I've said it before, but I think it's worth repeating: the ESPN 'B'-team of Brad Nessler, Dick Vermeil, and Ron Jaworski was outstanding, positively outstanding, in their commentary of Monday night's Chargers vs. Raiders game. At the time, I hesitated to say that they were the best commentary team I'd ever heard. I didn't want to spout some knee-jerk hyperbole and then regret it a day or two later. But now, given some time to think about it, I'm fairly confident in saying that I've never heard an NFL broadcast team any better. Or even one that's come close.
And I felt a little bit validated in that opinion today when SI.com's Dr. Z. said in his newest column that he loved the trio, too. And there is no greater expert on NFL commentary teams in the world than Dr. Z., who, at the end of the season, rates all of the NFL broadcast teams. I'm pretty sure that Nessler, Vermeil, and Jaws will be finishing first this year, even if they never do another game. And it seems a pretty good bet that Tirico, Kornheiser, and Theismann will be finishing last.
I've always enjoyed Jaworski's work on the Edge/EA Sports NFL Matchup show that I'm not sure exists anymore, and he was able to bring some of the same X's and O's explanations to the game booth. It's a little bit of a shame, but there aren't many guys who tell you a lot of things you don't already know, despite the fact that they know infinitely more about the game than me or you.
And I know how bizarre (and perhaps, well, non-traditional) this sounds, but it just felt really good to listen to Dick Vermeil. He was honest and didn't hold back, in both criticism and praise, and he seemed genuine, interested, and enthusiastic about sharing his views. I wanted to hug him when the game was over, and I wish I could hire him to read me bedtime stories.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-14-2006 @ 8:59PM
enrico said...
He's no Greg Kinear, that's for sure.
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9-14-2006 @ 9:46PM
Mark Bledsoe said...
Vermeil is really good, no doubt. The real point here is Joey T. in the booth at all. The ONLY boothes he belongs in is either a phone booth or parking lot attendant's booth.
He is without a doubt the worse color man in the history of television and has been ever since he started..
As for Tony K............he belongs behind a typewriter, a manual one.
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9-14-2006 @ 9:51PM
John said...
I felt the same way watching the second game. that game was meaningless and i still wanted to watch it for their insight and cohesiveness.
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9-14-2006 @ 9:54PM
pgaschulz said...
Yes I agree the best one yet, get rid of that Tony K he blows
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9-15-2006 @ 1:08AM
jeff said...
kornheiser needs to go, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know he stinks at commentating.
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9-15-2006 @ 1:29AM
Orthoboog said...
I agree, Espn "B" team was so much better than the "A" team. Coach Vermeil offered insight and a fresh coaches perspective, from last years scouting reports, to positioning of players.
But then compared to Theisman, it would appear I know what Im talking about.
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9-15-2006 @ 1:36AM
Art Rossi said...
Anyone is better than Kornheiser. And don't forget the two useless bimbos on the sideline. ESPN has lowered football broadcasting to new depths with this group.
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9-15-2006 @ 2:02AM
Farley Malorrus said...
The Monday Night Football announcers ala Kornheiser, Theisman and the other guy SUCK. AMATEURISH, stupid, boring, and sophomoric. The trio of Vermiel, Jaws, and NESSLER ROCK. Espn is a DUD if they pass this on up. I was bummed NFL Channel stacked with commercials and way too much coverage of the preseason Dallas/Minnesota Tie, and T.O. Instead, let's get some REAL EDUCATION and entertainment with ESPN, and JAWS, VERMEIL, and NESSLER. You don't have to be retarded to seet his one. COME ON ESPN, make the change. ABC and DISNEY dump talent ALL the time, so they shouldn't have any problem dumping the "Korn" team to bring us some REAL FOOTBALL. You guys are right, VERMEIL ROCKS. He's the SUPER BOWL KING. GO RAMS! DO IT!
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9-15-2006 @ 8:16AM
REGINALD CARTER said...
MOVE VERMEIL and JAWS to ESPN A-TEAM and do it ASAP.
