Jon Gruden to replace Tony Kornheiser in Monday Night Football Booth
And so ends the Tony Kornheiser experiment on Monday Night Football. ESPN announced today, in a bit of a surprise, that Tony Kornheiser was stepping down as a color commentator on Monday Night Football. The network has replaced him with former head coach Jon Gruden. Prior to this Gruden helped with the NFL Network's 2009 NFL Draft coverage.
It's safe to say that Tony Kornheiser had his detractors. Personally I thought he had his good moments, but there was a lot of inconsistency. When the network added Ron Jaworski to the booth, it further amplified the problem. I understand wanting a mix of football knowledge and random knowledge, but it just never quite clicked completely. I'm a big fan of Jaworski in the booth because he brings serious football knowledge to the table. I enjoy Kornheiser's work on Around the Horn but it just didn't quite cross over. It seems like with TK and Dennis Miller the network was trying to force the Howard Cosell non-sports type of guy in there.
It will be interesting to see how the 3-person booth works now with the addition of Jon Gruden. The pluses? Well, I was actually somewhat entertained by Gruden during the NFL Draft. I only watched NFL Network coverage and while he certainly has room for improvement, I thought he brought a little something to the table. He brought some insight and he brought a good sense of humor.
The drawback to Gruden being in the booth? As a young former coach, doesn't it seem likely that he wants to get back into coaching sometime soon? Awful Announcing made a good point in that this could easily be a one or two year fill-in. How can you develop significant on-air chemistry, knowing there's a good chance you'll be replacing this guy sooner rather than later?
So what do you folks think about this? Were you happy with Tony Kornheiser? Happier with Gruden? It certainly has me intrigued for now, which I guess is a good start for them.
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I think it’s a good move. I couldn’t stand Kornhieser and the way he “baited” Jaws with dumbass questions. I think Jaws tends to get a little overzealous at times and maybe Gruden can keep him in check.
I’m still trying to figure out how to gain aspect control over cable TV volume so I can mute these jabberjaws while not losing onfield sounds and such.
Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.
I think Jaws tends to get a little overzealous at times…
This.
I’m also with you on the muting commentary but keeping sounds thing. That would be awesome.
Video games give this option, so why not real life?
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness. - Emo Philips
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at second.
TK...
personally, i like Korn-nuts. i thought he added something special. he viewed the game from a literary perspective. he pulled out “tragic inevitability” 2 years ago when the Patriots were driving to beat the Ravens. I was impressed. I think Jaws is a goof. He’s way to made for TV for me. There’s nothing but football going on between those tiny glossy eyes.
by Patrick J Smiles on May 18, 2009 11:15 AM PDT reply actions
I liked Korny
but I didn’t get to watch a lot of MNF so I’m sure that perhaps he could have worn on some people.
I also like Gruden and think he’ll do well for a year or two before he inevitably goes back into coaching.
No NFL announcers are anywhere near as bad as college basketball announcers. I am consistently baffled by how unbelievably bad the majority of them are
PTI
Not around the Horn……but thats where he belongs because he was horrible in the booth, he was trying too hard to be Howard Cassell, stick to your day job Tony, oh wait you are.
whew
I was suffering from some serious overexposure to TK, I’m guessing he’s just about exhausted his joke arsenal so this move was made just in time. I’d rather have to listen to Dennis Miller this year than hear TK constantly hail Jaws as the greatest football analyst who ever lived for another year.
Thing A
Gruden
maybe Gruden will be so successful that he becomes the next John Madden. Former Super-Bowl winning coach turned prime time announcer for the NFL. Madden was a colourful character in his young days, doing Miller Lite ads. Obviously when he went into the booth, he became the “Bam!” guy, delighting audiences with Maddenisms.
Gruden could be that brand of special in the MNF booth. Heck, he’s already won a SB, and is probably quite well off financially. He’s got a family, maybe getting away from coaching and being a big time personality on TV will give him a life in football, minus all the stress of being a coach. He’ll be getting some pretty decent coin for doing the MNF gig, I imagine.
by Andrew Davidson on May 18, 2009 2:25 PM PDT reply actions
Gruden 2012
I agree alot with you, Defintly i could see Gruden taking over madden. Spot for a younger generation, But anyways i hated kornheiser Nothing bugs me worse than some one that thinks he is funny he just was not funny and more he tried the less it got entetaining. He was not a bad color man if he woulda just not kept saying the stupidest things that were not funny.
cppeter
mine looks like this *
one looking like this O is a scary thought and is much more than just a kornhole.
by passionforPERPS on May 18, 2009 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions
They're still looking to replace
Howard Cosell.
I wasn’t knocked out with Kornheiser, but I didn’t hate him like some people.
I hope Gruden is okay, but I expect he’s hoping to coach next year, so I doubt that this will be a long-term gig.
by Bob In Beaverton on May 18, 2009 7:37 PM PDT reply actions
Vermeil, Jaws, Nessler...
They were ABC/ESPN’s “B” team a few years ago, and I think they only did one game. Everybody who has watched that game still remembers that broadcast. I was the best booth combo ever, and even people in the media said it was. Vermeil was explaining plays before they happened, just by looking at the formations and matchups. Both he and Jaws really explained the game in beautiful detail, and it was just awesome. Nessler was perfect. He never got in the way of both Vermeil and Jaws.
Heres is a small article on it.
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2006/09/14/more-love-for-nessler-vermeil-and-jaws/
Well, we're waiting....
trio
I remember that crew. I really liked them. I think that’s why I still like Jaws on MNF. Maybe not the best group around him but he knows his business.
by David Fucillo on May 18, 2009 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions
What's funny is...
That trio might have set a different standard that showed how misguided ABC/ESPN has been lately. ESPN is horrid now. I can’t watch it after the salad days of Kilborn, Olbermann, Patrick (who I hate), Roberts, etc. Bringing in Dennis Miller was dumb for MNF (and probably led to Miller having to join the Conservative bandwagon, because it hurt his career, tongue-in-cheek), and Kornheiser was annoying, whiny, and had no clue of football. Gruden might be the shot in the arm they need to revive MNF. I still think Tirico sucks, but one step at a time.
Well, we're waiting....
zmoney
I deleted your comment for language. Not a bad comment or anything, just watch the s-bombs.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
No More KORNHOLE
thank you thank you thank you!!! What a great day!
Fans stuck in the 80's are lame. Respect the past, live in the now.
hmm
I’m most concerned with what this means for Gruden’s future as an NFL coach. I’d have liked to see him back on the sidelines within a year or two…but if he really takes to broadcasting, then he may pull a Mooch and make a career out of it.
Gruden......only as a scare crow!
Look, let’s make this clear. As a coach, Jon is without a doubt one of the brightest in the game. He’s still relatively young, a firey personality, and an unwavering motivator. However, He also seems to have the subtlety of a dump truck!
I believe that of the coaches that are available for this type of job, the 2 best would have been Herm Edwards, who has a very intelligent approach to the game, or better still Tony Dungy, who can make a simple comment sound like the most eloquent Hai-Ku! Gruden, unfortunately; is cut from the same cloth as Mike Ditka. With the exception that Ditka’s personality is real and he has the ability to poke fun at himself. Gruden is just to self absorbed to warrent any real consideration. I hope MNF still has Dennis Miller’s phone # on speed dial. This could get ugly quick!
K.C.Edwards -AKA- "THE" DarkkStarr

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