Is it just me or is Chris Collinsworth a better announcer than before?

[TimHortons]

I don't care about the announcers I'm there to watch the game and for the most part they're all objective. If you're going to be a good announcer you have to put any biases aside and be objective. One of the main reasons Michaels and Collinsworth get such a bad rap by Cowboy FANS is because the Cowboys were losing a lot on Sunday Night and there wasn't much good to say about their performances. The Cowboys were going through a Sunday Night jinx where the team was playing poorly and Collinsworth and Michaels were just calling it like they saw it. Their honest comments that were generated by the teams inconsistent play riled up a lot of FANS. Most of what they said was right on the mark but many FANS were in denial. There's been several threads started criticizing both Michaels and Collinsworth over comments after Cowboy losses in which many claimed they hate the team.

What were they suppose to do praise an underachieving team that was playing poorly practically every time they covered a Cowboys game? It got so bad on Sunday Night for the Cowboys that Michaels and Collinsworth once joked that the Cowboys probably hate seeing them and documented all the teams Sunday Night losses. Even Aikman has been criticized by Cowboy FANS for being critical of the teams performance during telecasts. They feel because he played for the Cowboys he's suppose to cheerlead for them during telecasts. lol Last night after Beckham's amazing catch a few FANS during the game chat felt Michaels and Collinsworth went over the top talking about it. I made a comment during the chat that it was the greatest catch I had ever seen and some FAN responded back telling me to shut my bleep hole and go to a Giants board and root for them.

One thing that's become very evident on Cowboy boards is if an announcer says good things about the Cowboys giving the impression they're pulling for the team they're considered a good announcer and if they say anything negative that a FAN may construe as hate they're not a good announcer. With the win last night the mood is very good here today so what do you know the first positive thread ever on Chis Collinsworth who credited the team after the win. He received nothing but hate during the game when the Cowboys were losing but after crediting the team for battling back and winning he's now seen in a better light by a few until of course the next Cowboys loss on Sunday night.

Well said. This is spot on

 

[CliffnDallas]

In previous years, Collinsworth annoyed me so much any game he announced was met with multiple profanity-laced retorts from me at my TV set. Has he improved his announcing to be more capable and filled with less stupid remarks or have I just grown used to him?

I actually enjoyed the coverage.

 

[Titleist]

I don't care about the announcers I'm there to watch the game and for the most part they're all objective. If you're going to be a good announcer you have to put any biases aside and be objective. One of the main reasons Michaels and Collinsworth get such a bad rap by Cowboy FANS is because the Cowboys were losing a lot on Sunday Night and there wasn't much good to say about their performances. The Cowboys were going through a Sunday Night jinx where the team was playing poorly and Collinsworth and Michaels were just calling it like they saw it. Their honest comments that were generated by the teams inconsistent play riled up a lot of FANS. Most of what they said was right on the mark but many FANS were in denial. There's been several threads started criticizing both Michaels and Collinsworth over comments after Cowboy losses in which many claimed they hate the team.

What were they suppose to do praise an underachieving team that was playing poorly practically every time they covered a Cowboys game? It got so bad on Sunday Night for the Cowboys that Michaels and Collinsworth once joked that the Cowboys probably hate seeing them and documented all the teams Sunday Night losses. Even Aikman has been criticized by Cowboy FANS for being critical of the teams performance during telecasts. They feel because he played for the Cowboys he's suppose to cheerlead for them during telecasts. lol Last night after Beckham's amazing catch a few FANS during the game chat felt Michaels and Collinsworth went over the top talking about it. I made a comment during the chat that it was the greatest catch I had ever seen and some FAN responded back telling me to shut my bleep hole and go to a Giants board and root for them.

One thing that's become very evident on Cowboy boards is if an announcer says good things about the Cowboys giving the impression they're pulling for the team they're considered a good announcer and if they say anything negative that a FAN may construe as hate they're not a good announcer. With the win last night the mood is very good here today so what do you know the first positive thread ever on Chis Collinsworth who credited the team after the win. He received nothing but hate during the game when the Cowboys were losing but after crediting the team for battling back and winning he's now seen in a better light by a few until of course the next Cowboys loss on Sunday night.

Geez, easy with the objectivity there. You've been around these parts long enough to know that an rational analysis is frowned upon here.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Some like Collinsworth and some don't it's that way with most analysts who do NFL games. If you listen to anyone long enough they can all become a little annoying at times. There's those who found John Madden annoying you can get tired of someone after hearing their shtick for 30 years. All of them have things they repeat over and over where you want to say "Shut up already." You can't please everyone they're obviously all doing something right to maintain their jobs in the booth year after year. There's a lot of competition out there for NFL booth and studio jobs it's a gig a lot of players and coaches who are out of the game would like to get. For everyone that loves what you do there's going to be some that don't. You're going to have lovers and haters it's part of putting yourself and opinions out there.

