Muting Phil Simms In 2007?

[KoolAidDrinker]

On the whole, I think that NFL broadcasts are superb, especially now that we have HDTV. Camera angles keep getting better and instant replay has emerged as an intergral part of the game (and the entertainment).

IMHO however, the weakest part of the package is the announcing. I don't like most of the national TV announcers. The top CBS announcing team is Nance and Simms. Given the attention and hype the Pats are getting thus far in 2007, I'm afraid that we are going to be hearing much of Phil Simms.

IMHO I think Phil Simms is irritating. He's a motor mouth who never shuts up during a game. He rarely provides analysis during games (X's and O's). Instead, he tends to talk about "the locker room", his opinions, and lots of fluff.

I, for one, cannot wait for the day when I can selectively mute the announcer audio while still hearing the crowd and game noise.

Anybody else feel the same way?

BTW: can anybody recommend equipment to sync up the radio to the HDTV broadcast? Last time I tried, it was enough out of sync to make it unwatchable. Thanks in advance!

 

[QuiGon]

Anybody else feel the same way?

I have to respectfully disagree. I think Simms, along with Jaworski and Aikman are the best analysts on TV. I'll take any of them over Madden or Collinsworth any day of the week.

 

[Patjew]

I have to respectfully disagree. I think Simms, along with Jaworski and Aikman are the best analysts on TV. I'll take any of them over Madden or Collinsworth any day of the week.

Same here. Simms seems to really respect the Pats, and I like that.

 

[pats1]

I third that. Simms is one of the best.

 

[taltos]

I also disagree and really like Simms. Just wish that they would give him Greg Gumbel back as his partner instead of Nantz.

 

[WhiZa]

I also don't think Simms is that bad. Collinsworth is bad and being on the NFLN with Gumbel makes me rather watch women's golf.

 

[Crowpointer]

Simms is easily my favorite.

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

I have to respectfully disagree. I think Simms, along with Jaworski and Aikman are the best analysts on TV. I'll take any of them over Madden or Collinsworth any day of the week.

Couldn't agree more. Not wild about Aikman, but I don't mind him. Jaworski is great in the booth, much better than he is in the studio. I find Simms pretty enjoyable.

The two I can't stand are Collinsworth and Joe Buck. They make me want to kick puppies.

 

[pats1]

However, Simms is not immune. He did think Hobbs "faceguarded" Wayne in the AFCCG, when there is in fact no such penalty.

 

[Pujo]

They all suck, but Simms is easily the best.

It's strange that despite how much better football is over baseball, baseball commentating seems to be less annoying.

 

[patchick]

Simms is a solid pro, IMO. I also think Aikman is seriously underrated as a commentator. (Which is ironic, since I thought he was seriously overrated as a player.)

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

None of them are perfect but Simms is as good as it gets in the booth in being able to explain to the general audiance what the qb saw, what the defense did, and when he realizes that he messed up, he generally admits it. Lastly, he has a pretty good rapport with Nance, which is key to being a good color man. You need to be able to almost know what your partner is going to say before he says it, and analyze it in a clear way.

 

[QuiGon]

They all suck, but Simms is easily the best.

It's strange that despite how much better football is over baseball, baseball commentating seems to be less annoying.

Well, most baseball telecasts are regional, and regional announcers (especially Boston's Orsillo and Remy) tend to be well informed. But if you look at baseball national telecasts, you certainly have your fair share of jackasses. Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan come to mind.

 

[cstjohn17]

I think it has become a national pastime to be critical of announcers. Especially if, heaven forbid, they actually say something negative about the Patriots. It seems like wasted energy to me, most of my remotes have a mute button if it gets too bad. As an aside, I just got a Logitech Harmony remote, it is awesome, controls by receiver, cable box, tv, dvd player... I love and recommend it. But I digress....

I tend to watch the games on my DVR and use an one hour delay so I can skip commercials and most of the inane chatter. Waiting an hour to start watching a game is not for the weak of heart, every minute is an eternity but the upside is no commercials.

