Chris Brown Play-By-Play

[Bangarang]

Both are absolutely terrible 

[Since1981]

Brown and Murphy aren’t the best

it sure feels like they’re picking “buddies” or hallway Bills employees to do it. When an actual professional sportscaster could do better. Radio requires a natural ability. Chris hits highs like a teen girl at Taylor Swift/Prom.  

Edited January 16, 2023 by Since1981

[BillnutinHouston]

5 hours ago, RiotAct said:

last year I’m 100% sure Murph and Wood were behind us (over half the games I go to, I sit with my uncle in Section 133 about 15ish rows down from the broadcast booths).

 

Pretty sure nothing changed for this season but I could be wrong.

 

In the last set of renovations about 5 years ago, "regular media" got moved to the corner to use the prime real estate at midfield for suites, but the radio staff never moved from midfield.

[sullim4]

5 hours ago, Solomon Grundy said:

Steve Tasker sounds like the biggest Bills Homer on OBL right now. It is okay to point out the flaws like Chris Brown is doing. 

 

I agree with this take, which is crazy because Brown was the Bills' equivalent of the Iraqi Information Minister for years.  Brown's leading softball questions at press conferences and his nauseatingly positive website articles were pure propaganda during one of the worst stretches of failure in the franchise's history.  I can only think that Russ Brandon and Scott Berchtold must have made it clear that honest assessments of the team's performance were not permitted.

 

Brown now seems to be at least partially objective, at least in comparison to Tasker who is drunk on Bills Kool-Aid every afternoon.  I think Brown has done a very good job with the play-by-play gig considering the circumstances, although I tend to agree with others that I would rather see someone else hired full-time.  Assuming Murph can't go on, the franchise is good enough that they should be able to attract national talent for the play-by-play position.  Scraping through the communications department for someone willing to take the gig should no longer be necessary.

[mjd1001]

I like Murphy.  Don't think he's great but I like him.

But, same for Brown. Like him.  He's not great, but I think he's at least above average.

I honestly don't have a preference between them.

[Chaos]

1 hour ago, Bangarang said:

Both are absolutely terrible 

You are a unifier not a divider. 

[DallasBillsFan1]

What made Van Miller popular was that he was distinctive.  He had a remorable voice and delivery.  I hate to say it but Murph does not have that.  I don't understand why he was heir apparent.  Also, Murph doesn't look healthy ... it's no surprise he had a stroke.  He's clearly not taking care of himself.  He is 67.  Time to retire and relax.  Whomever makes the decison needs to find a personality with a voice with character, and better delivery.

The answer is not Chris Brown.  CB is good interviewer and does the podcast format well ... like with Steve Tasker.  CB is good in those formats ... not on radio.

[Xwnyer]

I was concerned but he has done a good job.   Murphy makes a lot of mistakes and doesn’t have the same level of enthusiasm 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

To me, Brown feels over the top and a little forced energy wise, but I agree that in general the call comes with more energy, and Brown has improved over the years relaying real football terms and formations to the mic.

3 hours ago, BillsPride12 said:

Reminds me a little bit of some of the stuff Dan Dunleavy says during Sabres games...."DC is marvelous" after a Dylan Cozens goal.  Just seems a little forced and cringey...which is also funny to me because RJ always had a lot of sayings and phrases but with him it never felt forced and always seemed organic.  I think it's just one of those things where some guys are naturals for the role and a lot of people are not but they try their best.  

RJ had a timeless voice, more bass.

 

Brown really has to ramp it up to overcome his bland delivery. 

[Matt_In_NH]

I like the yelling to a point but the highlights from yesterday have a bunch of corny crap that makes me cringe.  Off the top of my head:  
 

Get a fire extinguisher Milano is hotter than a firecracker

 

he fired a 23 yard missile

 

Cook scores we are cooking with gas

 

he also likes to use the word city to describe a lot of something.  For instance “turnover city”

 

he needs to knock that off

[chaccof]

7 hours ago, GolfandBills said:

lol i totally disagree.  I think he’s absolutely terrible.  Just yells and says stupid sayings after a big play.  There’s a reason he’s just a fill in

Couldn't agree more - I find him almost unlistenable.  More normal game day process is to listen to the game on GR and synch it to the game on TV with the sound off (assuming the game is on here in VA).  I'm seriously thinking about not doing that for the game Sunday and just going with the TV.  But then my OCD kicks in and says I have to do what ever I've done the rest of the games (they've won).  Get well soon Murph, please!

