What are your thoughts on John Murphy as our radio announcer?

[Buftex]

27 minutes ago, Pasaluki said:

Tasker is underappreciated.

He's entertaining in his own way but is an acquired taste.

 

Normally, when I see people here criticize Tasker, it is for the work he did ay CBS. He has admitted that early in his CBS days, he did try hard to separate his Bills loyalties from his professional responsibilities to appear non-biased.  Personally, I think he is great on One Bills Live. He's funny, insightful and he just seems like a really good guy. He isn't the smoothest, but real.

[BillsVet]

Definitely has a voice for print.  

[Rubes]

I can't understand how people can think Murph is even mediocre. It's hard to diss a guy who's devoted his career to the Bills, but he is an absolutely abysmal play-by-play guy. How someone can take every drop of emotion out of an exciting football game is beyond me. Some of his calls of big plays are just absolutely baffling in their lack of emotion or awareness.

 

Someone needs to replace this guy, pronto.

 

[Rico]

49 minutes ago, Buftex said:

I haven't lived in Buffalo since the late 80's, so I don't really listen to the local broadcasts all that much... sometimes, on the app, just to put myself to sleep, I would listen to the replays... I honestly think Murph heard a lot of criticism about how dull he was, so a few years ago, he started that screaming thing....I must say, it sounds so forced, and kind of ridiculous.  I almost can't believe he still does it...like he was looking for some sort of "signature" and he settled on that?  Yuck.  Otherwise, as others have said, I think he's pretty bland...not terrible, but not at all exciting either.  

 

Btw- I like Van Miller too, but it is funny to see everyone getting nostalgic for him. When I was a kid, I remember him not being particularly liked amongst the Bills fan-base..before it was a nation, or "mafia".

 

 

Now granted, I moved away from Buffalo in 1977, but I remember Van more for the Braves than the Bills. I thought he did a much better job with basketball… and when it came to sports, he was far below looking up at Azar. There is something though to be said for longevity!

[Not at the table Karlos]

45 minutes ago, Einstein said:

 

Maybe i’m opening up a can of worms by asking, but why do you say he’s not a good person?

I've had displeasure of crossing paths with him a lot since I was younger living near East Aurora. Neighbors and people that work with him have similar stories. He thinks he's the greatest person on earth and everyone needs to bow to him and get out of his way or he will plow right through you(literally). If he thinks youre beneath him he treats you like you are. I've made comments here before about him. 

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

1 hour ago, Not at the table Karlos said:

I don't like him as an announcer or a person. He's not good at either. 

I used to work in local media and had dealings with him … he’s a Richard. 

[Buffalo Super Fan]

John Murphy is alright as Buffalo Bills announcer but he is no Van Miller but who is? Van Miller, Ted Darling and Rick Jeanneret your not replacing there talent level because announcers are trained different in school today. There more television conversationalist with the audience instead of in a radio play by announcers in my opinion. Go Bills! Let’s Go Buffalo 

[Buftex]

14 minutes ago, Rico said:

Now granted, I moved away from Buffalo in 1977, but I remember Van more for the Braves than the Bills. I thought he did a much better job with basketball… and when it came to sports, he was far below looking up at Azar. There is something though to be said for longevity!

Loved listening to Braves games on the radio. That is how I best remember him as well.  He would wear crazy outfits to the Aud...like he was a white Walt Frazier. 

I never really thought that highly of him as a Bills play by play guy, though I do admit, watching old video replays, his voice is perfect for those times... "Kelly...looking...looking...looking". He did know how to make you feel like you were there at the stadium.

[GETTOTHE50]

i mean how the hell did he get the bills job

[Bills!Win!]

3 hours ago, Einstein said:

We have had a lot of coaching/weather threads lately so I figured this may be a welcome distraction.

 

Pat McAfee posted the radio call of the Vikings winning (sorry, I wish there was a different example) and I was blown away at the quality, tempo, and enthusiasm of the Vikings radio guy. In my opinion, it puts Murph to shame.

 

It seems like Murph is always sputtering and second guessing and the calls have little enthusiasm. I vaguely remember the amazing Hyde INT in the playoffs last year went something like “Mac throws it deep. And it’s caught. Oh wait. Maybe Hyde got it? Yes, Hyde got it, interception.”  Just … meh.

 

What is everyone else’s opinion? Do you agree with my take or are you a Murph fan?

 

Anyway, if you have the stomach for it, this is a great radio call to listen to, even if it was at our expense:

 

 

This is great but what’s with the eyebrows the size of Minnesota? 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Can’t stand Murphy’s high pitched “Touchdown!” 

[RiotAct]

28 minutes ago, GETTOTHE50 said:

i mean how the hell did he get the bills job

he was Van Miller’s color commentator for many years.

[Einstein]

1 hour ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

I used to work in local media and had dealings with him … he’s a Richard. 

