Re-thinking the hiring of color commentators

[RevWarRifleman]

7 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I think we can all agree that there are a lot of terrible football (and really sports) color commentators out there. I believe the NFL needs to change its hiring model. 
 

i think there was this belief that hiring former players and coaches as commentators would cause fans to like them or watch them more because of their popularity. I don’t think that assumption is right. I don’t know anyone who likes a commentator or his work just because he was liked or known as a player. 
 

There are now so many really brilliant content creators out there (media, podcasts, YouTube) who dissect film endlessly and would provide so much better and more astute analysis than the likes of Tiki Barber or Adam
Archuletta Or Troy Ailman, or Brian Griese, or Mark Sanchez, etc. 

 

I would like to see the NFL shift away from the hiring of recently retired players and instead look at some of these “film nerds” as possible hires. As average football fans are getting smarter and more into the X’s and O’s, the current model of having former players trot out a bunch of vapid talking points is not working. 
 

Any thoughts? 

Copy that!!

[HamptonBillsfan]

3 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

John Brodie.  Yes, he was a football player, golfer, and announcer all in one! 

 

Curt Gowdy was a great broadcaster; one of the all time best.  And yes, Charlie Jones was play by play too.

 

I guess I'm changing the topic as this is supposed to be about color guys.

 

 

Either way, it's good talking about the old AFL. My entire neighborhood were die hard Giants fans. Watching Jets, Bills, Dolphins,Chiefs Chargers were these wide open, high scoring memorable jewels. Gowdy, Charlie, Enberg and Criquie delivered these gems to a kid who lived and died with the Bills. 

15 minutes ago, chris heff said:

Charle Jones was play by play, and I also remember Brody as a player.

 

Just curious, which Hampton? 

West Hampton 

[Shaw66]

First, I don't really care.  Sometimes the announcers say interesting things, sometimes they don't.   Could it be better?  Sure.

 

Having said that, I firmly believe that the color commentators need to be former players or former coaches.   Why?  Because if you haven't seriously lived that life, played in the league for five years or coached in it for 20, it's almost impossible to see and understand what's going.   Is there a geek out there somewhere who's studied everything and knows it so well that they're as good as a former coach or player?   Sure, but they're very few in number. 

 

Mel Kiper is my example.   He's a geek, studied the draft for 20 years before he became a network fixture.   Still, he knows very little about player evaluation compared to scouts.  Now, after that first 20 years and another 20 as a national broadcaster, he still couldn't be a color commentator.  He doesn't know what he's talking about, and anyone, like a lot of us, who know a fair amount about football, can tell that he doesn't know what he's talking about. 

 

Plus, because it's all window dressing anyway, the networks want name recognition.   It gives the color guy instant credibility.   It doesn't matter if Joe Bloke is a better commentator than James Lofton.   All the networks care about is when they introduce the color guy, they can say James Lofton, Super Bowl champion, Hall of Famer, instead of Joe Bloke, studied football in his basement for 35 years.  

 

My personal opinion is that only QBs should be color commentators, because they're the only ones who really understand the game.   Even so, a lot of them aren't very good at it.  

 

Of course, you'd be great at it, and so would I.  Other than that, most all of them suck. 

 

 

 

[chris heff]

16 minutes ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

Either way, it's good talking about the old AFL. My entire neighborhood were die hard Giants fans. Watching Jets, Bills, Dolphins,Chiefs Chargers were these wide open, high scoring memorable jewels. Gowdy, Charlie, Enberg and Criquie delivered these gems to a kid who lived and died with the Bills. 

West Hampton 

Criquie went to my high school. 
 

Got married in Southampton, use to live in Quogue.

[oldmanfan]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

There is a difference between knowledge and how to communicate that knowledge. Most of these color guys have very bland talking points

and stick to them. They very rarely impart anything knowledgeable that an average fan wouldn’t know.

 

I think some of that is due to lack preparation, but most of it is lack of ability in understanding how to communicate insightful comments in real time. 
 

Did you know that the Falcons threw a bunch of exotic coverages at Josh and the Bills last sunday? They would show cover 3, but do like a cover 2 robber, which apparently would confuse Josh.
 

Isn’t that something a good color commentator (especially a former QB) would identify and communicate in order to Explain what was occurring on the field? Instead, the viewer is left wondering what is going on, and Sanchez vapid comments like, “he shouldn’t have thrown that ball there.”

 

Some of it is time constraints between plays

[HamptonBillsfan]

2 minutes ago, chris heff said:

Criquie went to my high school. 
 

Got married in Southampton, use to live in Quogue.

I moved to WH 15 years ago after 20 years in Westchester. Love it out here. 

[Saxum]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

 

Isn’t that something a good color commentator (especially a former QB) would identify and communicate in order to Explain what was occurring on the field? Instead, the viewer is left wondering what is going on, and Sanchez vapid comments like, “he shouldn’t have thrown that ball there.”

 

 

I am not sure Sanchez knew what was going on either.

[WotAGuy]

1 hour ago, Einstein said:

I want the complete opposite.

 

I would love to hear the “average Joe” commentate a game.

 

Im not talking about the podcasters and YouTuber know-it-alls.

 

I want Joe Schmoe, who yells at his TV in the basement, to commentate a game.

