NFL Network broadcasts

[MTK]

What do you guys think of the NFL Network game broadcasts so far?

I think Gumbel is mad weak in the booth as a play by play guy, Collinsworth is ok. The exchanges between the booth and the sideline are pretty rough. Last night for example Faulk was talking over the ref announcing a penalty.

So far the NFL Network is giving a pretty weak effort if you ask me.

[Beemnseven]

Totally agree. If it weren't for Collinsworth (who I'm not crazy about) the telecast would be unwatchable. Even the camera operators have trouble with play-action passes.

Gumbel's voice is like nails on a chalkboard.

The worst has to be ESPN's Monday Night Football opening sequence. Talk about overkill -- the city streets turns into a football stadium? Pedestrians morph into football players? Huh?

Then after that, we still have to sit through the increasingly tiresome Hank Williams Jr. routine.

[SmootSmack]

I haven't paid much attention the past couple of weeks. The first week was painful though. Seemed like every other play was interrupted by a commercial

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Totally agree. If it weren't for Collinsworth (who I'm not crazy about) the telecast would be unwatchable. Even the camera operators have trouble with play-action passes.

Gumbel's voice is like nails on a chalkboard.

The worst has to be ESPN's Monday Night Football opening sequence. Talk about overkill -- the city streets turns into a football stadium? Pedestrians morph into football players? Huh?

Then after that, we still have to sit through the increasingly tiresome Hank Williams Jr. routine.

Yeah hard to believe that Collinsworth is the only thing holding that booth up. Gumbel is really, really bad. Worse than I expected him to be. He's so bland.

Whatever happened to the good old days when the helmets would crash together on the MNF opening and they would play that great MNF music. The openings of these things have become such overkill it's ridiculous.

[SmootSmack]

Well the MNF opening was more a business decision than anything else. A lot of people aren't crazy about it from a creative standpoint. It's cool the first time but gets old quick. I think you'll see something different and a bit simpler next year

[ArtMonkDrillz]

I barely watched any of the game last night, mainly because of the teams involved, but it seemed like every time I switched over the the NFL Network they were running a commercial. I think over the course of about 45 total minutes with my TV on that channel I might have seen a grand total of 8 minutes of actual football.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Whatever happened to the good old days when the helmets would crash together on the MNF opening and they would play that great MNF music. The openings of these things have become such overkill it's ridiculous.

It's like the NFL, and most pro sports, have decided to try to entertain the masses at the expense of pissing off the fans of the actual sport. I really feel like people are either going to watch it or they aren't and having Pink scream some crappy song before the game starts isn't really going to make much of a difference.
TAF, can I get a job at ESPN now?

[skinsfan69]

Very bad. They mess up on simple things like downs.

[celts32]

Gumbel is awful...they could have just thrown Rich Eisnen in the booth and been fine. It's like they wanted a big name...but Gumbel is not a big name in the NFL. They would have been better off with his brother...

[dmek25]

i love football, but those 2 guys together are super boring. collinsworth is ok, but gumble puts me to sleep

[Beemnseven]

TAFKAS, what exactly do you do for ESPN?

[celts32]

Gumbel is just not a football guy...he brings no passion to the game. He calls the game like he's doing a Today Show...I keep expecting him to throw it over for our local weather report.

Listening to him I felt like the last place he wanted to be last night was Pittsburgh...

[MTK]

A little off topic here but why are the booths in most stadiums not enclosed? It seems a little ridiculous that these guys have to sit there freezing their tails off. You could see their breaths in the booth last night. I don't get it.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

TAFKAS, what exactly do you do for ESPN?

I work on Programming Planning and Acquistions. Specifically I work on all our motorsports properties (which is cool because I get to talk to guys from Joe Gibbs Racing pretty regularly, get some inside dirt from JD, but I digress). Anyhow, I help negotiate deals with different motorsports leagues (NASCAR, NHRA, IndyCar, Champ Car, etc.) as well as other motors related programming and the planning part is basically scheduling the programs on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classc, etc; actually determining when the races/shows will air on our networks. That's tricky because I have to work with all the other sports to figure out what works best for everyone. But it's cool when it all comes together.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by celts32

Gumbel is just not a football guy...he brings no passion to the game. He calls the game like he's doing a Today Show...I keep expecting him to throw it over for our local weather report.

Listening to him I felt like the last place he wanted to be last night was Pittsburgh...

Hmmm...maybe they should make Willard Scott a sideline reporter