As good as Cosell, Gifford and Meredith were not everyone loved them. My feeling has always been if someone thinks you're terrible at what you do even though you have one of the top spots on the mountain that's their problem. You have people who do nothing but sit behind a monitor all day at a job they hate bashing those who've made something of themselves at a craft they probably think they could do better at. Twitter has open the door for everyday people to do just that spew hate. I haven't checked to see if Michaels or Collinsworth have Twitter accounts but if they do I'm sure they get a lot of grief from Cowboy FANS.

I pretty much agree with what you wrote. There's never going to be any announcer that everyone likes. I remember some people slamming Cossell when I thought he made the game exciting. He was as dorky as humanly possible, and people made fun of his bad hairpiece. I thought it added to his charm. There's some local announcer in Pittsburgh (don't know his name) who has a sqeaky and annoying voice. If he were a local Cowboys announcer, I think I would have to commit hari kari.

I do want to make clear I've never thought Collinsworth was the worst. That dubious honor goes to Joe Theismann. Even when Collinsworth was being annoyingly repetitious, he was demonstrating good knowledge of the game. This season I'm even enjoying his commentary. Either he's gotten better or he's grown on me.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

I've never had a problem with him.

I mean, other than him being another obsessed Cowboys hating media member refusing to recognize how great we are.

 

[nathanlt]

more unbias maybe, At one point last nite his unbias made Costas look like a tool.

What unbias are you talking about? I didn't get to see him and Costas discuss anything. I'm overseas and don't get the halftime stuff. Or commercials.

 

[skinsscalper]

In previous years, Collinsworth annoyed me so much any game he announced was met with multiple profanity-laced retorts from me at my TV set. Has he improved his announcing to be more capable and filled with less stupid remarks or have I just grown used to him?

Collinsworth admitted earlier in his career that he absolutely hated the Cowboys in the 90s because of their dominance. He admitted that he hated broadcasting their games and took every opportunity in his other appearances (I believe he was on Inside the NFL at the time) to bag on the team.

He has since admitted that he no longer harbors any ill will towards the team.

 

[KJJ]

I pretty much agree with what you wrote. There's never going to be any announcer that everyone likes. I remember some people slamming Cossell when I thought he made the game exciting. He was as dorky as humanly possible, and people made fun of his bad hairpiece. I thought it added to his charm. There's some local announcer in Pittsburgh (don't know his name) who has a sqeaky and annoying voice. If he were a local Cowboys announcer, I think I would have to commit hari kari.

I do want to make clear I've never thought Collinsworth was the worst. That dubious honor goes to Joe Theismann. Even when Collinsworth was being annoyingly repetitious, he was demonstrating good knowledge of the game. This season I'm even enjoying his commentary. Either he's gotten better or he's grown on me.

When I first heard Madden in the booth back around 1979 I thought he sounded like a fat drunk. I didn't think he would last a year broadcasting games but within 2 years he was elevated to CBS's #1 team with Summerall replacing Tom Brookshire. He sounded like a typical beer guzzling NFL fan sitting on their couch on a Sunday afternoon talking about football and he brought that style to the booth and it worked. It seems like everyone hates Joe Buck but he's part of Fox's #1 team because he's a very good announcer even though some fans dislike him. The former players and coaches who do games bring a lot of knowledge from all their years on the field. I think Jon Gruden is one of the best analysts in the booth but I'm sure there's those who don't like him. As for Joe Theismann you'll have a tough time finding any Cowboys FAN who liked him in the booth. He's hated for obvious reasons he was a Commander. I've never been one to get caught up with what stuff like that. So he hated the Cowboys so what he played for a rival he's suppose to hate the Cowboys.

It's about the game for me and you expect those who broadcast it to be knowledgeable and they are. All of them have biases and pull for and against certain teams but they come off neutral in the booth except to FANS who read all kinds of negative things into every comment they make on the Cowboys. Gruden has been in the booth for 2 of his brothers games this season and you know he's pulling for him but he never lets on to it while he's commentating the games. He gives credit to the opposing teams and he's been critical of the Commanders. Even though some can have an annoying way about them they all understand the game and bring a lot to the telecast. You just have to move past who they played or coached for and who they rooted for growing up and not assume every criticism of a team is due to a dislike for the organization. I don't care if someone in the booth doesn't like the Cowboys they're not being paid to support the team or cheerlead for anyone they're giving their honest opinions and there's nothing wrong with it.

