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From Sports Illustrated - Changes at NFL Network for Thursday Night Football?

post #1 of 39
4/16/11 at 5:07pm
Thread Starter 
From SI.com

Quote:


By Richard Deitsch

The NFL Network's game coverage is getting a serious makeover.

SI.com has learned that Mike Mayock will join the NFL Network's broadcast team for its eight-game Thursday Night Football package. He will replace Matt Millen and Joe Theismann on the broadcast.

When contacted Thursday afternoon by SI.com, an NFL Network spokesperson declined to comment.

The network's next move for those games revolves around the play-by-play position. Bob Papa is a respected game-caller and has had held the job for the past two seasons, but sources tell SI.com that NFL Network is considering other broadcasters, including CBS and Big Ten announcer Gus Johnson, who currently calls NFL games for CBS (with analyst Steve Tasker) and served as the Lions play-by-play voice during the 2008 preseason. Johnson has become a favorite among the under-35 crowd for his hyper-intensity during the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

No formal announcement on Mayock or any other possible changes is expected for a number of weeks.

Mayock is one of the rising stars in sports broadcasting. He is considered by most fans as television's leading NFL draft analyst and last year replaced Pat Haden as the analyst on NBC's Notre Dame football coverage. He also served as the analyst, alongside Tom Hammond, on NBC's coverage of the wild-card playoff game between the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks last season.

Millen was named an NFL Network game analyst in 2009, joining Papa in the booth. Theismann was added last season. Both Millen and Theismann were polarizing figures, often drawing the ire of fans on Twitter and other social media outlets. The addition of Mayock will be greeted positively in many corners.

Since grabbing a share of the NFL's game package, NFL Network has gone through a number of announcing teams for its Thursday Night Football program. HBO's Bryant Gumbel was the network's first play-by-play announcer and lasted two seasons before leaving in 2008. He was replaced by Papa, the voice of the New York Giants.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1Jjbnn8aD
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post #2 of 39
4/16/11 at 5:14pm
I do not have NFL Network (Bright House Orlando) but there is also speculation that when they get the new CBA worked out that they will have a Thursday night game through the whole season instead of just half of it.

When Matt Millen was an analyst on the other networks, I was not high on him and he lost a lot of credibility with the horrible job he did in Detroit.

Not sure on the other guys but it could be that they want to upgrade with a possible 17 game slate on tap for next year.

I'm also hoping that more games might help get a deal done with TWC/BHN but I'm not betting on it.
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post #3 of 39
4/16/11 at 5:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:


Both Millen and Theismann were polarizing figures, often drawing the ire of fans on Twitter and other social media outlets.

Millen in particular......
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post #4 of 39
4/16/11 at 5:28pm
I can stomach Millen, don't love him, but can stomach him. Theisman, not so much.
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post #5 of 39
4/16/11 at 5:44pm
That loser Millen shouldn't even be allowed to toss a football with his kids.
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post #6 of 39
4/16/11 at 5:52pm
Great move, but I prefer Papa to Gus. Not every play is the highlight Gus wants you to think it is.

Can the NFL just all of a sudden go to a full season of Thursday games? Not that I mind.
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post #7 of 39
4/16/11 at 6:14pm
It's pretty amazing how bad the broadcast teams have been on the NFL's own channel.
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post #8 of 39
4/16/11 at 6:29pm
Count me as one of the under-35 crowd who would love for the job to go to Gus Johnson. He is definitely of my favorites, and his profile for calling NFL games is not what it should be at CBS.

Quote:
Originally Posted by HDOrlando View Post

I do not have NFL Network (Bright House Orlando) but there is also speculation that when they get the new CBA worked out that they will have a Thursday night game through the whole season instead of just half of it.

Don't see how that would be possible. The CBA is an agreement with the players' association, not the networks. But once the CBA is resolved, they'll begin new negotiations with CBS, Fox, and NBC (which they postponed until after the CBA is done), and I would expect they'll pick up a few more games for NFLN.
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post #9 of 39
4/16/11 at 6:36pm
NFL Network needs to improve their production quality on their games as well. Their production quality makes it feel like its an high school game on public access... but in HD.
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post #10 of 39
4/16/11 at 6:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by URFloorMatt View Post

Count me as one of the under-35 crowd who would love for the job to go to Gus Johnson. He is definitely of my favorites, and his profile for calling NFL games is not what it should be at CBS.

Don't see how that would be possible. The CBA is an agreement with the players' association, not the networks. But once the CBA is resolved, they'll begin new negotiations with CBS, Fox, and NBC (which they postponed until after the CBA is done), and I would expect they'll pick up a few more games for NFLN.

Matt,

I forgot to add that part about talks with the networks to do that.

Your always on top of things.
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post #11 of 39
4/17/11 at 5:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HDOrlando View Post

I do not have NFL Network (Bright House Orlando) but there is also speculation that when they get the new CBA worked out that they will have a Thursday night game through the whole season instead of just half of it.

When Matt Millen was an analyst on the other networks, I was not high on him and he lost a lot of credibility with the horrible job he did in Detroit.

