Why is Kurt Warner not already working for ESPN?
by JasonB on May 22, 2010 10:00 AM EDT
in Philadelphia Eagles News
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PrintIf you're like me, you probably tuned into NFL network at 1am on Saturday morning to watch a replay of an arena league football game...
Ok you're not like me, but if you were you would have heard Kurt Warner doing a really nice job in his debut as a color commentator. Shutdown Corner agreed.
I'm not 100 percent sure what constitutes a totally successful broadcasting debut, but it's safe to say that Warner did very well. Not only did he get his old Iowa Barnstormers jersey number retired at halftime, he proved to be an engaging presence in the booth - he talked intelligently about coverages, what the quarterbacks were seeing, and specific AFL rules and terms.
It got me thinking about the state of commentary and punditry in the NFL and I can't understand why Warner isn't already at least working ESPN as analyst. This is a network that has employed quarterbacks such as Sean Salisbury, Jesse Palmer, & Trent Dilfer as NFL analysts. Here's a sure fire hall of famer out there looking to get into broadcasting... why has ESPN not beat down his door to get his name on a contract?
To be fair, what Warner did on Saturday night was not punditry it was color commentary. Maybe that's what he really wants to get into. If so, FOX or CBS should be beating down his door tomorrow. Is there even one color commentator on either network that you'd consider "good" or has ever taught you anything? I don't need another season of Brian Baldinger essentially repeating what the play by play guy just said. Don't even get me started on Tim Ryan who thinks that any player who does something good on a given play is among "the best in the national football league" at doing whatever that was. Speaking of thinking everything and everyone is just great... John Gruden. I actually think Troy Aikman does a good job, but otherwise is there any color guy on any network that is likely to provide more insight than Warner? Warner, who was one of the most cerebral and successful players of his era?
I suppose it's somewhat fitting that Warner went back to his Arena league roots to start his second career. After all, he started there to make himself into of the best ever at his profession. He just might do it again.
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He said that he wants to do commentary, as for commentators I think are good, I like Phil Simms and for some reason think the better ones are on CBS and wish that the NFC and AFC would switch because I like CBS broadcast’s better.
Agreed
Not that I watch CBS too much, but the times I do they seem so much better than what NFC East fans are used to with Fox.
Aikman I actually think isn’t too bad, but because he’s with Joe Buck, I can’t stand listening to them. Joe Buck is what I consider wrong with announcers.
Against all odds, against all circumstance were you don't have a shot, you succeed
-Michael Strahan
All you hear about is the past, the past... the past is the !@#$ing past, this is the present.
THIS IS TEMPORARY! A CHAMPIONSHIP IS PERMANENT
-Same as above
I like Aikman’s commentary. His problem is that he is either stuck with Joe “Monotone” Buck or Tom “I make people commit suicide listening to me” Hummond.
That said, I would love listen to Warner call a game. I always like Warner has a guy and a player, being a color commentator would be sweet.
RIP Jim Johnson, best ever.
Interesting points
The number one thing Warner has is credibility. Plus, he seems to be “real” and genuine. Like you said in the OP, Warner would be a serious upgrade over some of the bums they have calling games.
He was too successful....
You have to suck at either playing the game, calling the game, or putting a team together, save Boomer and his countdown crew. I love how the newest analyst on the baseball side is JP Ricciardi…maybe the most appropriate hiring ever by espn.
Personally, I think he’s average. I don’t think he adds much to a game, but he also doesn’t take away. I’m fine with him.
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id have it in surround sound
as long as there were no kids around
Where one era ends, another begins
There are a handful of commentators I dislike
but ANYONE is better than theisman, tirico, and kornheiser…ANYONE
"If I can get you to think twice, I'm in your head."
-Brian Dawkins
"Yeah, I like to hit people"
-Brandon Graham
true story.
2010-11 Predictions:
Kevin Kolb will go to the probowl and complete >65% of passes.
Jeremy Maclyn will have more receptions than Miles Austin & Steve Smith
Graham will have the starting LDE spot tied up by week 5, win ROTY, and have >10 Sacks
11-5 finish.
by corn on the kolb on May 22, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Chris Collinsworth
for as many people who hate him, he does an excellent job of breaking down what just happened. He spots things other guys don’t even come close to seeing.
Never had a problem with Collinsworth. He gets annoying in Madden, but for actual commentary, I enjoyed him.
My favorite NFL-Related-Broadcast-Commentary-Randomness group still remains Marino, Carter, and Collinsworth back on the old Inside the NFL. I don’t get much actual information from the show, but I’m nearly always entertained.
2010-11 Predictions:
Kevin Kolb will go to the probowl and complete >65% of passes.
