Terry Bradshaw might be a Hall of Fame quarterback and broadcaster, but reading highlights has never been his strong suit and Boomer Esiason just found that out.
For the first time, pretty much ever, Esiason was free to do some channel surfing Sunday afternoon. In April, CBS decided to move on from Esiason and Phil Simms on The NFL Today by not renewing their contracts. It ended an impressive 22-year run on CBS for the former NFL MVP. But without having to be on set for CBS Sunday afternoon, Esiason was able to watch his former competition go to work on Fox, particularly Terry Bradshaw.
Monday morning on WFAN, a listener called into Esiason’s radio show with co-host Gregg Giannotti to criticize Bradshaw for stumbling through his highlight package on Fox. Giannotti quickly noted this has been going on for a quarter century, but it was still new for Esiason.
“They made a little bit of a change there on CBS, but over there on Fox it’s like going into the Natural History Museum over there on that pregame show.” – Gregg Giannotti pic.twitter.com/y0rkryJlUK
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 9, 2024
“I worked up against them for the last 22 years, I haven’t seen a lot of their show,” Esiason admitted. “Obviously, I see it during the Super Bowl or when there’s one game for a playoff game, but I felt like it was a little disconcerting yesterday. I was worried about him. Is that the way it’s been?”
Giannotti noted Bradshaw’s ability to voice over a highlight package may have regressed in recent years, but it was never great to begin with, prompting Esiason to wonder if it’s just “their thing.”
“Yes, it’s a thing,” Giannotti said with a laugh. “They made a little bit of a change over there on CBS, but over there on Fox it’s like going into the Natural History Museum over there on that pregame show.”
Bradshaw struggling through highlights was a thing last year for Bradshaw on Fox and it was a thing again this Sunday afternoon when the 76-year-old NFL on Fox studio analyst bypassed the opportunity to say “Chigoziem Okonkwo” and mistook Tyreek Hill for Stefon Diggs.
[WFAN]

About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com
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