2009 NFL Thread

[KALEL114]

Kornheiser is reportedly done with MNF. Gruden is set to be the replacement.

It's official. t:
Great news!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4174469

 

[Go Web Go!]

'Ere we are:

Jon Gruden intends to coach again, but until that day, the man known throughout the NFL as "Chucky" will get to sharpen his teeth in ESPN's "Monday Night Football" booth.

Gruden will join play-by-play man Mike Tirico and analyst Ron Jaworski in September, replacing Tony Kornheiser.

"This is a tremendous opportunity and I am very excited to be associated with ESPN and Monday Night Football," Gruden said in a statement released by ESPN. "I grew up a fan of Monday Night Football, and whether I've coached on Monday night or watched, I've hardly missed a game all these years.

"To join Mike and Jaws in the booth and to work alongside this top-notch team is going to be a real thrill."

The 40th season of "Monday Night Football" kicks off Sept. 14 with a doubleheader; the New England Patriots play host to the Buffalo Bills at 7 p.m. ET and the San Diego Chargers visit the Oakland Raiders at 10:15 ET.

Kornheiser decided to step down after three years of MNF.

"I am totally grateful for the MNF opportunity that I truly enjoyed the last three seasons," he said. "I feel we got better each year. My fear of planes is legendary and sadly true. When I looked at the upcoming schedule it was the perfect storm that would've frequently moved me from the bus to the air. I kept looking at the schedule the past month and wanted to find a way to quietly extricate myself."

"If I could handpick a replacement of a football guy, I would cast a net and drag in Jon Gruden," Kornheiser added. "He is the two things you most want -- smart and funny -- and has the two things I don't -- good hair and a tan. I love PTI and am looking forward to continuing to yammer and yodel with Wilbon until the end of time."

Gruden was fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan. 16 and replaced by defensive coordinator Raheem Morris just weeks after a season-ending loss to the Raiders cost the Bucs a possible playoff spot.

At 60-57 in seven seasons, Gruden was the winningest coach in Bucs history and led Tampa Bay to victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. He also has coached the Raiders.

Gruden's first MNF appearance will come in an Aug. 13 preseason game that doubles as a Super Bowl rematch between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. Following four preseason games, Gruden, Tirico and Jaworski will call Bills-Patriots on Sept. 14.

"I can't express how much I enjoyed working with Tony the past three years," Tirico said. "It was a professional experience that I enjoyed and a lasting friendship that I will treasure. I think all of us on the show are better for the time we spent working with Tony.

"Looking ahead to this season, I am excited to welcome Jon to Monday Night Football. Every time you are in his company, you come away so impressed by his energy and passion for the game. He will be a perfect fit with our group."

Gruden began his NFL coaching career in 1990 when Mike Holmgren, then offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, hired him as an assistant in charge of quality control. Gruden quickly ascended through the ranks by learning the famed West Coast offense pioneered by longtime 49ers coach Bill Walsh.

When Holmgren left the 49ers to become head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1992, he named Gruden the Packers' wide receivers coach. After three seasons in Green Bay, Gruden moved on to become the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator under head coach Ray Rhodes. In 1998, Gruden was chosen by Oakland owner and general manager Al Davis to be the Raiders' new head coach at the age of 34.

A native of Sandusky, Ohio, Gruden grew up in a football family. His father, Jim, served as an assistant at Notre Dame in the late 1970s and later with the Buccaneers. Gruden graduated from the University of Dayton, where he was a back-up quarterback. After graduation, he started his career as a graduate assistant at Tennessee in 1986. He also served as the quarterbacks coach at Southeast Missouri State (1987-88), and the wide receivers coach at both Pacific (1989) and Pittsburgh (1991) in the college ranks.

Gruden worked as a guest analyst earlier this year with the NFL Network during the NFL draft and scouting combine.

