Welcome to Sporting News' NFL Announcers Poll.
That's right. We said it. Now its your turn to tell us who you think are the best play-by-play announcers, analysts, sideline reporters and insiders working national NFL TV coverage.
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Not the shiny-shoe TV executives in New York. Not agents pushing their clients. Not fat-cat Madison Avenue media buyers. You, the viewers.
Every NFL weekend, we grouse to our buddies, spouses and children about which broadcasters we like — and which ones we hate. Now it's your turn to sound off.
First, a salute to all the on-air TV/Radio talent, producers, directors, camera operators and everybody else who make the NFL TV experience the best in the sports business. In fact, they've made their product so good, the league is worried about attracting fans to live games. But this poll only includes national TV broadcast partners.
There are eight categories in this poll:
1) Best game announcing teams (play-by-play announcer/game analyst/sideline reporter)
2) Best play-by-play announcer
3) Best game analyst
4) Best sideline reporter
5) Best pregame show
6) Best pregame show host
7) Best NFL insider
8) Best combined NFL coverage
Here are the ground rules. The NFL's broadcast partners have multiple announcers/analysts/sideline reporter teams calling games. For our sanity, we're focusing on the first-string teams for each NFL broadcast partner.
Second: To avoid inevitable complaints from TV executives we're listing candidates in alphabetical order.
Third: We wanted to somehow include the behind-the-camera folks who make the magic happen. So pick the network you feel gives you the best overall NFL coverage, period.
What better weekend to do it than the NFL's Divisional playoff round? Ready? Set? Vote:
Best game announcing team
TV viewers are on familiar ground. The top announcer/analyst duos of Jim Nantz/Phil Simms (CBS-NFL Network), Mike Tirico/Jon Gruden (ESPN), Joe Buck/Troy Aikman (FOX) and Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth (NBC) have been the No. 1 announce teams at their respective networks for years. Fox's Buck and Aikman have been paired up since 2002, for example, and worked a two-man booth since 2005. The most recent changes have been among sideline reporters, where Erin Andrews replaced Pam Oliver on Fox's top team with Buck and Aikman and Tracy Wolfson moved up from college football to join CBS' lead team of Nantz and Simms.
Best play-by-play announcer
Let's name this category after the late, great Pat Summerall. A great announcer can make or break an NFL telecast. It's not just about having great pipes like a Verne Lundquist or Keith Jackson. They have to know when to frame the moment with a comment that will be remembered for years. And when to shut the hell up — and just let the action and emotion speak for itself. This group includes some all-time great sportscasters.
Best game analyst
Here are the real heavy breathers. The top game NFL analysts — Phil Simms, Jon Gruden, Troy Aikman and Cris Collinsworth — serve as the most important narrator for viewers. They're supposed to explain a complicated game as simply as John Madden, have the gravitas of Merlin Olson and be as fearless as Howard Cosell. Yes, they're the ones who drive viewers batty. But when they're on, they can be downright clairvoyant.
Best sideline reporter
That's right, we'll say it: We like sideline reporters. They add a lot to game coverage. We're not among the naysayers saying they should all be dumped. The best sideline reporters over the years have been real journalists who know how to ask questions and get information. Remember when the lights went out at Super Bowl XLVII — and CBS' ex-players Steve Tasker and Solomon Wilcots looked like deer caught in the headlights? It wasn't pretty. Hire pros.
Best pregame show
TV viewers love to hate these shows. No question there's a lot to dislike: the hearty laughter when nobody said anything funny; the hilariously bad game picks; the ass-kissing interviews with current coaches and owners. But they do provide solid X&O's analysis, and set the table for the bounty that's NFL Weekend. Because there's so many hosts and analysts involved, these shows are also a virtual assembly line. Michael Strahan walked straight from the playing field on to the set of Fox NFL Sunday. CBS overhauled The NFL Today by subtracting Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe and adding Bart Scott and Tony Gonzalez.
Best pregame show host
A much harder job than its looks. The best pregame show hosts make it look effortless and set the tone for a successful show. Imagine trying to keep analysts who won't shut up concise and on point. And spreading air time equally to the egomaniacs across the desk. The NFL's TV version of herding cats.
Best NFL insider
Love to see this key job becoming a more important part of the pregame shows in recent years. Far from being an afterthought, NFL insiders are now front and center at the beginning of each show, sharing the latest news on injuries, suspensions, coaching cheaters and locker room brawls. Top insiders attract millions of followers in social media and their own lucrative endorsement deals.
Best NFL coverage, period
Time to put it all together. When you take all the pregame shows, game telecasts, sideline reports, insider analysis and general hot air, who did the best job this season? We also want to salute the behind-the-scenes producers, directors and camera operators who do a great job. So this is the place to salute your favorite NFL TV network.