Back to the announcers, I am looking forward to Jaws, I like Collingsworth (at least he doesn't wash every players balls like most of the sheep). My biggest annoyance is the Red Sox radio team, it seems so bush league to have 2 different announcers, makes it very hard to get into a rhythm when each game they tend to rotate the announcer \ analyst roles. Love Remy and Don O. on the tube.

 

[Pujo]

Well, most baseball telecasts are regional, and regional announcers (especially Boston's Orsillo and Remy) tend to be well informed. But if you look at baseball national telecasts, you certainly have your fair share of jackasses. Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan come to mind.

That's a good point, I never watch any baseball other than Sox, and it makes sense that their own announces know the team. I've also noticed that they don't mind dead air in baseball announcing, if it's silent for 10 seconds that's OK, it football announcing there's a need to fill every second with chatter, and they end up saying some stupid, stupid things.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

That's a good point, I never watch any baseball other than Sox, and it makes sense that their own announces know the team. I've also noticed that they don't mind dead air in baseball announcing, if it's silent for 10 seconds that's OK, it football announcing there's a need to fill every second with chatter, and they end up saying some stupid, stupid things.

In football you have a lot going on in a very limited time. Before the play, you have generally about 40 seconds until the snap of the ball next time, meaning the announcer has to see the offensive and defensive sets, who is lined up where, who, if anyone, is in motion, and if there is a blitz coming. Then he has to call the play, once the play is over, there is time for replay and analysis from the color commentator, while the play by play guy (and his spotter) are gathering the above information to call the next play. There is not a ton of time to have dead air. FWIW, one of the best at this is Gil Santos. He may get numbers wrong from time to time, but in setting up the play, few are better.

Baseball doesn't have that problem. There is a break after every pitch. There is a lot more down time. The defense isn't switching, personell isn't changing after each pitch.

(sorry for the potential thread hijacking)

 

[RayClay]

They all suck, but Simms is easily the best.

I agree, but I respect the posters opinion. Most TV announcers spend more time doing their hair than preparing for the teams they broadcast.

Don Criqui and Randy cross are so bad they're almost enjoyable as a comedy skit of a horrible announcing team. I hope Criqui retires before he dies on the air. I just hope Randy Cross retires because he sucks.

As an experiment, do what I used to. Listen to thegamelive for local radio broadcasts. Almost every local broadcaster is better than the best TV announcer.

They know the roster, down and distance and the rules.

It's called preparation. TV guys don't do it.

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

(sorry for the potential thread hijacking)

You've been in the booth before, haven't you?

 

[PonyExpress]

Simms wears Patriot underoos. He defends to the hilt every QB, no matter how awful. He has no natural gift for speech, and his on-air personality is arrogant. Simms' play-by-play man, the Mortician, is a partner in crime. He announces football like he announces golf, with no sense of the moment, no vocal range, mixed in with extravagant cliches meant to hype drama which ring insincere. He finally broke loose from his sluggish monotone in last season's AFCCG, but only to wave pom-poms for the Colts during their comeback. It was shameful... almost like he received the script at halftime and was ready for the outcome. Can't CBS do better than this schlock? I prefer Fox's Aikman. One partnership I would love to see is Bradshaw, Howie Long and Kenny Albert. They did the Sugar Bowl last season and I thought they were tremendous. When you have real friends in the booth, with a gift for gab, and HOF experience, the chemistry becomes superb and the viewer feels more comfortable. It was the best booth since the old MNF days IMO.

 

[Pujo]

I agree, but I respect the posters opinion. Most TV announcers spend more time doing their hair than preparing for the teams they broadcast.

Don Criqui and Randy cross are so bad they're almost enjoyable as a comedy skit of a horrible announcing team. I hope Criqui retires before he dies on the air. I just hope Randy Cross retires because he sucks.

As an experiment, do what I used to. Listen to thegamelive for local radio broadcasts. Almost every local broadcaster is better than the best TV announcer.

They know the roster, down and distance and the rules.

It's called preparation. TV guys don't do it.

You can't do the "listen on the radio while watching it on TV" thing anymore, the radio's on a 30 second delay. Actually, you could do it with a DVR if you timed it.