Gumbel Leaving NFL Network
Bryant Gumbel is leaving the NFL Network, the league-owned television channel announced today.
The veteran broadcaster had served as the play-by-play announcer on the channel's eight-game package of regular season games the past two seasons.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to call NFL Network games the past two years, which was a new experience for me," Gumbel said in a written statement. "But we've agreed that we'd all be better served going in different directions. There are a lot of talented people at NFL Network. I thank them, I wish them well, and I have no doubt that they will be very successful going forward."
No replacement was immediately named.
"We appreciate everything Bryant did in helping us launch our NFL Network game telecasts," Steve Bornstein, the president of the NFL Network, said in a written statement. "Bryant helped create interest in our first foray into televising NFL regular season games. He is one of the great broadcasters of our time and we are honored to have worked with him."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said at the recent league meeting that he and the league's franchise owners remain committed to the NFL Network despite the channel's ongoing disputes with several large cable carriers over distribution and fees that have kept ratings lower than the owners had anticipated. Gumbel created a controversy shortly before beginning to work for the network when he made highly critical remarks about NFL Players Association chief Gene Upshaw.
By Mark Maske |
April 11, 2008; 5:17 PM ET
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Posted by: pack4life | April 11, 2008 5:49 PM
nice, I no longer have to watch NFLN games on mute
Posted by: Gfunk | April 11, 2008 9:40 PM
NFL Network just improved.
Posted by: Go Skins Go | April 12, 2008 7:54 AM
Not like I ever noticed; I can't watch NFL Network games in my area.
So, now I get one less game a year to watch.... that's not a good business decision, NFL, since that means one less time that you'll shower me with Ads.
Besides, one of these days, someone's going to wake up and realize that this is a monopolistic practice, and put a deep $$ hurt on the NFL for doing something like the NFL Network (oh, and NFL Network will go bye-bye at that time). Even Baseball wouldn't be able to get away with this, and they have an Anti-trust exemption.
Posted by: Bill | April 13, 2008 9:29 AM
I am sure that NFLN gave him the option of going this route. He was performing so poorly, contract or not, there was not a chance of him being in the booth for another year. So, who will they dust off for the booth this year? I mean, NFLN revenues have to be less than expected, so will they go cheap or will the NFL throw even more money to NFLN and hire a big name? Dick Stockton comes to mind, whoelse is out there?
Posted by: delOH | April 14, 2008 7:56 AM
The guy was terrible -- I can't figure out why he keeps getting hired.
(Although, I would watch about 10 minutes of a game being done by Gumbel and Frank Gifford, just for the laugh factor.)
Posted by: RaiderFan | April 14, 2008 8:09 AM
On third and one, a guy runs for ten yards. 80,000 people in the stadium, and millions watching on t.v., know it's a first down.
Gumbel says: "He appears to have the first down."
On third and one, a guy runs for thirteen INCHES, necessitating a razor-close measurement, with 80,000 people wondering if he made it.
Gumbel says, "He appears to have the first down."
Gumbel is a very smart man and a great broadcaster -- and an AWFUL football play-by-play man.
Posted by: TMU | April 14, 2008 5:37 PM
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worst....announcer....ever.