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NFL Roundtable #2- Best broadcasting team

By Brad Wells

With the premier of Sunday Night Football on NBC and the new Monday Night Football on ESPN this week, we decided to have the NFL Roundtable focus on the ideal broadcasting team. If you could pick the best broadcasting team, who would you pick? Who would do color commentary, play-by-play, sideline reporting, etc.? Would have a "personality" in the booth, ala Dennis Miller or MNF's Tony Kornheiser? What innovations would you use to spice up the show? New graphics? A hot chick giving weather reports? Mascot fight to the death? A Jason Whitlock v. Mike Wilbon pie eating contest?

The SB Nation football writers weighed in. Shrug at Field Gulls:

In the booth - I like the Cosell-type color guys, to be perfectly honest. I liked the intellect they brought to the game. I know, using that thesis Dennis Miller should have therefore been a smash, but Cosell wasn't smarmy.  I still pick John Madden as a color guy, unquestionably. From the beginning he was authoritative and, especially for an ex-Raider, surprisingly likable. He's my only real choice.

I personally have never liked Madden, but there is no denying he has appeal. His often silly comments can have a funny way of staying with you. Kirkendall at Cincy Jungle gives an example:
During the Bengals game on SNF last week, Al Michaels brings up the amount of players in Cincinnati named "Johnson". To which Madden responds, "The Bengals lead the league in Johnsons." Even though I'm a Bengals fan, that was classic.

For the SkinsPatrol at HogsHaven, it seems anyone BUT Joe Theismann should do color commentary:
I think there needs to be someone to challenge Joe Theismann. Even as a Redskins fan I can't stand some of the things that come out of his mouth. He's great for analysis on the quarterback position but, past that, he's just noise.

I have to agree with SkinsPatrol here. Last night, I had trouble listening to Theismann talk because he had Brad Johnson's nuts stuffed in his mouth. Brad Johnson played a very fine game last night, but I half expect Theismann to dry hump him afterwards with all the praise he showered on Brad Johnson throughout the contest. SeanYuille at Pride of Detroit thinks the folks at NBC have something good going on:
If you look at who is better as of right now for announcing, then I'd give the advantage to NBC. They did a great job of putting together an all-around group of commentators. From Madden and Michaels in the booth to Collinsworth and Costas for the pregame and halftime show, I just enjoy the broadcast.

As far as sideline reporters go, Grizz at Blogging The Boys has his eyes on only one:

I hate sideline reporters, but Suzy Kolber sure is cute. I agree with Joe Namath, I want to kiss her, too.
Grizz wishes he was in Joe's place

Woah! Suzy better watch out the next time she does sideline work at a Cowboys game. That crazy Cowboy fan full of "Christmas cheer" trying to tongue her on the sidelines might just be GRIZZ! As for innovations, Grizz offers some fun ones:

I would introduce the "Fan gets to ask a question of the head coach" segment, live on air before every game. The possibilities of what would transpire are mind-boggling. I would also introduce Pee-Wee football games at halftime. Nothing is more entertaining than watching a bunch of kids trying to tackle each other or running the ball the wrong way for a TD. Pure comedy gold.

Gotta agree regarding the kids. Just for fun, they should wheel out Jeff George and have him sling the ball around to the little rug rats before halftime ends. A defensive scheme run by 10-year-olds is about the only kind of defense Jeff could read.

As for me, my ideal broadcasting team feature Costas as the play-by-play with Dick Vermeil doing the commentary. Costas is outstanding at calling games, and Vermeil does such an excellent game articulating clearly the complexities of football in a language anyone can understand. James Brown runs the studio with Dan Marino, Emmitt Smith, and Jim Mora commenting in studio. The sheer comedy of having Mora to a PLAYOFFS segment would be a ratings boom.

Sideline reporting is easy: Melissa Stark. Man, was she hot! And smart too. He had that whole "I'm hot and you have no chance with me loser but I'll flirt and flaunt my intelligence at you as I give injury updates on camera" attitude about her. She's like Catherine Kenner in Being John Malkovich, and we (the viewers) were the John Cusack character.

My mascot cage match didn't fly with the other SB Nation writers. Oh well. Maybe sideline reporter cage match would work better. I have a strong feeling Michele Tafoya would kick the crap out of most of the other sideline reporters, including Suzy (sorry Grizz).

Next roundtable hosted at Kirkendall's house: Cincy Jungle.  

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