Patriots Gone are the days when the Patriots rated the networks’ top broadcast teams Fans require no reminder that many things about the franchise are starting to feel like a long time ago as it slowly navigates this stark post-dynasty phase on the field. Will former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady get the chance to call one of his old team’s games on Fox this season?
Patriots fans require no reminder that many things about the franchise are starting to feel like a long time ago as it slowly navigates this stark post-dynasty phase on the field.
It’s about to become very noticeable in the broadcast booth, too.
The days of CBS’s No. 1 broadcast team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms (and beginning in 2017, Tony Romo) essentially setting up shop at Patriot Place are behind the rebuilding Patriots, as are those seasons with the maximum number of prime-time games.
The Chiefs — featuring Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and yes, Taylor Swift — have occupied that must-see place in the public and networks’ consciousness for a few seasons now.
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Despite the Patriots being close to scraping the bottom of the NFL standings, they’ve actually had some of the better broadcast teams call their games — or at least a few of their games.
Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, and Evan Washburn had the opener (and lone win) over the Bengals. That’s CBS’s No. 2 team to Nance and Romo, but it’s worthy of being a No. 1. Eagle is as good as it gets.
The Week 3 Thursday night matchup with the Jets was called by Amazon Prime’s crew of Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, and Kaylee Hartung. There’s still a bit of an odd disconnect between Michaels and Herbstreit, who are in their third season together, as if they are working from different locations. But I’d rather listen to Michaels call a game than just about anyone else, still. Miss him with Cris Collinsworth on NBC Sunday nights.
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The Patriots also have had Fox’s No. 2 broadcast team, with Joe Davis, Greg Olsen, and Pam Oliver in San Francisco in Week 4 for the loss to the 49ers. Olsen, displaced by Tom Brady, might be the best NFL game analyst working today.
Despite four straight losses, the Patriots also get a good draw in the booth this Sunday. Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, and Melanie Collins — CBS’s No. 3 crew — have Drake Maye’s debut against the Texans in Foxborough. Whether it’s the NFL or NBA or another assignment, Harlan’s enthusiasm, pipes, and humor enhance every broadcast he is on.
But from here, if Maye doesn’t save the day for a Patriots team that, bluntly, isn’t ready to be saved?
Let’s just say the mute button could be on high alert.
The Patriots-Jaguars game from London in Week 7 will air on NFL Network. Chris Rose and Joe Thomas will have that broadcast, with Steve Wyche as the sideline reporter.
Rose and Thomas are essentially the backup team — Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, and a rotation of sideline reporters, including Jamie Erdahl, Stacey Dales, Sara Walsh, and Wyche, will work the network’s three other London broadcasts.
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I have no idea what to expect from Rose. But after listening to Eisen prove during the Week 5 Vikings-Jets game that as a play-by-play voice, he makes a heck of a talk-show host, Rose is going to get a fair shake here.
Networks typically announce their broadcast teams on the Monday or Tuesday before a Sunday game. But it’s fair to presume that going forward, the best broadcast teams won’t feel the need to brush up in advance on, say, which five offensive linemen are starting for the Patriots in a given week.
The A-list booths are going to be elsewhere, with the A-list teams.
The Patriots don’t have a single prime-time game remaining, and just one in the late-afternoon window — a Week 15 road game against the Cardinals that kicks off at 4:25.
There’s a chance — a slim one, but a chance — that the Nantz/Romo/Tracy Wolfson team could call the Week 18 game with Buffalo, if Maye is playing well and it has meaning to the Bills.
But it’s hard to figure that Brady will be on the call for a Patriots game in his rookie season in Fox’s No. 1 booth alongside Kevin Burkhardt (with Erin Andrews on the sideline).
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There was some early-season thought that Fox’s top team would call the Patriots-Dolphins game in Week 5. We got Chris Myers, Mark Sanchez, and Kristina Pink instead.
The only Patriots game I could see Brady calling this season is the Week 10 visit to Chicago to face the Bears in the 1 p.m. window. Caleb Williams vs. Maye is compelling if — again with the caveat — Maye is playing well.
And it would be fascinating to hear Brady’s assessment, particularly since he’s been trending the right way with his candor.
But for now, be grateful to have Harlan this week. Because we’re about to get much deeper into the broadcasting depth chart in the weeks ahead.
Given the state of the Patriots, the Fox A-team of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady might not broadcast any of their games.
Job well done by Johnston
I’ve noted a few times over the years — most recently with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown becoming NBA champions — that just about the most satisfying long-play in sports is when athletes that you have watched work hard and overcome disappointments fulfill their dreams.
This applies in other walks of life, of course. Including broadcasting.
When Ryan Johnston made his debut Tuesday as the radio play-by-play voice of the Bruins, it was very easy to feel happy for the guy.
He’s long been familiar to New England hockey fans (beyond his role on 98.5 The Sports Hub) for his quality work calling Hockey East and AHL games, as well as some Bruins fill-in work.
In 2017, he was a finalist for the Bruins radio job that went to Judd Sirott. To see Johnston land the much-coveted gig this time — and debut like he’d been the voice of the Bruins for a decade — felt like karma working in all the right ways.
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