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9-15-2006 @ 9:16AM
Jim said...
Tirico keeps the game moving and does a good job setting up the after play analysis. Tony K. will get more comfy and add more irreverent repartee. Joe t., on the other hand, only speaks tired old lines, and makes the game unwatchable and speaks only to hear himself talk. His arrogance is clear to everyone who's followed MNF over the 30+ years, but I'm not watching again until ESPN wakes up and bounces him.
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9-15-2006 @ 10:29AM
Bernie said...
There was no comparison between the two teams. Vermeil and Jaworski were great. They definitely should be the lead team. Nobody breaks it down better than Jaws and Vermeil brings so much insight and passion for the game. Let's see more of them. Joe T. is always "When I played the game" or "when I did this". Get over it dude! You don't play the game anymore.
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9-15-2006 @ 10:55AM
Doug said...
I didn't watch Sunday night fooball on ESPN last year and I won't watch Monday night this year.
Why do think Al Michael opted out of working with Joe T. He never shuts up
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9-15-2006 @ 11:24AM
mjb said...
Paul McGuire where are you? doing some third rate college games this year, which is where Tirico should be doing his announcing. How about Ditka....he was beside himself doing commentary with Stuart Scott.
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9-15-2006 @ 12:10PM
NK said...
NFL Matchup is indeed still kicking. I found it on my TiVo randomly last night (leftover auto-record from last season). State Farm is now the sponsor, but the boys are back and doing the Xs and Os as well as ever. Too bad it's only on at like 3:30am or 8:30am and at other random times. Thank god for TiVo.
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9-15-2006 @ 2:26PM
Mike Matsinger said...
The reason Tony K was good because he's the only one that seemed to shut Theisman up. He is the worst...has been for years...i never understood why ESPN kept him around. There is no doubt I watched less of Sunday night football last year because of Theisman.
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9-15-2006 @ 4:51PM
tim garces said...
not only yes but hell yes he is better then tony tony who?come on guys dennis miller was better then tony.
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9-15-2006 @ 6:04PM
Lee Butler said...
We know the announcers in the booth were not hired for their T & A. I see no reason sideline reporters must be cute females. If I want to see T & A, I'll go to the Playboy Channel (do they still have one?). Put good reporters on the sideline, even if they are not fab femmes! Let the gals do what they are best at!
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9-15-2006 @ 7:34PM
Gman said...
Yeah, I gotta agree with most. This team on MNF has no chemistry. Yeah I gotta get up early, but a good game alone ain't gonna keep me there with this crew. I like Tirico and Joe TH. is a homey, but Korn was killin me. When I first heard Korn was going to MNF I couldn't figure out how. Too bad viewers have no choice But to listen(unless you pay for Radio Feed).
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10-10-2006 @ 6:28PM
Brad James said...
Tirico is a stalwart and talented play-by-play man, and Kornheiser is surprisingly good. Theismann, of course, is in a dogfight for the worst NFL analyst on TV with Howie Long. Nessler's good as well, and I'll admit that in addition to their stellar reporting, Tafoya and Kolber definitely aren't bad to look at.
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10-22-2006 @ 12:40PM
Tom said...
I agree that the 2nd team of Nessler, Jaws are Vermeil are vastly superior to the current MNF team. I never liked Theismann and since reading most of these posts, its seems no one does, so why is he still calling games?
As for Kornblower, he is not MNF material. I don't care about his fantasy team, or this idiotic e-mails that come in at the most inappropriate times..There should also be the following rule: NO INTERVIEWS IN THE BOOTH!!! EVER!! Talk about ruining the game. I think Nessler, Jaws and Vermeil are a good team because they called the game without distractions, after all, we are all watching for the football game- not the announcers. I think a good announcing team just blends in with the pace of the game and you really don't notice them, they just become part of the action.
The current MNF team takes away from the game. Anyway, enough ranting, if they can't get Nessler, they can bring back Mike Patrick with Jaws and Vermeil, as for the remainder of the MNF season, I will only watch if I have a team I really want to see and then look have my thumb on the mute button ready to go...
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