 

Oh wow.

1 hour ago, Not at the table Karlos said:

I've had displeasure of crossing paths with him a lot since I was younger living near East Aurora. Neighbors and people that work with him have similar stories. He thinks he's the greatest person on earth and everyone needs to bow to him and get out of his way or he will plow right through you(literally). If he thinks youre beneath him he treats you like you are. I've made comments here before about him. 

 

That’s too bad. Thanks for sharing.

[Dan]

Good lord is there ANY THING about this team we’re not criticizing this week!?  I do wonder if some posters here actually like anything in the world. 

[May Day 10]

Those minnesota guys make me cringe.  Don't want overweight advanced age loser cheerleaders.

 

Murphy is ok to poor.  He doesn't paint the picture well.  There can be a pass and you don't know if it was 4, 10, 20 yards until way later.  Down, distance are sometimes forgotten.  His tendency to repeat words as filler when something big is happening is annoying too.  

 

 

Edited November 18, 2022 by May Day 10

[Stanley Lombardi]

In an NFL city whose fan base, over the long haul, has been more celebrated than the team, Murphy personifies the Mafia.   There is rhyme, rhythm, reason, and a touch of poetry in that.

[blacklabel]

Never been the biggest fan of Murph. He does alright but he doesn't create the excitement and drama like other broadcasters do. And almost anytime he tries to sound excited his voice goes real high then cracks a bunch. 

 

I like Eric Wood. I think he's doing a pretty good job. I listen to him post game mostly tho. 

 

But usually, I typically watch the games on mute. After years of hearing the talking heads I just can't do it anymore. I can't stand how they have to exaggerate on so many things and act like routine plays or even just decent plays are some sort of amazing act of foosball mastery.  And they have their talking points and things they need to highlight and sometimes they just drone on and on about the same crap. Or they come up with some real obscure stat like, "On all days ending in Y and when Josh Allen wears his favorite Spider-Man jammies and eats four bowls of Count Chocula and then spins a football on his left pinky toe he averages exactly 1.0033 yards per pass!" It's just...meh, I think I'm just burned out from it. 

Edited November 18, 2022 by blacklabel

[Mark Vader]

3 hours ago, gomper said:

Murphy is ok but nobody, and I mean nobody, is better than the 49'ers Greg Papa. HOF'er still doing games in his prime.  

Greg Papa is fantastic. 

 

I remember when he was the radio voice for the Oakland Raiders & Golden State Warriors.

 

If only we could get him to be our announcer.

[Charles Romes]

Van Miller was so emotionally invested that he actually made you feel worse about the situation when there was a soul-crushing loss. When the pain is unbearable you need someone to remind you that it’s just a game.

Edited November 18, 2022 by Charles Romes

[Estro]

All due respect, I think Murphy is terrible. I went for a 20 minute bike ride around the neighborhood with my wife and daughter last week during halftime and I listened to Murph and Wood for about 10 minutes.

 

I think it was a possession where Kirk threw a pick early in the 3rd quarter....I remember thinking Murph was so underwhelming the entire drive.  His call/excitement comes across in a very forced and inauthentic manner, IMO. I'm just not a fan.

[BADOLBILZ]

4 hours ago, Einstein said:

I vaguely remember the amazing Hyde INT in the playoffs last year went something like “Mac throws it deep. And it’s caught. Oh wait. Maybe Hyde got it? Yes, Hyde got it, interception.”  Just … meh.

 

 

 

 

 

Oh that was a GREAT call compared to him screaming "TOUCHDOWN!' on the critical Allen to McKenzie 4th down incompletion in the end zone that bounced 10 feet short late in the Miami game this season.        

 

He was never good but he's truly bad now.

 

I think teams just don't value the radio play-by-play guy.    Radio isn't very important anymore.

 

The Yankees have a couple of fossils calling baseball games and they are just woeful at this point but I guess they figure the radio audience highly skews toward senior citizens anyway so no urgency to change out the old familiar voices.  

Edited November 18, 2022 by BADOLBILZ

[Peter]

He is no RJ.

[What a Tuel]

Anyone is better than the people they get on TV besides Romo. 

 

[Airseven]

The few times I’ve listened to Murphy I’ve found him terrible.

[par73]

He is tough to listen to. Has major trouble following the game-- identifying players, yardage (1st down, or not, for example), obvious calls where there is a catch, or not. Eric Wood must constantly correct him and explain what is going on.

[Since1981]

Doesn’t matter. Radio was made or made baseball. Fixing your car in summer describing “7th inning stretch”, wake up! “no hitters”.
 

Time has passed Murph and nfl radio. Amazon is the future, goodbye radio Murph. 

[Nextmanup]

He's horrible.  He's--shouldn't have a job--bad.