 

Give me the raw passion of a true fan of the game.

 

Instead of hearing: “That’s a tough break for Buffalo. Questionable call.”

 

You would hear: “That is absolutely awful. How does this guy still have a job? Goodness gracious that was a terrible call. TERRIBLE CALL REF!”

 

I know it will never ever happen but I love the idea.

 

.

There are a lot of those kind of knuckleheads that stream live via Twitter, Facebook and have their stuff on YouTube.  It’s only entertaining for about 60 seconds. There was a guy that did Dolphins play by play and his reaction to the game where Miami lost in ridiculous fashion at the end was hilarious. 

[Einstein]

2 minutes ago, WotAGuy said:

There are a lot of those kind of knuckleheads that stream live via Twitter, Facebook and have their stuff on YouTube.  It’s only entertaining for about 60 seconds. There was a guy that did Dolphins play by play and his reaction to the game where Miami lost in ridiculous fashion at the end was hilarious. 

 

The key, I think, is to not allow fans of that particular team to commentate.

[Jrb1979]

I'm fine with most colour commentators. I would rather they do something about the play-by-play guys. Too many can't follow the play very well and are way over the top homers. 

[Saxum]

I think Brian Baldinger would be a good member of announcing team.

They should have him at HQs and have him diagnosis plays.

[K-9]

11 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

I think Brian Baldinger would be a good member of announcing team.

They should have him at HQs and have him diagnosis plays.

Baldy did color commentary for Fox years ago.

[May Day 10]

My favorite all year was Millen

 

 

It was a trainwreck... but in a way that was memorable and funny.  

[BassToMouth]

8 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I think we can all agree that there are a lot of terrible football (and really sports) color commentators out there. I believe the NFL needs to change its hiring model. 
 

i think there was this belief that hiring former players and coaches as commentators would cause fans to like them or watch them more because of their popularity. I don’t think that assumption is right. I don’t know anyone who likes a commentator or his work just because he was liked or known as a player. 
 

There are now so many really brilliant content creators out there (media, podcasts, YouTube) who dissect film endlessly and would provide so much better and more astute analysis than the likes of Tiki Barber or Adam
Archuletta Or Troy Ailman, or Brian Griese, or Mark Sanchez, etc. 

 

I would like to see the NFL shift away from the hiring of recently retired players and instead look at some of these “film nerds” as possible hires. As average football fans are getting smarter and more into the X’s and O’s, the current model of having former players trot out a bunch of vapid talking points is not working. 
 

Any thoughts? 

The reason it’s so poor quality and the nfl, like with the refs, do nothing about it or encourage the networks to, is because it’s a tight club that needs to stay on script. Again, this is about presenting narratives not covering fair, legitimate sport. 
 

But I’m sure there’s no endless supply of mental gymnastics to explain why the quality is so low and yet nothing changes. 

Edited January 9, 2022 by BassToMouth

[DisplacedBillsFan]

I know there are a lot of not so stellar commentators out there and some seem to be hated simply because it’s cool to hate them… but Troy Aikman has to be the worst of the bunch. He literally makes me want to do anything other than watch the game he’s working.

[Freddie's Dead]

Howard Cosell called this the "jockocracy".  It hasn't changed in the 27 years since his death, and it won't change anytime soon.

[Shaw66]

On the other hand, you have Exhibit A for not hiring ex-players.   Randy Moss doing the postgame with our favorites, Rex and Bruschi, Moss said this about the end of the Chiefs Broncos tonight:   

 

To set the scene, the Broncos were up 1, in the red zone with 8 minutes left, fumble and give up an 85-yard return to lose the game.  So, what does Randy say?

 

"I've gotta say the turning point of the game was the scoop and score by KC in the 4th quarter."    How's that for a quality insight into the game, the kind of stuff you only can get from an insider?   My dog knew it was the turning point. 

[Rico]

Bring OJ and Joe Namath back.

 

[SinceThe70s]

56 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

On the other hand, you have Exhibit A for not hiring ex-players.   Randy Moss doing the postgame with our favorites, Rex and Bruschi, Moss said this about the end of the Chiefs Broncos tonight:   

 

To set the scene, the Broncos were up 1, in the red zone with 8 minutes left, fumble and give up an 85-yard return to lose the game.  So, what does Randy say?

 

"I've gotta say the turning point of the game was the scoop and score by KC in the 4th quarter."    How's that for a quality insight into the game, the kind of stuff you only can get from an insider?   My dog knew it was the turning point. 

 

LOL - saw that live with my son and I immediately eviscerated Moss. Master of the obvious. 

 

I still prefer ex-players (or coaches) as color commentators but I disagree with a point you made earlier suggesting it should be confined to QB's. For example, I'm in the camp that listens to Collinsworth - even though I hate his delivery/pomposity/(insert your hated player/team)-worshiping

 

 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, SinceThe70s said:

 

LOL - saw that live with my son and I immediately eviscerated Moss. Master of the obvious. 

 

I still prefer ex-players (or coaches) as color commentators but I disagree with a point you made earlier suggesting it should be confined to QB's. For example, I'm in the camp that listens to Collinsworth - even though I hate his delivery/pomposity/(insert your hated player/team)-worshiping

 

 

Yeah, some non-qbs can do it.  I like Collinsworth, too.