Gumbel out at NFL Net

Bryant Gumbel's awkward two years as play-by-play voice of NFL Network's primetime football coverage is mercifully over.

The network said it is looking for a replacement to pair in the booth with analyst Cris Collinsworth.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to call NFL Network games the past two years, which was a new experience for me," Gumbel said in a statement. "But we've agreed that we'd all be better served going in different directions."

NBC's Notre Dame football voice Tom Hammond substituted for Gumbel in December on an NFL Network telecast of a game between the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos when Gumbel was suffering from a sore throat. At the time, the Spud noted the excellent chemistry between Hammond and Collinsworth, his former partner on NFL games on NBC.

Now that the job is officially open, we think Hammond deserves serious consideration. We hope NFL Network feels the same.

Comments

[SSreporters]

"Awkward" is a severe understatement.

I think either Hammond or Marv Albert should get the nod for the job.

[H. Burns]

As a New Yorker who grew up listening to Marv do the Knicks and Rangers, I'd have no problem with him calling the NFL Net games. Great idea, SSreporters!