Jeremy Maclyn will have more receptions than Miles Austin & Steve Smith
Graham will have the starting LDE spot tied up by week 5, win ROTY, and have >10 Sacks
11-5 finish.
by corn on the kolb on May 22, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Yup, he seems to rub a lot of people the wrong way, but I agree with you… In my opinion he’s the best in the game, and it’s not even close.
Meanwhile, his polar opposite as far as knowledge of the game goes was Tony Kornheiser. Just brutal… For I while I hated him, but in time I kind of grew to feel bad for him. He was out of his element and even he knew it. Poor Jaws – Somebody please give Jaws a normal play by play guy to work with and let him shine.
Formerly Bye, Dawk :(
by JimmyK on May 22, 2010 10:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Kurt Warner
I think we could do a lot worse than Kurt, to be honest. Imagine Brett Farve trying to color on someone like Kevin Kolb?
I haven’t heard him, but I’m sure he’ll be good. Marshall Faulk is entertaining to me, too.
I hope Larry Fitz gets into it. He strikes me as someone who’d be very good on one of the random pregame shows.
TJ though, on ESPN, is by far my favorite.
2010-11 Predictions:
Kevin Kolb will go to the probowl and complete >65% of passes.
Jeremy Maclyn will have more receptions than Miles Austin & Steve Smith
Graham will have the starting LDE spot tied up by week 5, win ROTY, and have >10 Sacks
11-5 finish.
by corn on the kolb on May 22, 2010 2:08 PM EDT reply actions
espn covers sports the best
period, i don’t agree with all of them (meril hodge cough cough) but outside of the one hater espn is pretty legit
by Get Jackson a better nickname on May 22, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
the problem with espn is
the fact that its 24/7 sports ‘news’
i mean that is the allure of the network as well, but when u have to cover every minute of every day about sports, u run out of shit to say pretty early, so they go to these ‘experts’ and ‘analysts’ to spread god awful rumors, make no sense, or talk about brett favre some more.
every time trent dilfer opens his mouth, i have a new appreciation how stupid he really is, and every time that happens, i remember he has a superbowl ring and almost vomit
Where one era ends, another begins
Hoge is terrible, but...
The NFL Matchup show with Jaws and Sal Pal is a great program. It breaks the game down without any gimmicks.
Doesn’t need any gimmicks. Jaws is his own gimmick lol
2010-11 Predictions:
Kevin Kolb will go to the probowl and complete >65% of passes.
Jeremy Maclyn will have more receptions than Miles Austin & Steve Smith
Graham will have the starting LDE spot tied up by week 5, win ROTY, and have >10 Sacks
11-5 finish.
by corn on the kolb on May 22, 2010 8:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He sure would be an upgrade over some of the people on Fox.
Just listen to how bad this call of a blocked field goal returned for a Touchdown was.
I hope ESPN or Fox [since he played for NFC teams] get him to become an announcer with them. He is definitely smart enough to call the games and he would be more interesting to listen to than a lot of people that do the job now.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.
BTW, I think that Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth are the best commentator duo out there now.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.
I believe
Warner probably went to the AFL to give it some legitmacy in it’s newest attempt at becoming an alternative. Here is a man who got his start here and ended up being a very successful NFLer. He can lead the people who watch it to believe that with the right break these guys can be successful in the NFL as well, just as he was. I think that adds a lot to the program.
Jaws is great on Monday night football and Tirico is fine too, but Kornheiser needs to go. I would rather just have a Tirico/Jaws play by play/color commentary team. Now in the first Monday night game last year they had a 2 separate teams since their were 2 separate games. i don’t know who the play by play guy was, but Steve Young did color commentary and he was excellent. If they use the same line up for that first Monday night game, I suggest listening to him. I think that is what he should be doing on Fox or when they start the Thursday games on NFL Network.
"I will never have my best season," Brian Dawkins
"There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." Bruce Lee
"This fucking game is over!" Chuck Bednarik
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" Mike Tyson
Kornheiser is gone now, Gruden took his spot.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.
whoa it now makes sense.
We didn’t consider that perhaps kurt was offered a cheap tender by the big boys, and they were outbid by the AFL?
Think about it. Whose the biggest guy to come out of the AFL? If you really wanted to sell your product to all these football fans, who’d be the best possible ambassador? If I’m the AFL I throw all sorts of money at warner. He’s far more valuable to them than he could ever be to anyone else.
2010-11 Predictions:
Kevin Kolb will go to the probowl and complete >65% of passes.
Jeremy Maclyn will have more receptions than Miles Austin & Steve Smith
Graham will have the starting LDE spot tied up by week 5, win ROTY, and have >10 Sacks
11-5 finish.
by corn on the kolb on May 23, 2010 4:19 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
He doesn't want to work weekends.
He was interviewed at a golf outing in Phoenix a few weeks back and said he wants weekends for his family. He’d only be interested in a job M-F.
It's "Kolb"ering time!
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