ESPN's MNF broadcast is unwatchable

[Dan Darragh]

I got so fed up with the terrible play by play and useless color commentary that I had to turn it off.  Missed an exciting ending.

 

I forgot about Monday Night Manning on ESPN2.  Did anyone watch it?  How was it?

[Captain Caveman]

I started with the Mannings, and I guess they were entertaining but plays would happen and they wouldn't break their conversation.  It was weird.

Edited September 14, 2021 by Captain Caveman

[Brennan Huff]

I actually liked the MNF crew. Anything is better than that lady they tried forcing down our throats. And also better than Collinsworth on Sunday nights 

[stevewin]

I liked the Mannings, the game does at times get moved to the background, but especially if you're not completely invested in the game and hanging on every down and distance I thought they came off well and it was entertaining.   I also feel like after having one or two under their belt they will work out some kinks and the whole thing will get even better

[GunnerBill]

24 minutes ago, Brennan Huff said:

I actually liked the MNF crew. Anything is better than that lady they tried forcing down our throats. And also better than Collinsworth on Sunday nights 

 

Collinsworth is the best color guy in the business to me. I know some people hate him but he is the best at his job. I think Romo had that title for a few years, and he was actually very good on the KC game on Sunday, but CBS have been obsessed with forcing him into a straightjacket otherwise and last season he was dull beyond belief. 

 

The most annoying thing about the MNF crew was them lusting after a punter who outkicked his coverage on every single punt. Like he is literally failing at his job and you are lauding him. 

[LabattBlue]

The biggest problem with the MNF crew is the 3 man booth. Less is more. Levy can be annoying, but not as bad as Tessitore who was just trying way way too hard.  They also either told Riddick to speak up, or they turned his mic up.  There were times last year when you could barely hear him. 

[Brennan Huff]

13 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Collinsworth is the best color guy in the business to me. I know some people hate him but he is the best at his job. I think Romo had that title for a few years, and he was actually very good on the KC game on Sunday, but CBS have been obsessed with forcing him into a straightjacket otherwise and last season he was dull beyond belief. 

 

The most annoying thing about the MNF crew was them lusting after a punter who outkicked his coverage on every single punt. Like he is literally failing at his job and you are lauding him. 

He must be doing something right. The SNF gig is a pretty big deal and he’s had it for a long time. I just can’t stand the sound of his voice or anything that comes out of his mouth. Besides that he’s not that bad

[Gugny]

2 minutes ago, Brennan Huff said:

He must be doing something right. The SNF gig is a pretty big deal and he’s had it for a long time. I just can’t stand the sound of his voice or anything that comes out of his mouth. Besides that he’s not that bad

 

His voice gets on my nerves, too.  I think he brings a lot of value, as far as football content ... but he is a shameless ball-washer every week and that gets really old, really quickly.

[PolishDave]

2 minutes ago, Gugny said:

 

His voice gets on my nerves, too.  I think he brings a lot of value, as far as football content ... but he is a shameless ball-washer every week and that gets really old, really quickly.

Gruden 2.0

 

Chris, please tell me how great the superstar is again..

 

It's like the guy is catering to teenagers and chicks who are just discovering football for the first time.

[nucci]

I watch most sporting events with volume off. They just repeat same cliches and phrases all game. Establish the run,,,gotta execute, pressure the QB....get him in space

[Matt_In_NH]

Its funny, the only thing I turn on ESPN on these days is for NFL games that are not available anywhere else.  I find Sportscenter and Gameday to be awful.  I like their 30/30 and E60 stuff, other than that I have no use for the network

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I just wish the MNF crew would have mentioned one time the 6 ravens torn ACL’s, he says sarcastically. 

[nucci]

7 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I just wish the MNF crew would have mentioned one time the 6 ravens torn ACL’s, he says sarcastically. 

3 people in the booth and sideline reporters...too many people...it's a football game...only so much to talk about and there's too much talking.

[RichRiderBills]

I think the MNF crew is "adequate" 

 

The Manning deal was atrocious, i turned it after 5 minutes. Reminded me of Youtube type stuff. 

[Playoff Bound]

I like Steve Levy.  He is always enthusiastic when he calls a game, no matter what sport it is.  

[SoCal Deek]

Ya know, I watched the entire game from start to finish and never gave any of this a single thought. So there’s that.

[LittleSammy]

45 minutes ago, nucci said:

I watch most sporting events with volume off. They just repeat same cliches and phrases all game. Establish the run,,,gotta execute, pressure the QB....get him in space

I remember the Jets/Dolphins game NBC broadcast a "long" time ago without using any announcers. Just the crowd noise and nothing else. They wanted to experiment with giving folks at home the in-stadium feel. For a minute I thought I was at the Ralph and almost ran in to pee in the bathroom sink at halftime.

