Bryant Gumbel to give up duties as play-by-play announcer for NFL Network

Yahoo sports ^ | 04/11/2008 | AP

[libs_kma]

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Bryant Gumbel has given up his role as an NFL Network play-by-play announcer after two seasons.

The NFL Network said Friday it was looking for a new play-by-play announcer to work with Cris Collinsworth on the network’s Thursday and Saturday night games.

“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 statement. “But we’ve agreed that we’d all be better served going in different directions.”

[libs_kma]

All I can say is: SWEET!!!!

[SmithL]

Score!

[SmithL]

fyi

[Mark]

we’d all be better served going in different directions.”

Left/right-- those are directions.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Most of us gave up on Bryant a long time ago....

[darkangel82]

Thank goodness. NFLN’s game coverage sucked last year.

[Westlander]

Now the Gumbat can pursue his philandering ways with more intent.

[KoRn]

Bryant Gumble has to be one of the worst sports play by play guys ever. I don’t see why he had the job in the first place.

[RayChuang88]

I’d like to know why the NFL Network hired Byrant Gumbel in the first place for this job. He was always better as a studio host than a play-by-play announcer.

[JerseyHighlander]

My first thought is “Hell yeah!”
then I start worrying they’ll hire someone like Al Franken to replace Gumble.

[txroadkill]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

[rabidralph]

I couldn’t have imagined two more horrible announcers than Cris and Bryant. Is it my imagination or does the NFL Network have the weakest lineup of talent, across the board? It’s like ESPN got the best people, then the college sports announcers and then NFL Network was left with the bottom of the barrel.

[txroadkill]

My vote is for Dennis Miller to replace him, I mean why not? It's not like they have to jump into the deep end of the talent pool to find some one better than Gumble.

[txroadkill]

It’s like ESPN got the best people, then the college sports announcers and then NFL Network was left with the bottom of the barrel.

It was more like ESPN, college, local cable access, Fast Food Drive thru clerks, then the NFL Network.

[Defiant]

He was without question the worst play by play man I have ever heard. Talk about your affirmative action. He is a guy who would be nowhere without it.

[iowamark]

“But we’ve agreed that we’d all be better served going in different directions.”

My career is going down and they didn't want to follow me!

[darkangel82]

ESPCN annoys the heck out me. I am through with them except for Baseball Tonight.

[river rat]

"I don’t see why he had the job in the first place."

Oh, I'll bet you really do.... Just think about it a second.

[txroadkill]

Anybody else remember the Cowboy v Packer Game last season? Gumble kept calling Romo Farve, mixed up the two teams all night, I thought I was going to throw my remote through my brand new LCD TV.

[Island Girl]

Bryant Gumbel was God-Awful. He was probably terrible on all his other shows, but I never needed to watch them. We’re talking Football here!! May Cris Collinsworth be following him on the way out....

[Westlander]

I HIT IT

[Tex Pete]

Good. Gumbel was atrocious.

I remember him droning on and on several times last year about rules and plays that he couldn’t understand. He really made a fool of himself. Not surprised they fired him.

[mowowie]

ALRIGHT!!

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Thank goodness!

[Voter#537]

There is a GOD! ! ! ! !

[nonliberal]

Good. When that useless twit was on, I watched games with the mute button on.

[USS Alaska]

Bryant Gumble has to be one of the worst sports play by play guys ever. I don’t see why he had the job in the first place.

Skin pigmentation.

[rabidralph]

I stand corrected.

[TomGuy]

then I start worrying they’ll hire someone like Al Franken to replace Gumble.

[Un]Perky Katie Couric might be avilable soon.

[rabidralph]

I’m waiting for them to call up Rush. The other night they had an interview with Bobby Knight and Tony LaRussa. We all remember when they treated Knight as if he were the devil, during his last incident before leaving Indy. Now, everyone is buddy-buddy. Rush deserves an apology.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>All I can say is: SWEET!!!!

Dittos!

[bmwcyle]

Goodbye racist.

[savedbygrace]

Gumbel always announced the play-by-play as though he were reporting yesterday’s news.

If he’s looking for a job, I’ve heard there might be an opening on the anchor’s desk at CBS News. Gumbel and CBS News are made for each other.

[scott says]

NFL PING

FReepmail scott says to be added to, or to be taken off the NFL Ping list...

This is a fairly high volume ping list

[cleveland gop]

GREAT!

[Perdogg]

There is a God! Not get rid of Chris Collingsworthless then I’ll be happy.

[Hoodat]

Maybe now he can concentrate on paying adequate child support.

[martin_fierro]

GOOD RIDDANCE! Possibly once of the most intolerable pair of NFL announcers EVER.

Next: They've gotta do something about that abominable Collingsworth-Costas-Olbermann bunch. UNNNGH.

[N. Theknow]

It's not like they have to jump into the deep end of the talent pool to find some one better than Gumble.

A blow-up doll would be better talent than Gumball. And it can't keep its mouth shut either.

[Theresawithanh]

GOOD!!!!!

He was unlistenable. I can only watch NFL Network at my sis and BILs, and it was hard to have to bite my tongue with the little kidlets around.

[Petronski]

Half a point to NFL Network for a good start.

But Collinsworth stays?

[Theresawithanh]

I remember it well, Cowboys fan that I am! I chewed on my tongue really vigorously that day (see post #40).

[rock_lobsta]

“He was always better as a studio host than a play-by-play announcer.”

His skill in breathing far surpasses both.

[Dante3]

Bryant was a joke - and boring.

[Sue Perkick]

About time.

[Sue Perkick]

And good riddance.

[Rosemont]

he was terrible.

[CONSERVE]

[bkwells]

Yeah!

[SlapHappyPappy]

Did he give them up, or was he forced out at gunpoint, kicking and screaming the whole way?