 

[FaT_tONle]

It's official. t:
Great news!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4174469

THANK YOU GOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDD.... t:t:t:

But I don't know about Chucky... of the coaches on these shows though, from Billick, to Herm, to Marriucci, I'd say he'd be the best of that bunch. But something tells me this won't last. Then again what broadcasting team as ever been long term these days?

 

[BlackLantern]

I'll take Gruden over Kornheiser the whiner any day....

 

[Cmill216]

Hahahha! That's awesome.

 

[Raiden]

Thankfully Kornheiser is out of MNF, and although I don't know if Gruden will be a good color announcer or not, I'd rather give him a shot and see if he does well than having Kornheiser for another season.

 

[Go Web Go!]

Emmitt Smith, Steven A, now Tony - it's been a bad year for bad announcers...which means it's been a good year for us! Weee!

 

[BlackLantern]

Emmitt Smith, Steven A, now Tony - it's been a bad year for bad announcers...which means it's been a good year for us! Weee!

don't forget Michael Irvin and Sean Salisbury

 

[Go Web Go!]

don't forget Michael Irvin and Sean Salisbury

Irvin had his days. I didn't mind Salisbury.

 

[Darthphere]

TK, I love you.

 

[Marx]

Kornheiser is reportedly done with MNF. Gruden is set to be the replacement.

It's official. t:
Great news!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4174469

Madden is gone!!!! Now Kornheiser!!!! I won't have to watch some games on mute anymore!!!!

 

[Dark Donnie]

to Gruden

 

[StorminNorman]

Tony Kornheiser was vastly underrated, but Gruden is a great addition.

 

[El_Citrus]

Sweet, I don't have to put up with tons of crappy jokes on Monday Nights anymore!

 

[BlackLantern]

the only thing Kornheiser did I liked was that before the game, he would basically 'write a column' addressing both opponents and what made that particular game noteworthy

 

[Excel]

I will never understand how people are happy Madden is gone. That said, TK was universally loathed by all, so I am def .glad about this. No more "The Saints had no idea Reggie Bush could catch the ball when they drafted him" or "Adrian Peterspn was a good college back, but nothing like he is in the NFL" or "Speaking of (insert any topic here, BRETT FAVRE ____________".

I like Gruden from what I saw of him during the draft, though he seemed restrained. There probably are better analysts out there-not gonna lie, Im a big fan of Cris Carter hes the only one who actually makes me augh on nfl live-but I can live with Gruden.

 

[Go Web Go!]

I will never understand how people are happy Madden is gone.

No one is saying the man wasn't great, but come on...he was just a bumbling fool at this point in his career.

 

[BlackLantern]

Maddens time was past....at least Pat Summerall knew when it was time to hang it up

 

[Immortalfire]

No one is saying the man wasn't great, but come on...he was just a bumbling fool at this point in his career.

If the veterans have still got it, then by all means let em keep going. But if they don't got it, they need to hang it up.

 

[StorminNorman]

Madden performance last year was superior to Aikman and Buck.

 

[StorminNorman]

Remember when Matthew Stafford's contract was signed and everyone was throwing their hands in the air complaining about how his salary was uber ridiculous and what not?

Turns out it could be worth only 17 million dollars.

While it's likely Stafford will end up making something closer to 70 million than 17 million when everything is all said and done, the reality is that if Stafford wants to make more than the bare minimum of his contract he WILL have to earn it.

 

[Marx]

Madden performance last year was superior to Aikman and Buck.

I think that's debatable man.

 

[Holiday]

To me, Troy Aikman is boring and Buck seems like he's lost passion for the job. I'll take Madden. He's entertaining.

 

[Marx]

To me, Troy Aikman is boring and Buck seems like he's lost passion for the job. I'll take Madden. He's entertaining.

I like Buck and Aikman. All Madden seemed to do is treat the viewers like they're stupid by pointing out the blatantly obvious...and then having to explain the blatantly obvious...and then explaining the blatantly obvious again with a slightly different perspective.

 

[Mister J]

Kornheiser's going bye-bye, along with Emmitt Smith? ESPN's commentary has improved immensely.