[snafu]

2 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

Ya know, I watched the entire game from start to finish and never gave any of this a single thought. So there’s that.

The only thought I gave it was that the microphone levels were off. I really barely listened to the color commentary. 
The Manning broadcast could be good, but why show them watching the game?  What a waste of screen space. I’m not tuning in to watch someone watch a game — but I will listen. 
 

 

[nucci]

1 minute ago, LittleSammy said:

I remember the Jets/Dolphins game NBC broadcast a "long" time ago without using any announcers. Just the crowd noise and nothing else. They wanted to experiment with giving folks at home the in-stadium feel. For a minute I thought I was at the Ralph and almost ran in to pee in the bathroom sink at halftime.

I remember that game. i enjoyed it...now the score, clock and other info is on the screen at all time...they even superimpose the down and distance on the field. The refs have microphones...there is no need for broadcasters in the booth. I love in replay review when they say....." that's close, could go either way" No ***** it's close...that's why it's under review

[SoCal Deek]

Just now, snafu said:

The only thought I gave it was that the microphone levels were off. I really barely listened to the color commentary. 
The Manning broadcast could be good, but why show them watching the game?  What a waste of screen space. I’m not tuning in to watch someone watch a game — but I will listen. 
 

 

At my age I get up to go to the bathroom too much so tuning in to watch me watch a game wouldn’t be good television. 😂 (And when it’s the Bills game there’s a bit too much yelling at Daboll….again not good TV)

[SydneyBillsFan]

Bring back Booger

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

1 hour ago, Captain Caveman said:

I started with the Mannings, and I guess they were entertaining but plays would happen and they wouldn't break their conversation.  It was weird.

 

At times they weren't watching at all. It was strange, but its different. Kinda fun at times

[JMF2006]

Well I fell a sleep....so there is that

 

They were all right.

 

 I liked Tessitore it was just too much and too loud Booger for my taste  

 

Tone the Boog down just a notch and he would be good.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

38 minutes ago, RichRiderBills said:

I think the MNF crew is "adequate" 

 

The Manning deal was atrocious, i turned it after 5 minutes. Reminded me of Youtube type stuff. 

 

It was kind of messy but interesting. They need to focus a bit more, maybe have fewer guests? Watch the game more is the big thing. Also the guests almost seemed like they had no plan. The white board idea is cool but u have to keep the game on the screen. They also have whiteboards you can hold in ur hand, might be easier to use. While also being on screen.

[foreboding]

It was so obvious to me how everything good that happened was cause of how great Lamar was and when anything positive happened with the raiders it was gruden. Serious qb bias.

[Metal Man]

I like how the broadcast on Prime gives you an option for different announcers.

 

Unfortunately none of the options are great but it gives me hope that maybe some day all broadcasts could have something similar that allows us to choose from the national or home town broadcasting teams.

[nucci]

4 minutes ago, Metal Man said:

I like how the broadcast on Prime gives you an option for different announcers.

 

Unfortunately none of the options are great but it gives me hope that maybe some day all broadcasts could have something similar that allows us to choose from the national or home town broadcasting teams.

All NFL games have National network announcers...the home town broadcast would be radio

[Metal Man]

3 minutes ago, nucci said:

All NFL games have National network announcers...the home town broadcast would be radio

 

Understood.

 

I realize that there are different media outlets involved which would make something like this difficult. Just putting the desire/hope out there that at some point in the ever changing media streaming/consumption world something like this would be possible.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Biggest issue I have is Griese never shuts up.

[stevewin]

44 minutes ago, SydneyBillsFan said:

Bring back Booger

[thenorthremembers]

If I tune into the game more than 2 minutes before it starts they've already lost me.  The campy pre-game, and the multiple pre-taped musical introductions are awful.   No reason to start the game at 8:15, just start at 8:00pm and get rid of all the fluff.    The NFL has to get over treating every pre-game like its the Super Bowl.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

12 minutes ago, stevewin said:

Get rid of this idea, but I do approve of hanging him off the SkyCam. 🤔

[chongli]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Collinsworth is the best color guy in the business to me. I know some people hate him but he is the best at his job. 

 

 

I remember when he was on NBC in the 90's, IIRC, and he got flamed universally for announcing the clock should have been stopped when the QB spiked the ball in the shotgun. The actual said you have to be under center for the clock to stop. But in his defense, I did not know that either at the time.

[Shaw66]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Collinsworth is the best color guy in the business to me. I know some people hate him but he is the best at his job. I think Romo had that title for a few years, and he was actually very good on the KC game on Sunday, but CBS have been obsessed with forcing him into a straightjacket otherwise and last season he was dull beyond belief. 

