Per Andrew Marchand (New York Post) Troy Aikman is ESPN bound for MNF

[Stevie Ray]

15 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

So honest question-was it really that much better back then or do you just have a favorable memory? I honestly don’t know if the announcers are that much different than they used to be, we all just now have a way to voice our comments/complaints that we didn’t have back then.

 

it’s like when people say Michael Jordan would never complain like Lebron does now. Michael was one of the biggest complainers in the league (they even changed the rules for him!) but we don’t remember those things about him

 

Good question. I would say they were better back then in the sense that they were a little more focused on providing insight than being personalities. Don't get me wrong, analysts and announcers do that today, but sometimes I feel that they veer off into other areas or about themselves and I'd rather they just stick to the game. But you do make a valid point that perhaps the common perception of the announcers of those days may be similar to today, but the forum just didn't exist to for it to be commonly shared.

[Brand J]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

You are wrong on Collinsworth (and he is SNF anyway) but you are right on Troy and Buck. Snoozathon. 

You actually enjoy Collinsworth? Every time I listen to the guy, it seems he begrudgingly says good things about the Bills. Buffalo News even went so far as to write an article about it. He definitely feels like a biased commentator to my ears.

[WhoTom]

Good, since I never watch MNF unless the Bills are playing. If it features Buck and Aikman, I'll just tune to Peyton and Eli instead.

 

 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Amazing that Aikman would actually be worse than current ESPN crew.  And to pay him top dollar.  Utter nonsense.

 

14 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

You actually enjoy Collinsworth? Every time I listen to the guy, it seems he begrudgingly says good things about the Bills. Buffalo News even went so far as to write an article about it. He definitely feels like a biased commentator to my ears.

I enjoy Collinsworth too.  I know I'm in the minority on this board.  He says too many over the top statements, like "this is the best catch I have ever seen".  But typically his analysis is quite good.  He is not biased against certain teams.  He is biased for who has the the hot hand at any moment in the game.  

[GunnerBill]

15 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

You actually enjoy Collinsworth? Every time I listen to the guy, it seems he begrudgingly says good things about the Bills. Buffalo News even went so far as to write an article about it. He definitely feels like a biased commentator to my ears.

 

I think he is the best colour guy out there, yes. He has a tendency to ball wash some of the big market teams, but the has the best eye for breaking down a play immediately afterwards of any of them. That is what I want out of a colour guy. I care far less about what he fills the dead air time with during the numerous breaks and slowdowns in play. I want a guy who can add some value to what I have just seen right after a play has happened. 

[Gugny]

3 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think he is the best colour guy out there, yes. He has a tendency to ball wash some of the big market teams, but the has the best eye for breaking down a play immediately afterwards of any of them. That is what I want out of a colour guy. I care far less about what he fills the dead air time with during the numerous breaks and slowdowns in play. I want a guy who can add some value to what I have just seen right after a play has happened. 

 

The ball-washing is my only knock on Collinsworth.  His voice can irritate me a little bit, but not too badly.  But the ball-washing ... it's horrible.  Even if he's ball-washing Josh, I still hate it.  Have a little goddamn dignity and self-respect, for the love of Christ.

[strive_for_five_guy]

2 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

I can tell you that if the Manning Bros., were on, that I did NOT watch the games on ESPN.  That crew is horrendous - especially Levy.

This will help the Manning Bros rating in my household (if they do it again next year).

[Cotton Fitzsimmons]

2 hours ago, JayBaller10 said:

Give me a color man who gets excited for plays, someone in the mold of Gus Johnson or Kevin Harlan.

Or Marv Albert with “THE FACIAL!”

[Mark Vader]

1 hour ago, Stevie Ray said:

I remember an experiment one of the networks did back in the 80's if I recall correctly, where a game was broadcasted without announcers. It was kind of weird, wouldn't necessarily say it was better or worse. Then again, the quality of commentary was way better in those days so broadcasting without announcers might be refreshing these days.

I remember watching a Dolphins-Bills game without announcers on NBC. I think it was 1981.

 

It was strange at first, but I could see what was happening, and it was never boring.

[34-78-83]

Aikman is a good man but I cannot stand him as an announcer. So very stuck in the way football was in his era.

[Nextmanup]

Aikman and Buck make up one of the worst combos in football broadcasting, despite being Fox's No. 1 crew for a long time.

 

I can't stand either of them, for different reasons.

 

Having said that, the MNF broadcast as currently staffed couldn't be worse....so there's that.

 

 

[eball]

2 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

I can tell you that if the Manning Bros., were on, that I did NOT watch the games on ESPN.  That crew is horrendous - especially Levy.

 

I even watched the Mannings for the Bills game.  Light years better than the main crew.

[Patrick Duffy]

1 hour ago, Gugny said:

 

The ball-washing is my only knock on Collinsworth.  His voice can irritate me a little bit, but not too badly.  But the ball-washing ... it's horrible.  Even if he's ball-washing Josh, I still hate it.  Have a little goddamn dignity and self-respect, for the love of Christ.

