# Who is your favorite NFL commentator on a major network? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 24, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595 "2011-10-24T01:41:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/1 "2011-10-24T01:41:44Z")
I prefer Chris Collinsworth. He has generally good insight and is not afraid to call a dummy a dummy. I used to like Madden a lot too until he got all old and wacky. Who do you think is the best on the tube nowadays? Of all time? (Only major network guys please) ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/2 "2011-10-24T02:09:50Z")
Agreed: Collinsworth is good and he knows he’s stuff. Aikman is okay too as well as Daryl Johnston. I liked Madden also and even his wackiness. Chucky knows his stuff and I kinda like him but little too excitable and tend to takeover. Though I know a lot of people like Matt Millen but I was never a fan as he gets all too opinionated and gets on my nerve. Though Dick Stockton is not a commentator I don’t like this guy doing any of my home team games… I have no idea why (could be that he did one particularly miserable Bears playoff game and got under my skin or something…). He depresses me and sounds almost like saying my team is not good enough to win… at least to my ears. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/3 "2011-10-24T02:24:52Z")
I like Phil Simms. He knows his stuff and when to shut up, too. I can’t stand Troy Aikman, but a lot of that is based on his ludicrous comment during the final TD drive by the Giants in Super Bowl 42. He talked about the possibility the Giants might punt, which was, at best, a 0% possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/4 "2011-10-24T02:25:13Z")
Another vote for Collinsworth. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/5 "2011-10-24T02:34:39Z")
For as bad as he was as a GM I like Matt Millen I hate Dan Dierdorf ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/6 "2011-10-24T02:44:25Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > For as bad as he was as a GM I like Matt Millen > > I hate Dan Dierdorf Oh I meant I hate Dan Dierdorf and not Matt Millen… I always confuse those two. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/7 "2011-10-24T12:19:41Z")
Mike Mayock, by far. Pre-Gruden Jaworski. Aikman is good, as well as Daryl Johnston when he’s not trying to be funny. Collinsworth is a smug douchebag, but I do learn some things, which is more than I can say about most of them. > [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I like Phil Simms. He knows his stuff and when to shut up, too. PHIL SIMMS? :dubious: I can’t think of any announcer that more embodies the Announcer Idiocy: “The Tigers need to pass here. Jones is a great QB.” (Tigers throw interception) “Terrible play call. They should have run the ball there as Jones stinks.” ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/8 "2011-10-24T12:40:14Z")
I like the current ESPN combo of Gruden and Jaworski. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/9 "2011-10-24T12:53:32Z")
Al Michaels. Best in the business, IMO. Yeah, he gets stuck with some stinkers of co-hosts, but he’s generally awesome. I’m coming around on Joe Buck. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/10 "2011-10-24T13:54:40Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Mike Mayock, by far. Pre-Gruden Jaworski. Aikman is good, as well as Daryl Johnston when he’s not trying to be funny. Collinsworth is a smug douchebag, but I do learn some things, which is more than I can say about most of them. > PHIL SIMMS? :dubious: > > I can’t think of any announcer that more embodies the Announcer Idiocy: > > “The Tigers need to pass here. Jones is a great QB.” > (Tigers throw interception) > “Terrible play call. They should have run the ball there as Jones stinks.” Hey, you like Aikman. We’ll never see eye to eye on this! ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/11 "2011-10-24T13:58:31Z")
Al and Chris are the best. Terry and Howie can be entertaining. Their co-hosts sure do dress pretty. The only one I just can not tolerate is the Whoop Whoop guy. I can’t think of his name, but he has just about ruined his voice. I’m anxious for his doc to tell him that he needs to stop talking for a living before he loses his voice completely. Or the day he does lose his voice in full. Whichever comes first. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/12 "2011-10-24T14:01:52Z")
I also like Collinsworth. I know he gets a lot of hate, I just don’t get why. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/13 "2011-10-24T14:09:55Z")
Colinsworth has good info, but his delivery makes him sound like a smug, condescending jerk. There’s just something about his tone and the expression of his face that makes me dislike him. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/14 "2011-10-24T14:23:38Z")
I dug Brian Billick yesterday during the Lions game. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/15 "2011-10-24T14:54:47Z")
Collinsworth is good. Chucky and Jaws are decent on MNF. Rich Gannon has done a few Browns games and I liked him because he wasn’t afraid to be brutally honest. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/16 "2011-10-24T15:07:29Z")
I like Collinsworth as well. I don’t feel the condensending vibe, but I don’t listen to him every Sunday either. He has a lot of technical knowledge but doesn’t seem to talk down to the viewer, so I appreciate that. I like Johnston OK, I think I just appreciate that he used to be a fullback and now has a good job talking on TV. Aikman is OK and is very technically sound, but he also seems to rail against certain players. Like he’s still playing and takes their playing a little too personally. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/17 "2011-10-24T15:27:56Z")
I may be alone in this, but Chris Myers and Tim Ryan are my favorite combo. They used to get assigned to nearly every Buccaneer home game back when they were actually on TV, so maybe it’s just familiarity. I love Al Michaels\* and Collinsworth. I don’t care if Collinsworth is smug and condescending; he’s generally right. I’m also a big fan of Billick; you can tell he’s enjoying himself, and unlike pretty much every other coach-turned-commentator he doesn’t limit himself to coaching cliches. \*except that like many American commentators, Michaels doesn’t know that “within” is not inclusive. If you are down by three points, you are not “within three points”. You are down by three points, and within four points. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/18 "2011-10-24T15:51:38Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > \*except that like many American commentators, Michaels doesn’t know that “within” is not inclusive. If you are down by three points, you are not “within three points”. You are down by three points, and within four points. So if I’m asked to answer a question within 2 words, I can only answer with one word? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/19 "2011-10-24T16:04:47Z")
Should have made this a poll. I’ll go with Collinsworth. Brian Billick isn’t too bad either. Best football commentator period is Chris Spielman. He’s excellent on college games. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595/20 "2011-10-25T01:52:47Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Should have made this a poll. > > I’ll go with Collinsworth. Brian Billick isn’t too bad either. > > Best football commentator period is Chris Spielman. He’s excellent on college games. Thought about making a proper poll but realized there was no way I would remember to include all the main guys. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-nfl-commentator-on-a-major-network/600595.md?page=2)