Not sure on the other guys but it could be that they want to upgrade with a possible 17 game slate on tap for next year.

I'm also hoping that more games might help get a deal done with TWC/BHN but I'm not betting on it.

The TV contracts are completely separate from the CBA. They can't take any games away from one network and give them to another one until the contract expires and they negotiate a new one.
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post #12 of 39
4/17/11 at 5:36am
I'd rather see them upgrade their audio capabilities. The lack of surround sound is pretty rediculous.
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post #13 of 39
4/17/11 at 5:51am
On his conference call with season ticket holders last week Goodell said that the 18 game schedule is still on the table. I wish he'd stop being disingenuous about what fans said they wanted. They asked not to be forced to pay full price for pre-season tickets otherwise they'd lose their regular season tickets. They didn't ask for 2 pre-season games to be taken away and two regular season games added. It's bad enough that the Super Bowl is already just one mash unit versus another. I'm pretty sure they don't want to renegotiate the TV contracts until they know how many games in a season they'll have.
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post #14 of 39
4/17/11 at 7:42am
Gus is HORRIBLE. He calls every play like it's the biggest play of the game, throws in some Stuart Scott street lingo to up his "cred" and worst of all bringing him in would lead to bumping out one of the most professional announcers (Papa) in the business. And Mike Mayock? Really? Somebody at the NFL Network should go re-watch that WC game he called last season. I turned off the center speaker precisely because of him. Just terrible. I've no love for Millenn or Mouth With a Limp, but there have to be better choices than Mayock. Thank God the Giants or Lions won't get to play on Thursday much.
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post #15 of 39
4/17/11 at 10:36am
Thread Starter 
For whatever reason, Papa doesn't do much for me, much as the return of Bryant Gumbel didn't either.

The problem is I'm not sure who would be a better choice, that would be available.
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post #16 of 39
4/17/11 at 1:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mws192 View Post

I'd rather see them upgrade their audio capabilities. The lack of surround sound is pretty rediculous.

Amen! 5.1 anyone?
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post #17 of 39
4/18/11 at 5:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Droid6 View Post

That loser Millen shouldn't even be allowed to toss a football with his kids.

Now, that was a good one.
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post #18 of 39
4/18/11 at 5:43am
I thought Millen was pretty good back when he worked at Fox before taking the Lions' GM job. Since he's came back, he's not as good - talks way too much. Not a big fan of Gus Johnson.
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post #19 of 39
4/18/11 at 6:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MRM4 View Post

I thought Millen was pretty good back when he worked at Fox before taking the Lions' GM job. Since he's came back, he's not as good - talks way too much. Not a big fan of Gus Johnson.

Yep, Matt was actually quite a well respected announcer for Fox. Now he's pretty much a joke. I can't listen to him without thinking about all the incredibly stupid things he did in Detroit, but ultimately the bigger joke is the Lions for not firing many years sooner.
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post #20 of 39
4/18/11 at 7:23am
I don't mind Millen at all, but won't cry to see him go. I thought ESPN getting rid of Theissman was the best move they ever made, so I was terribly disappointed whne he wound up on Thursday nights. I can't recall Gus Johnson off the top of my head (which hopefully is a good thing), but he has to be an upgrade over Theissman.
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post #21 of 39
4/18/11 at 7:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin_Wadsworth View Post

I don't mind Millen at all, but won't cry to see him go. I thought ESPN getting rid of Theissman was the best move they ever made, so I was terribly disappointed whne he wound up on Thursday nights. I can't recall Gus Johnson off the top of my head (which hopefully is a good thing), but he has to be an upgrade over Theissman.

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post #22 of 39
4/18/11 at 11:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin_Wadsworth View Post

I can't recall Gus Johnson off the top of my head

Maybe you didn't know who you were listening to, because Gus stands OUT! among play by play announcers.
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post #23 of 39
4/18/11 at 12:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by videoguy60467 View Post

Amen! 5.1 anyone?

They might be able to get a hell of a deal on a used SRS Circle Surround encoder from ESPN.
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post #24 of 39
4/18/11 at 12:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin_Wadsworth View Post

I can't recall Gus Johnson off the top of my head

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post #25 of 39
4/18/11 at 1:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tomhunter8 View Post

it's pretty amazing how bad the broadcast teams have been on the nfl's own channel.

+1
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post #26 of 39
4/18/11 at 1:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mws192 View Post

i'd rather see them upgrade their audio capabilities. The lack of surround sound is pretty rediculous.

+1
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post #27 of 39
4/18/11 at 1:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by demolition man View Post

nfl network needs to improve their production quality on their games as well. Their production quality makes it feel like its an high school game on public access... But in hd.

+1
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post #28 of 39
4/18/11 at 2:06pm
Don't forget that they need to ditch the stupid blue light beams sticking out of the scorebox.
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post #29 of 39
4/18/11 at 2:40pm
It could be worse. It could be FOX.
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post #30 of 39
4/18/11 at 4:01pm
The fact that the network is moving away from the idiotic three-in-the-booth philosophy to just two announcers is a positive for me, no matter who the announcers are.
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