NFL Network Names Bob Papa Lead Announcer

Veteran announcer to replace Bryant Gumbel alongside Cris Collinsworth.

By B&C Staff -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/16/2008 6:24:00 PM

NFL Network announced Wednesday morning that Bob Papa will replace Bryant Gumbel as the play-by-play announcer for the league-owned network’s slate of regular-season contests.

Papa gives the network a veteran lead announcer, as he has handled New York Giants radio broadcasts since 1995.

The move should appease football fans, many of whom did not favor the work of Gumbel, whose two years on the network reflected the fact that he had never called a National Football League game prior to landing the job.

Papa will call the eight-game NFL Network slate alongside Cris Collinsworth, who also analyzes football for NBC and Showtime’s Inside the NFL.

Talkback

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Hiring Bob Papa as new NFL Network lead announcer is an absolute \"no-brianer\". Here is a talented commentator who has not earned the respect of Giants fans but also of football fans all over the country. Unfortunately, the losers in this deal are the many NYC area cable viewers who still do not have NFL Network available on their systems. Until, these area cable systems and NFL Network get their act together, many NYC metro-area cable viewers won\'t get a chance to watch and listen to this Bronx-born talent. Oh, by the way, another NYC area talent makes the national spotlight. This crazy, conflicted city must be doing something right.
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Hiring Bob Papa as new NFL Network lead announcer is an
absolute "no-brianer". Here is a talented commentator who has not earned the respect of Giants fans but also of football fans all over the country.

Unfortunately, the losers in this deal are the many
NYC area cable viewers who still do not have NFL Network available on their systems.

Until, these area cable systems and NFL Network get
their act together, many NYC metro-area cable viewers
won't get a chance to watch and listen to this Bronx-born talent.

Oh, by the way, another NYC area talent makes the national spotlight. This crazy, conflicted city must be doing something right.

Taft Gardner - 7/24/2008 2:47:00 PM EDT

» Submit Feedback

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