 

[Gaede]

Have always liked Collinsworth. Great analysis, notices things that others don't, and has a good personality.

I think him and Moose are the best in the league

 

[LeonDixson]

I've always liked Collingsworth. He tells it like he sees it, no matter who is playing. All of them make mistakes now and then; he's no different. But I like the guy.

 

[tyke1doe]

I pretty much agree with what you wrote. There's never going to be any announcer that everyone likes. I remember some people slamming Cossell when I thought he made the game exciting. He was as dorky as humanly possible, and people made fun of his bad hairpiece. I thought it added to his charm. There's some local announcer in Pittsburgh (don't know his name) who has a sqeaky and annoying voice. If he were a local Cowboys announcer, I think I would have to commit hari kari.

I do want to make clear I've never thought Collinsworth was the worst. That dubious honor goes to Joe Theismann. Even when Collinsworth was being annoyingly repetitious, he was demonstrating good knowledge of the game. This season I'm even enjoying his commentary. Either he's gotten better or he's grown on me.

I've never really disliked any announcers to be quite honest.
For the most part, I don't really pay attention to them. The only thing that gets me is when they don't know what they're talking about or make so many obvious mistakes that it distracts from the game.
I remember when NFL Network first started televising Thursday Night games, and the network dragged out Bryant Gumbel from moth balls. He was butchering guys names and getting obvious facts wrong, and I was like, "Please, get him off the air."
That was about the only time (that I can recall) I complained about the announcers. I think the "they're bias against the Cowboys" is ridiculous, except in obvious cases where the announcer has declared he doesn't like a particular team. But even then, it doesn't bother me because I believe announcers try to be as fair as they can and put their childhood/team allegiances aside, especially when it's the network that's cutting them checks.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Collinsworth admitted earlier in his career that he absolutely hated the Cowboys in the 90s because of their dominance. He admitted that he hated broadcasting their games and took every opportunity in his other appearances (I believe he was on Inside the NFL at the time) to bag on the team.
He has since admitted that he no longer harbors any ill will towards the team.

That's very interesting. Thanks for that info. Then it wasn't my imagination. An announcer has to put his personal biases aside and cover a game with some degree of objectivity. It's probably impossible to be completely impartial, but one has to make the effort. Can you imagine getting a job in the booth and having to cover a Cowboys / Eagles game? It would be tough to simply talk about whatever the Eagles are doing well or not well in a way that's fair.
On the flip side, I always kind of felt that Madden was biased in our favor, especially back when we had Emmitt.

When I first heard Madden in the booth back around 1979 I thought he sounded like a fat drunk. I didn't think he would last a year broadcasting games but within 2 years he was elevated to CBS's #1 team with Summerall replacing Tom Brookshire. He sounded like a typical beer guzzling NFL fan sitting on their couch on a Sunday afternoon talking about football and he brought that style to the booth and it worked. It seems like everyone hates Joe Buck but he's part of Fox's #1 team because he's a very good announcer even though some fans dislike him. The former players and coaches who do games bring a lot of knowledge from all their years on the field. I think Jon Gruden is one of the best analysts in the booth but I'm sure there's those who don't like him. As for Joe Theismann you'll have a tough time finding any Cowboys FAN who liked him in the booth. He's hated for obvious reasons he was a Commander. I've never been one to get caught up with what stuff like that. So he hated the Cowboys so what he played for a rival he's suppose to hate the Cowboys.
It's about the game for me and you expect those who broadcast it to be knowledgeable and they are. All of them have biases and pull for and against certain teams but they come off neutral in the booth except to FANS who read all kinds of negative things into every comment they make on the Cowboys. Gruden has been in the booth for 2 of his brothers games this season and you know he's pulling for him but he never lets on to it while he's commentating the games. He gives credit to the opposing teams and he's been critical of the Commanders. Even though some can have an annoying way about them they all understand the game and bring a lot to the telecast. You just have to move past who they played or coached for and who they rooted for growing up and not assume every criticism of a team is due to a dislike for the organization. I don't care if someone in the booth doesn't like the Cowboys they're not being paid to support the team or cheerlead for anyone they're giving their honest opinions and there's nothing wrong with it.

LOL, I've heard other fans complain about Madden's blue-collar, everyday-guy style, but I always liked that about him. Some people didn't like how he always said, "boom" as in, "And then Dat Nyguen came in and -- boom -- gave him a good hit." Some people also thought it was dumb how he awards a turkey leg to an MVP in Thanksgiving games. I personally think that's goofy in a fun kind of way. It adds to his charm. Madden knows his stuff and announces in a folksy way that a lot of fans like and some dislike.