Agree, it's over the top. I doubt he would have any of the soap suds left at all for Josh anyways...

As for Aikman, I don't think he's too bad. I can deal with him. Although I don't watch MNF unless Bills are playing anyways

[longtimebillsfan]

3 hours ago, JayBaller10 said:

Aikman and Buck rank near the bottom of my play by play crews. Most times I don’t know if they’re calling a football game, or providing commentary for someone painting a fence. Give me a color man who gets excited for plays, someone in the mold of Gus Johnson or Kevin Harlan. On a positive note, at least this gets the biased Collingsworth out of there.

 

EDIT: Cris calls SNF not MNF, my fault.

Joe Buck never shuts up. Aikman may be okay with another play by play announcer. 

[eball]

9 minutes ago, longtimebillsfan said:

Joe Buck never shuts up. Aikman may be okay with another play by play announcer. 

 

Buck may be the most arrogant, self-important prick of an announcer there has ever been.

[Patrick Duffy]

4 minutes ago, eball said:

 

Buck may be the most arrogant, self-important prick of an announcer there has ever been.

Could you imagine a prime time game with he and Collinsworth as the 2 announcers...Oh my....

[longtimebillsfan]

9 minutes ago, eball said:

 

Buck may be the most arrogant, self-important prick of an announcer there has ever been.

100% agree.

[Teddy KGB]

He’s gonna have to stop “smoking that stuff” when he moves to MNF 

 

 

[Man with No Name]

mark me down as another Collinsworth fan!

 

Aikman does nothing for me. I don't get it. granted, I don't watch a lot of fox games. he just doesn't do anything for me. not memorable at all

[Patrick Duffy]

3 minutes ago, Man with No Name said:

mark me down as another Collinsworth fan!

 

Aikman does nothing for me. I don't get it. granted, I don't watch a lot of fox games. he just doesn't do anything for me. not memorable at all

 

Don't hear that said very often lol. It pains me to hear his voice....

[Mark Vader]

1 hour ago, Ya Digg? said:

So honest question-was it really that much better back then or do you just have a favorable memory? I honestly don’t know if the announcers are that much different than they used to be, we all just now have a way to voice our comments/complaints that we didn’t have back then.

 

it’s like when people say Michael Jordan would never complain like Lebron does now. Michael was one of the biggest complainers in the league (they even changed the rules for him!) but we don’t remember those things about him

That's a fair question.

 

As a kid, I did enjoy listening to certain announcers than others, not because of their personalities, but rather that they had the best voice for the game. People like Howard Cosell & John Madden added more because of their personas.

 

There were a lot of crews that I enjoyed listening too. Dick Enberg & Merlin Olsen, later Bob Trumpy, Marv Albert & Paul Maguire, Pat Sumerall & John Madden, Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford & Don Meredith.

Individually I liked, Dick Stockton, Charlie Jones, Verne Lundquist & Hank Stram.

 

Back when ESPN had Sunday night football, I enjoyed Mike Patrick & Joe Theisman. 

 

For college football, no team was better than Keith Jackson & Dick Vermeil. Although I really enjoyed ESPN's prime time crew of Ron Franklin & Mike Gottfried.

 

Today, I do like Jim Nantz & Tony Romo, they are a fun listen. I'm fine with Chris Collinsworth although he does have his annoying moments. Kevin Harlan does not get nearly enough credit.

[transient]

5 hours ago, The Wiz said:

Have you never seen anchorman?

 

They have some rough competition in the broadcasting circles.

Not so fast, you ingrates. Public News Team is taking a break from its pledge drive to kick some ass. No commercials... NO MERCY!

[Utah John]

Aikman he can't seem to understand the rules of English.  That commentator he always wants to have two subjects in every sentence.  

 

Aikman he can't seem to tell us anything that most football fans already know.  Those fans they might like him if they're stupored up from too much beer, and Aikman he tells them what they ought to know anyway, so the fans they can feel smart and superior.  Aikman he is so far below Tony Romo in telling us what we DON'T already know that there's no comparison.  Aikman he would be a good choice for people who know nothing about football to learn a little about the basics of the game.  Aikman he is Captain Obvious for most of the rest of us.  

[ControllerOfPlanetX]

8 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

It seems to me like networks are wasting money. No one watches football games for the play by play crew. 

 

Totally agree...I watch the games with sound off or so low I can’t here it.

If I want to be entertained, I turn on the “Deportes” broadcast even though i don’t understand Spanish.

 

(unless it is a college game with Gus Johnson..that I have to listen to..)

[Steptide]

Pretty much every crew that does the prime time games reminds me of the announcers in the movie dodge ball. They're all un listenable 

[Chicken Boo]

How did Gus Johnson fall out of favor?  Love that guy and his enthusiasm.

[TheFunPolice]

8 hours ago, Bangarang said:

Saw it was 5 years at $17mil per year. Also heard they were going to try and get Joe Buck as well.

 

$85 million for 5 years... that might be more than Aikman made in total as a player, and it's just 5 years of broadcasting. 

