Jaws No Longer On MNF

[Birds of B'more]

This sucks:

Ron Jaworski has signed a five-year extension with ESPN for a new, expanded multiplatform NFL analyst role that includes appearances on Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, NFL Matchup, NFL-branded specials, Mike & Mike in the Morning, Pardon the Interruption, and other platforms and shows throughout the year. Also, ESPN?s Monday Night Football will have a new two-person commentator team for the first time during the 2012 NFL season with Mike Tirico and analyst Jon Gruden.

Along with Mike Mayock, Jaworski is the best football analyst there is on television today. I don't watch those other crappy programs ESPN does, and even adding Jaworski won't change that. And having to hear more of Gruden during games now will significantly increase my cringe-factor during Monday Night Football.

Damnit ESPN, you always find new ways to piss me off!

[Eddie_Ripken]

MNF is so hard to listen to. They blather on and on about whoever just made the play trying to make it sound liek every play is a hall of fame caliber play. It's ridiculous. Will be even worse now.

[PrivateO]

I'm pretty much indifferent to Gruden. He doesn't ever really blow me away, but he can be annoying sometimes. Jaws beign in the booth helped me to listen. Without him, I think MNF commentary goes way downhill.

[NewMarketSean]

This is awesome...

This paragraph, from a December article in The New Yorker about Gruden, was a perfect microcosm of Jaws' time in the booth:
When it was Jaworski's turn, he issued a stern proclamation. "Call me crazy, but I'm really excited for Tyler Palko tonight," he said, and a roomful of skeptical sports producers erupted in laughter. Jaworski had given himself the thankless task of building up the Chiefs, praising them as much as he could without putting his own credibility at risk. Perhaps viewers would buy into the idea, however far-fetched, that Palko would emerge as the night's underdog hero. Later that day, as Jaworski was making a cup of coffee in the ESPN bus, he tried the line again. "Call me crazy, but I'm excited about Tyler Palko," he said. He exhaled. "I've got to sell this," he said to himself.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...181728512.html

[Birds of B'more]

This is awesome...

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...181728512.html

That's funny. Still, every announcer, good or bad, has to do a certain amount of hyping for even the worst matchups, just to keep his bosses happy. Most fans get that and can see through it. But Jaworski was still one of the best at breaking down Xs and Os and explaining the nuances of a game so that even casual fans could understand. I'm sure ESPN is doing this in hopes that his appeal will boost ratings for their other NFL-related programming. Sorry, ESPN, but I'm not going to listen to blathering windbags like Berman, Keyshawn and Ditka just to hear a couple minutes of Jaworski.

[Sports Guy]

Jaws is brilliant..Gruden is a joke.

So of course, ESPN keeps Gruden in the booth.

Mayock, Dilfer and Jaws...Whatever order you want to put them in is fine...but those are the 3 best analysts out there.

[Frobby]

Jaws is brilliant..Gruden is a joke.

So of course, ESPN keeps Gruden in the booth.

Mayock, Dilfer and Jaws...Whatever order you want to put them in is fine...but those are the 3 best analysts out there.

Who knows, maybe Jaws didn't like the travel. I honestly don't care, because MNF ceased to be an "event" about 25 years ago. It's just another game now.

[tennOsfan]

I've always liked Jaworski's commentary and analysis. Surely that made him overqualified to continue at ESPN.

[Camden_yardbird]

I think freeing Jaws from the lead ball that is MNF is a good thing as long as ESPN is committed to giving him a program that can showcase his depth of knowledge. This assumes ESPN is willing and able to create a program that is less shallow than Kim Kardashian.

[Birds of B'more]

This assumes ESPN is willing and able to create a program that is less shallow than Kim Kardashian.

Not holding my breath on that one. Sounds like from the press release he'll just be a part of the other shows, probably just a couple-minute segment.

[VeveJones007]

I always thought Jaws was a better studio analyst because he could really break down game film. Hopefully that's where he ends up.

As for the broadcast, the New York Daily News reported that one of the reasons for Jaws' dismissal is to open up a potential spot for Peyton Manning. They didn't report any sources, so I take it as wild speculation.

[Tony-OH]

I always thought Jaws was a better studio analyst because he could really break down game film. Hopefully that's where he ends up.

As for the broadcast, the New York Daily News reported that one of the reasons for Jaws' dismissal is to open up a potential spot for Peyton Manning. They didn't report any sources, so I take it as wild speculation.

I agree. Jaws always sounds like he's doing a voice over while in the booth. He's a good analyst and I almost think the game booth stuff limits him too much.

[Birds of B'more]

I always thought Jaws was a better studio analyst because he could really break down game film. Hopefully that's where he ends up.

As for the broadcast, the New York Daily News reported that one of the reasons for Jaws' dismissal is to open up a potential spot for Peyton Manning. They didn't report any sources, so I take it as wild speculation.

I agree that he'd make a great studio analyst. The problem, strictly from my own perspective, is that his presence on those programs won't be enough to get me to watch. And while he was more limited in what he could do in the booth, his presence there was where I liked him because the games are the only thing I watch on ESPN. And of course having to hear twice as much of Gruden during games next season doesn't help either.

[VeveJones007]

I agree that he'd make a great studio analyst. The problem, strictly from my own perspective, is that his presence on those programs won't be enough to get me to watch. And while he was more limited in what he could do in the booth, his presence there was where I liked him because the games are the only thing I watch on ESPN. And of course having to hear twice as much of Gruden during games next season doesn't help either.

Yeah, I'm not going to watch ESPN programming unless they turn into a news and analysis network instead of a brand management group. If I put on MNF, I'm probably going to hit mute so I don't have to hear how GREAT every player is from Gruden.