Bryant Gumbel is out as the top broadcast voice for games on the NFL Network. I have no details other than the press release, which reads:
"Bryant Gumbel has decided to give up his duties as the play-by-play voice for the NFL Network’s eight-game package of NFL games, NFL Network announced today. Gumbel served as the play-by-play announcer for NFL Network’s Thursday and Saturday Night Football games for the past two seasons.'I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to call NFL Network games the past two years, which was a new experience for me,' said Gumbel. 'But we've agreed that we'd all be better served going in different directions. There are a lot of talented people at NFL Network. I thank them, I wish them well, and I have no doubt that they will be very successful going forward.'
Gumbel, who has won multiple Emmy awards throughout his distinguished career, teamed with Cris Collinsworth the past two seasons on the NFL Network games. NFL Network will begin a search for a new play-by-play announcer to work alongside Collinsworth immediately.
'We appreciate everything Bryant did in helping us launch our NFL Network game telecasts,' said NFL Network President and CEO Steve Bornstein. 'Bryant helped create interest in our first foray into televising NFL regular-season games. He is one of the great broadcasters of our time and we are honored to have worked with him.'"
By most accounts, the NFL Network's choice of Gumbel was an odd one from the start. While experienced as a broadcaster, he had not done play-by-play of any sport since the mid-1980s. Throughout the last two years, he was often criticized for not having a good broadcast voice or great field vision.
The NFL said a search for a new play-by-play voice will begin immediately.