 

You can see the allure for these guys... it's great money for half a year's work a few days a week covering a game you love. 

[InTheBuffAllTheTime]

2 hours ago, Utah John said:

Aikman he can't seem to understand the rules of English.  That commentator he always wants to have two subjects in every sentence.  

 

Aikman he can't seem to tell us anything that most football fans already know.  Those fans they might like him if they're stupored up from too much beer, and Aikman he tells them what they ought to know anyway, so the fans they can feel smart and superior.  Aikman he is so far below Tony Romo in telling us what we DON'T already know that there's no comparison.  Aikman he would be a good choice for people who know nothing about football to learn a little about the basics of the game.  Aikman he is Captain Obvious for most of the rest of us.  

I see what you did there! 👌

[ExWNYer]

[InTheBuffAllTheTime]

My take on this thread.....

 

it's pretty much a tribute to the great John Madden, so great timing. John broke the mold. Everyone who came after John is pretty much just doing that, following after John. No one like him. John was an entertainer. He knew the game, how to break it down, and how to describe it back to the viewer...with humor!

 

For what it's worth, I do like the 3-broadcaster model though. I find it easier to listen occasionally to each of the 3 instead of the back and forth between the play-by-play and the analyst. For that reason, I actually don't mind Riddick, Griese, and Levy. Even if you don't like them individually, you get less of each....which is more. haha

Edited February 24, 2022 by InTheBuffAllTheTime

[Mister Defense]

9 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

It seems to me like networks are wasting money. No one watches football games for the play by play crew. 

 

But the Monday night team was hard to listen to; very boring, in my view.  And the lack of quality broadcast voices, especially the two color guys, was part of it.

 

Aikman is not a favorite of mine but he is a significant step up.  MNF ratings will improve.

 

If they can pair him up with Buck, the ratings will improve dramatically.  And they will get better games to broadcast.

[MiltonWaddams]

48 minutes ago, Steptide said:

Pretty much every crew that does the prime time games reminds me of the announcers in the movie dodge ball. They're all un listenable 

That’s where you are wrong. Cotton and Pepper would be the top duo since John and Pat. Comedic excellence.

[YoloinOhio]

Best thing that ever happened to Dak

[Solomon Grundy]

10 hours ago, Greg S said:

(16) Andrew Marchand on Twitter: "NEWS COLUMN: Troy Aikman is leaving Fox Sports for ESPN and he could bring Joe Buck with him, The Post has learned. https://t.co/XIwmM297db" / Twitter

I’ll take the Mannings….thank you

[Orlando Tim]

I don't understand why the networks pay this kind of money for an announcer. I have never been influenced to watch a game because of an an announcer. I like Romo and enjoyed Madden but the rest are basically filler. Aikman especially is barely noticeable.

[purple haze]

16 hours ago, Bangarang said:

Saw it was 5 years at $17mil per year. Also heard they were going to try and get Joe Buck as well.

They should leave Buck right where he is.  Get a play by play man who has some energy without; and isn’t so sanctimonious.

[Man with No Name]

Kevin Harlan is really good. best voice in the business

[Greg S]

8 hours ago, purple haze said:

They should leave Buck right where he is.  Get a play by play man who has some energy without; and isn’t so sanctimonious.

 

Greg Olsen is/was Fox #2 play by play man behind Aikman. If Buck stays with Fox then its good bet Olsen joins him.

[djp14150]

If ESPN hires Buck…I’d expect him to do baseball games too.

[Tanoros]

On 2/24/2022 at 6:37 AM, BuffaloBud said:

I actually turned the volume off for the Bills-Chiefs game as I was getting sick to my stomach listening to Nance / Romo.  I was doing the PxP in my head.  The only saving grace for Romo is that he will be an analyst and contribute to the broadcast.  Aikman - just blah blah blah - nothing of substance.

It’s funny you say that. Because, most play by plays guys are so boring, you know what they will say before they say it. I do this all the time, and my family has always commented on it (how do I know what they will say?) LOL, it’s not very hard most of the time. 

21 hours ago, Utah John said:

Aikman he can't seem to understand the rules of English.  That commentator he always wants to have two subjects in every sentence.  

 

Aikman he can't seem to tell us anything that most football fans already know.  Those fans they might like him if they're stupored up from too much beer, and Aikman he tells them what they ought to know anyway, so the fans they can feel smart and superior.  Aikman he is so far below Tony Romo in telling us what we DON'T already know that there's no comparison.  Aikman he would be a good choice for people who know nothing about football to learn a little about the basics of the game.  Aikman he is Captain Obvious for most of the rest of us.  

Totally agree. I appreciate when they break down plays showing things that aren’t obvious, especially from the broadcast angles. 
 

Besides Aikman being captain obvious, most are. At least, more are than aren’t. 
 

Fortunately for me (not my wife) I’m VERY good at tuning things out. Most of the time, I don’t pay much attention to the commentators, and honestly, the reason I like having sound, is to hear the sounds of the game.