Best NFL TV Broadcast

[JDPNYY]

As we head to the "Big Game" (I don't want to get sued by the NFL), I was wondering how you all felt about the NFL TV Broadcasts.
Personally, the stoppages for commercials drive me crazy. But that's just me.

Let's talk about the announcers. Who do you like? Who does the best play by play? Who does the best analysis? Which Team is best? Who is the worst?

Here is a list of the most common pairings (Play by play listed first/Analyst shown second).

Place in order your top 3 Play by play guys.
Place in order your top 3 Analysts.
Place in order your top 3 Broadcast Teams.
Who are the top 3 guys you hate to hear.

CBS
Jim Nantz/Phil Simms
Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts
Greg Gumbel/Trent Green
Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon
Spero Dedes/Solomon Wilcots
Andrew Catalon/Steve Beuerlein
Tom McCarthy/Adam Archuleta
Carter Blackburn/Chris Simms

FOX
Joe Buck/Troy Aikman
Kevin Burkhardt/John Lynch
Kenny Albert/Daryl Johnston
Thom Brennaman/Charles Davis
Chris Myers/Ronde Barber
Dick Stockton/Chris Spielman
Sam Rosen/David Diehl

NBC
Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth
Mike Trico/Doug Flutie

ESPN
Sean McDonough/Jon Gruden

[fredgmuggs]

I like Sean McDonough quite a bit but Jon Gruden takes awful to another level. Poor Sean McDonough.

[JDPNYY]

Best PbP:
Al Michaels
Jim Nantz
Joe Buck

Best Analyst:
Troy Aikman
Cris Collinsworth
Daryl Johnston

Best Team:
Buck/Aikman
Michaels/Collinsworth
Albert/Johnstone

Worst:
Phil Simms (Ugh - I can't take him, I can't believe anyone can)
Sean McDonough
The rest are ok.

[JDPNYY]

I like Sean McDonough quite a bit but Jon Gruden takes awful to another level. Poor Sean McDonough.

I have a different take. I think Gruden can be and has been good. He needs a strong play by play guy and he can shine. I think McDonough is a dud.

[RhodyYanksFan]

Play by play:
Al Michaels
Joe Buck
Sam Rosen

Best analyst:
Cris Collinsworth
Solomon Wilcots
Troy Aikman

Best team:
Michaels/Collinsworth
Buck/Aikman
Gumbel/Green

I think Jim Nantz is fine, but you can tell he doesn't love football like he does golf. He's awesome at the Masters, but just OK at football.
Phil Simms is an atrocity. There's an entire twitter account devoted to his ridiculous analysis.

"Jim, you asked me a question and I'm going to tell you Le'Veon Bell is going to run the ball." - Stunning #analysis. #PITvsNE

— Phil Simms Quotes (@philsimmsquotes) January 22, 2017

[NerfBall55]

Agree on Collinsworth.

[effdamets]

Well - I really don't mind any of the announcers.... Of course, I don't know too much about football to really understand what they should be talking about. Most of the time, I'm just watching the game and not listening (a skill I've acquired while watching the Yankees and blocking out the really bad announcing).


I really like Michaels, Nantz and Buck.
When Gruden is giving player analysis, I listen closely. I think he knows his stuff about that.
I have an affinity for Phil Simms - I loved watching him play, plus, he's my fraternity brother.
That being said:


Play by play:
Michaels
Buck
Nantz


Analyst:
Gruden
Aikman
Collinsworth


Team:
Michaels/Collinsworth
Buck/Aikman
Nantz/Simms

[philleotardo]

I don't know how Collinsworth sees a lot of what he comments on in real time. Every time he sees the block (or missed block), the receiver that was open but ignored, knows who's getting penalized before it's announced- things that the rest of the world needs a replay to see. Great eye for the game.

[Donnybaseball72]

Seems like fans have a love/hate relationship with Joe Buck.

I don't get too caught up with the announcing. I focus more on the game which speaks for itself. I would vote this way.

Play by play:
Michaels
Tirico
McDonough

Analyst:
Gruden
Collinsworth
Simms

Team:
Michaels/Collinsworth
McDonough/Jon Gruden
Nantz/Simms

[JDPNYY]

Seems like fans have a love/hate relationship with Joe Buck.

I don't get too caught up with the announcing. I focus more on the game which speaks for itself. I would vote this way.

Play by play:
Michaels
Tirico
McDonough

Analyst:
Gruden
Collinsworth
Simms

Team:
Michaels/Collinsworth
McDonough/Jon Gruden
Nantz/Simms

I think Buck calls a very good football game and is terrible at baseball.

[Donnybaseball72]

I think Buck calls a very good football game and is terrible at baseball.

I agree. It's Aikman who I don't like.

[Jace]

I think Buck calls a very good football game and is terrible at baseball.

My issue with listening to Joe Buck is that I don't think he actually likes sports. He's good in a technical sense, it's just like listening to someone without a soul

[melon]

I don't know how Collinsworth sees a lot of what he comments on in real time. Every time he sees the block (or missed block), the receiver that was open but ignored, knows who's getting penalized before it's announced- things that the rest of the world needs a replay to see. Great eye for the game.

I always believed that Collinsworth has access to the replay before us viewers see it on the screen. So, he looks smarter than he is.

I'm in the minority, but I have Collinsworth near the bottom of my list of color guys.

[melon]

Favorite team:

Buck/Aikman. Followed by Nantz/Sims. Nobody else comes close, IMO.

[hardrain]

I liked Dan Dierdorf..now he does Michigan football on radio

[hardrain]

I always believed that Collinsworth has access to the replay before us viewers see it on the screen. So, he looks smarter than he is.

I'm in the minority, but I have Collinsworth near the bottom of my list of color guys.

I agree, Collinsworth does not let the game breath. He has to talk all the time.

[melon]

I agree, Collinsworth does not let the game breath. He has to talk all the time.

The one call that bugged me about Collinsworth was his analysis on the butt fumble on Thanksgiving.

He made jokes about Brandon Moore getting manhandled by Vince Wolfork, which wasn't accurate. He later corrected himself, which I'll give him credit for. But I'm sure only a fraction of the viewers saw that, compared to the national Thanksgiving audience.

[fredgmuggs]

Buck was terrific last night

[RhodyYanksFan]

Time to kick Terry Bradshaw to the curb. He's terrible.

[JDPNYY]

Time to kick Terry Bradshaw to the curb. He's terrible.

He's always been terrible.

[RhodyYanksFan]

He's always been terrible.

Yup, I always hated his "I'm a jock, but I'm funny, right?" shtick.

[melon]

Count me in the group that was never impressed with Bradshaw as a studio host.

[Donnybaseball72]

Bradshaw has been doing this since he retired in 84 when there were a lot less choices for pre/post-game studio hosts as their are now. It wouldn't surprise me if FOX is secretly trying to figure out how to peacefully part ways with a lifer.

[RhodyYanksFan]

I bet Romo is the next great color commentary guy.

[Donnybaseball72]

I bet Romo is the next great color commentary guy.

Why? Because he was a Cowboy? Seems like the interview process at ESPN/NFL Network goes like this:

"What are your qualifications?"

"Uh, I played for the Cowboys"

"You're hired"