's, and watching Tony make a joke or take a shot at a player, team, or situation that was funny and different from the normal drivel, then watch as Theisman, who had no idea it was joke or otherwise, would try to correct Tony with some nonsense. Don't let the door hit ya in the leg Joe! farger.

[General_Failure]

Replace one guy that won't shut up with another guy that won't shut up. I like Jaworski, but c'mon.

[MDS]

Anyone is better than Joey the Leg. Jaws is actually pretty good, just needs to shut up a bit.

Have a feeling that Skins fans will complain about this, with the media out to get them and all?

[PhillyPhreak54]

farg them and farg Theismann too. I am glad that shteinbag is outta there.

[phattymatty]

Theisman is my least favorite broadcaster ever but I enjoyed Kornheiser making him look like a fool every week.  Jaws isn't as dumb so it won't be as fun.  I like how they called him out for wearing chick glasses though.

[mooby]

Jaws > Theismann.

[QB Eagles]

Theismann is the absolute worst. I would prefer horrible static to come out of my speakers every time he's talking than to hear his voice. Not only would I accept Jaws over Theismann, I would accept any horrible blabbermouth as an improvement -- they could dig up Dennis Miller, Rush Limbaugh, or Michael Irvin for all I care. Those guys would flame out after a season at most anyway; Theismann has somehow stayed on the air for years, like a metastasizing cancer that keeps showing up in new places and is never completely destroyed. Please ESPN drive a steak through his broadcast heart!

[MDS]

Joe Buck out at Fox


Pregame show. Hes back to doing just announcing, Curt Menefee becomes the new James Brown, right down to the skin color and monotone delivery.

Figure it was a pain in the ass to travel around to different sites each week, didn't pay off ratings wise, so its just easier to do it from a studio.

[rjs246]

Theismann is the absolute worst. I would prefer horrible static to come out of my speakers every time he's talking than to hear his voice. Not only would I accept Jaws over Theismann, I would accept any horrible blabbermouth as an improvement -- they could dig up Dennis Miller, Rush Limbaugh, or Michael Irvin for all I care. Those guys would flame out after a season at most anyway; Theismann has somehow stayed on the air for years, like a metastasizing cancer that keeps showing up in new places and is never completely destroyed. Please ESPN drive a steak through his broadcast heart!

Good use of metastasizing.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Joe Buck out at Fox


Pregame show. Hes back to doing just announcing, Curt Menefee becomes the new James Brown, right down to the skin color and monotone delivery.

Figure it was a pain in the ass to travel around to different sites each week, didn't pay off ratings wise, so its just easier to do it from a studio.

I was thinking that all year last year.  Menefee did a great job on the show when Buck had to leave to go to the booth.  It just made no sense to not have him take the chair for good.

[ice grillin you]

nbc did a nice job last year but the other two networks pregames are unwatchable...i dont think ive watched more than three or four of them since fox got football

espn owns all

[Magical_Retard]

for some reason i dont mind the fox pregame. espn 2 hrs extravaganza gets boring by noon. yeah u wake up on sunday and ur all pumped up for the game and u watch at 11 but they keep repeating the same crap over and over. cbs is absolutely horrible so i usually end up just watching FOX.

now if they only brought in vermeil into the booth for MNF. that would be awesome. or hell bring vermeil in somewhere...fox, nbc, or whatever.

[SunMo]

all pregame shows suck, that's why i take dumps, play video games, and jerk off until 1pm every Sunday

[Feva]

At the same time, son!!  WHUT?!?!?!?!?!