 

The most annoying thing about the MNF crew was them lusting after a punter who outkicked his coverage on every single punt. Like he is literally failing at his job and you are lauding him. 

The problem with all of them is that the networks have figured out that the fans want to listen to fanboys raving about the big name stars, rather than people who actually explain what is going on.   So, for example, Romo was amazing his first season when he was telling you what the QB was thinking as he was standing behind center, calling signals.   He would explain where the opportunities were, and how the QB was changing the play while it was happening.  It was fabulous.   CBS apparently stopped him from doing that.   On the other hand, it was amazing to me how little he seemed to understand the running game. 

 

I agree about Collinsworth.  He tells some interesting things that happened on the field, and he tells us about the little irritating things that happen to players on the field.  He gives a good sense of what's really going on.   

 

On the other hand, NBC has forced Collingsworth way down the hero worship road (to catch up with Al Michaels, who's been down that road for so long he's pretty unlistenable).  Sunday night, they simply raved all night about Aaron Donald, blah, blah, blah, the great Aaron Donald, blah, blah.   The game is played by 11 guys, and the greatest of them on defense does pretty much nothing on 90% of the plays - he just does his job, the play goes the other way, and he goes back to the huddle.   That was the game Donald had, but it didn't matter - just Donald, Donald, Donald all night long, except when the Rams had the ball, and then it was Kahlil Mack, blah, blah.  They had graphics comparing their career stats.   And they absolutely raved all night long about Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay, about how absolutely great they are, how they're kindred spirits, blah, blah, like they'd won the last three Super Bowls.  Oh, and even more amazing was the Justin Fields hero worship - the guy's done nothing, couldn't win the job from Dalton (remember, we talked about Dalton), and yet they talk about him like he's an absolute sure thing.  They dismissed Trubisky as one of a long line of horrible Bears QBs (four years ago they were no doubt raving about Mitch) - truth is that I'd say it's still even money that Trubisky will have the better career than Fields.  

 

There are 22 players on the field, and they're doing a complicated dance.  All 22.   Although the best players are, in terms of probability, more likely to make the game winning play, any of the 22 can do it.   ESPN's guys went on all night about Rugg and Renfrow and that tight end, and friggin Zay Jones won the game.

1 hour ago, SydneyBillsFan said:

Bring back Booger

Booger is annoying after a while, but he knows his stuff.  He says plenty of interesting things about what's going on on the field. 

[SCBills]

I couldn't get into the Manning thing, although I get the appeal for some.

 

Steve Levy is good. 

 

Griese, i'll probably never give a fair shake to after his obnoxious appearance on OBL last year. 

 

Riddick is terrible... not everyone is an amazing player.  He literally, at one point, stated Carr was doing things only 4 or 5 QB's in the league can do..

 

Edited September 14, 2021 by SCBills

[Shaw66]

4 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Riddick is terrible... not everyone is an amazing player.  He literally, at one point, stated Carr was doing things only 4 or 5 QB's in the league can do..

 

Perfect example of how they overhype the guys they've decided are the story.  Carr was as bad last night as Josh Allen was on Sunday, and then this comment came out of RIddick's mouth, saying Carr was doing stuff only a handful of QBs can do.  

 

Half or more of NFL games are mediocre and uninteresting.  The announcers' job is to make every game sound like the 1958 NFL championship game.  They're selling, selling, selling the NFL product all day long.  And to a great extent, we buy it. 

[oldmanfan]

I don't get as upset about these guys as most, but I don't necessarily see the need for the color guy in the booth.  Just have a good play by play person call the game.

[DCOrange]

I think the pair that we had for the Bills game this week is my favorite in the business right now. The Manning's were pretty cool though; I've always enjoyed when ESPN gives us telecasts like that or the NCAA Championship game where it's just a room of the coaches breaking it down.

[ExWNYer]

22 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

I don't get as upset about these guys as most, but I don't necessarily see the need for the color guy in the booth.  Just have a good play by play person call the game.

 

There is so much down time between plays, they probably feel they need the color guy to spell the play-by-play guy so his voice doesn't give out from non-stop talking. Unfortunately, a lot of the color guys are former players who know amazingly little about the nuances of the game.

[Rc2catch]

I actually enjoy Riddick. And I enjoy his insight to some stuff. 
The problem i have with most broadcasts is the constant hype machine and repetitiveness. They gave Lamar so much love the whole first half, but didn’t dare give him some shade for blowing the game. Gruden made a couple stupid coaching decisions, no criticism whatsoever. Collinsworth is the worst to me, he likes 4-5 players a game and only talks about them and nothing else. His play by play is fine with me but his bias always peaks through