 

 

[BillsGuyOutWest]

“Allen…steps back…FIRES A STRiKE…caught by Knox. That will make it 2nd and 4.  No wait, they’ll mark it as a 3 yard pickup, 2nd and 7 coming up…”

Edited November 18, 2022 by BillsGuyOutWest

[iccrewman112]

7 hours ago, Einstein said:

We have had a lot of coaching/weather threads lately so I figured this may be a welcome distraction.

 

Pat McAfee posted the radio call of the Vikings winning (sorry, I wish there was a different example) and I was blown away at the quality, tempo, and enthusiasm of the Vikings radio guy. In my opinion, it puts Murph to shame.

 

It seems like Murph is always sputtering and second guessing and the calls have little enthusiasm. I vaguely remember the amazing Hyde INT in the playoffs last year went something like “Mac throws it deep. And it’s caught. Oh wait. Maybe Hyde got it? Yes, Hyde got it, interception.”  Just … meh.

 

What is everyone else’s opinion? Do you agree with my take or are you a Murph fan?

 

Anyway, if you have the stomach for it, this is a great radio call to listen to, even if it was at our expense:

 

 

this guy is right up there with Greg Papa (former CNY guy) who did the raiders for years and now does the 49ers. His preparation and the way he gets the formations described is very impressive.

 

[Buffaloflash]

Murf is a great announcer!

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Dave Lapham in Cincinnati is like that as well.

 

Cheering as the play is happening. 

[Xwnyer]

11 hours ago, davefan66 said:

I turn down the TV and listen to GR for games.  Can’t stand the TV announcers most of the time.

 

That being said, murph isn’t much of an upgrade.  Misses a ton of calls, calls the wrong player, calls first downs when they are obviously short. I love when he tries to show off his football acumen, only to be corrected by Wood.  Dude is borderline terrible.

 

Who was the dude that filled in for him last year?

Edit: Paul Dottino.  Did a great job.

Agree but rather listen to him and wood versus TV announcers.  

[Johnnyp566]

I wonder who the successor is and do teams ever hire from out of the area for this..like a big name. Have no idea what a salary would be like for this kind of position. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

If you listened to Bills games years ago, Van Miller would run through a whole series of 'thank you's at game end, acknowledging the crew up in the booth and technical staff.  I seem to recall at least two spotters (Dr. Ed Gusevitch being one), who I would guess would pass along info to Miller.  Is it possible that staff has been pared down over the years, leaving the play by play and colour announcers to figure out what's occurring on the field.

Edited November 18, 2022 by Ridgewaycynic2013

[eball]

Murph is by all accounts a super nice guy.  He’s an awful PBP announcer.

 

[Thurman#1]

13 hours ago, Matt_In_NH said:

He has never been good but he is going downhill.  Some key plays he shows like no excitement. And when he gets excited his voice cracks.  Bring in Kevin Harlan please e

 

 

Haven't heard him for years and years after getting NFL Game Pass.

 

So recently I have no idea. But as recently as around ten years ago he was really really good.

[RunTheBall]

Murph is so f’n horrible I have no idea how he keeps that job.

 

I had to listen to the KC game on the radio as I was driving home from Syracuse to RI. He was so horrible I had to change to the Sirius KC feed, and I hate those guys! 

 

While listening to Murph, I had absolutely no idea what was going on in the game. He get’s our own players wrong. He has no idea what actually happens on a play (It’s a TD!!! No wait, it was dropped at the 10 yard line), he consistently gets the yardage wrong, and if it’s like 3rd and short forget it wait until commercial break to see if they made it. God awful. My listening to him I could not get a picture in my head of what was actually happening on any given play. He’s that bad.

 

 

[May Day 10]

If/when Murphy retires, I hope they dont go the route of that dummy for Minnesota or have someone in like Ron Wolfley for Arizona.  I get being a homer, but yelling and screaming, calling the team "us" and "we", and taunting the other players over the air is terrible.

 

Van Miller used to paint the scene so well.  Down, distance, direction, formation, fluidity of the play, distance, player names, etc.  It was all given in such a clear manner.  His voice and delivery would subtly change at important points of the game to give an air of urgency.  What a gem, we were so lucky.

 

Murphy's voice is alright.  I like the guy and don't think he is embarrassingly bad.  You can definitely do a lot better though.  He fails at all those things Van Miller used to nail.  

Edited November 18, 2022 by May Day 10

[damj]

I haven't listened to a game call in forever

[thenorthremembers]

Its 2022 about to be 2023, why does anyone care how the radio announcer sounds?  Cant stream it legally, and most of the time the radio isnt in sync with the TV broadcast.  

 

I may be in the minority, but I cant even stand to listen to the TV announcers let alone the radio call.     That said, if I had my choice, and the radio was in sync with the TV, I'd turn off most of the guys on TV to listen to Murph and Wood.

 

Otherwise, I feel like arguing the ability of a radio announcer in 2022 is akin to asking who the best Chimney Sweep is.