[Matt_In_NH]

3 hours ago, Stanley Lombardi said:

Chris Brown's  play by play is like his daily radio show:  while he screams into the mic, listeners are supposed to (I guess) equate volume with enthusiasm.

Unlistenable.  

I hate when he does that in OBL.   I have heard highlights and I like the screaming for the PBP but the corny sayings just kills it

[jamiezzz]

Both seem like great guys, but not a fan of either for radio, actually.  Just my opinion.

[JohnNord]

8 hours ago, jimmynunn said:

First, I truly hope the best for John Murphy's health. He seems like a nice man, I'm sure his heart is in the right place, and get well Murph.

But in my opinion, he deserves to be Wally Pipped. I've listened to the game broadcasts the last 2 weeks, and the improvement is significant. Chris Brown brings more enthusiasm, is nowhere near as bland, and his voice conveys the excitment of a big play without cracking. He also seems way more accurtate in his down and distance calls. Too often, Murph will say something like"Singletary off tackle, picks up 7...........and it's 2nd and 8 for the Bills."

 

I'd be interested in the opinions of others who have listened to our radio play-by-play.

 

I don’t listen to the radio broadcasts but from what I’ve heard of Chris Brown as an announcer, he sounded overly excited and kind of forced.  Like he was trying to be a parody of a play-by-play man.  

 

I prefer Murph and hope he gets back in the booth next season

28 minutes ago, chaccof said:

Couldn't agree more - I find him almost unlistenable.  More normal game day process is to listen to the game on GR and synch it to the game on TV with the sound off (assuming the game is on here in VA).  I'm seriously thinking about not doing that for the game Sunday and just going with the TV.  But then my OCD kicks in and says I have to do what ever I've done the rest of the games (they've won).  Get well soon Murph, please!

How are you able to sync it?  Because the delays on both radio and TV make it impossible 

[JohnNord]

2 hours ago, Since1981 said:

Brown and Murphy aren’t the best

it sure feels like they’re picking “buddies” or hallway Bills employees to do it. When an actual professional sportscaster could do better. Radio requires a natural ability. Chris hits highs like a teen girl at Taylor Swift/Prom.  

It wasn’t really picking buddies.  In the case of Murphy, when he had his stroke they needed someone ASAP to call the game in Cincy.  There wasn’t time for a formal interview process.  
 

The members of the Bills radio team are Murphy, Brown, Wood, Tasker, Sal Capaccio, and Maddy Glab.  
 

Brown probably makes the most sense to replace him internally, though I guess that could have gone to Sal as well.  
 

Of course, if Murph decided to retire for good, I do anticipate they’ll look to external candidates with broadcast experience 

[foreboding]

I agree that Wood is super boring and John is ok I suppose, but really, I just miss Van, why can't we find a colorful local guy? Van was so great. "It's Fandamonium!!!"

Edited January 17, 2023 by foreboding

[Michael1962]

I like them both but I guess I am easy to please

[Buftex]

12 hours ago, Punch said:

I'll always have a soft spot for Murph, he's been involved in Bills broadcasts my entire life! His voice is as inextricably linked to Buffalo Bills football as anything, as far as I'm concerned. HOWEVER--- I haven't been a big fan of his PBP. I can't really think of a single memorable call since he took over for Van 20 years ago (although, arguably, it's been slim pickings until the past 5 years!).

I think that "little boy exuberance" thing he does, where his voice cracks is a forced attempt to create a "signature" style. It is just awful...I don't think he did it 10 or 15 years ago.  

[Buffalo03]

They should keep Chris Brown but replace Eric Wood with Gus Johnson so the booth can be an all out scream fest

[Buffalo_Stampede]

I like the energy from Brown but we don’t need the punch lines. Just make the call. Keep the energy.