I had my strongest dislike for Theissman I think because much of the time it felt like he was just talking to hear himself talk. Sometimes he would be babbling on and it would not make sense. I guess if I had to try to find a worse announcer I could bring up Dennis Miller. When I first heard he had been hired by MNF, it was on a Cowboys board like this and I thought it was a practical joke and said, "Yeah, right, nice try." Then when I heard his announcing, I really gagged. That was a failed experiment simply because they hired a guy who wasn't qualified to comment on the game.

So far Jon Gruden hasn't really bugged me. I neither like nor dislike him. I do like former Cowboy Troy Aikman. When I first heard him announcing, I had turned a game on late and didn't know who was in the booth, but I was thinking, "This announcer's pretty good." I think he's made an effort not to be biased in favor of the Cowboys. In fact, sometimes I've felt he overcompensates by going on and on about an opponent.

I'm not sure people dislike Joe Buck so much. I think he's pretty good.

 

[Don Corleone]

In previous years, Collinsworth annoyed me so much any game he announced was met with multiple profanity-laced retorts from me at my TV set. Has he improved his announcing to be more capable and filled with less stupid remarks or have I just grown used to him?

It is you.

 

[mahoneybill]

That's very interesting. Thanks for that info. Then it wasn't my imagination. An announcer has to put his personal biases aside and cover a game with some degree of objectivity. It's probably impossible to be completely impartial, but one has to make the effort. Can you imagine getting a job in the booth and having to cover a Cowboys / Eagles game? It would be tough to simply talk about whatever the Eagles are doing well or not well in a way that's fair.
On the flip side, I always kind of felt that Madden was biased in our favor, especially back when we had Emmitt.



LOL, I've heard other fans complain about Madden's blue-collar, everyday-guy style, but I always liked that about him. Some people didn't like how he always said, "boom" as in, "And then Dat Nyguen came in and -- boom -- gave him a good hit." Some people also thought it was dumb how he awards a turkey leg to an MVP in Thanksgiving games. I personally think that's goofy in a fun kind of way. It adds to his charm. Madden knows his stuff and announces in a folksy way that a lot of fans like and some dislike.

I had my strongest dislike for Theissman I think because much of the time it felt like he was just talking to hear himself talk. Sometimes he would be babbling on and it would not make sense. I guess if I had to try to find a worse announcer I could bring up Dennis Miller. When I first heard he had been hired by MNF, it was on a Cowboys board like this and I thought it was a practical joke and said, "Yeah, right, nice try." Then when I heard his announcing, I really gagged. That was a failed experiment simply because they hired a guy who wasn't qualified to comment on the game.

So far Jon Gruden hasn't really bugged me. I neither like nor dislike him. I do like former Cowboy Troy Aikman. When I first heard him announcing, I had turned a game on late and didn't know who was in the booth, but I was thinking, "This announcer's pretty good." I think he's made an effort not to be biased in favor of the Cowboys. In fact, sometimes I've felt he overcompensates by going on and on about an opponent.

I'm not sure people dislike Joe Buck so much. I think he's pretty good.

Like how Troy explains what the QB has or should have done on a throw. It's like he out there and playing again.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Like how Troy explains what the QB has or should have done on a throw. It's like he out there and playing again.

Yes, he's really good at explaining everything a QB goes through, as you said, what he should do in a throw, and also a QB's decision making process. Aikman's one of the best, IMO. I also like a former rival QB (and I might get hollered at for this), but I've enjoyed the commentary of Phil Sims. He knows the game inside and out and can explain what's happening really well. I haven't felt he's been guilty of showing a lot of bias, though some might disagree.

 

[mahoneybill]

Yes, he's really good at explaining everything a QB goes through, as you said, what he should do in a throw, and also a QB's decision making process. Aikman's one of the best, IMO. I also like a former rival QB (and I might get hollered at for this), but I've enjoyed the commentary of Phil Sims. He knows the game inside and out and can explain what's happening really well. I haven't felt he's been guilty of showing a lot of bias, though some might disagree.

Agree on all counts on Simms. He's my favorite non cowboy analyst/ announcer. He in particular sticks up for Tony.

 

[KJJ]

LOL, I've heard other fans complain about Madden's blue-collar, everyday-guy style, but I always liked that about him. Some people didn't like how he always said, "boom" as in, "And then Dat Nyguen came in and -- boom -- gave him a good hit." Some people also thought it was dumb how he awards a turkey leg to an MVP in Thanksgiving games. I personally think that's goofy in a fun kind of way. It adds to his charm. Madden knows his stuff and announces in a folksy way that a lot of fans like and some dislike.

I had my strongest dislike for Theissman I think because much of the time it felt like he was just talking to hear himself talk. Sometimes he would be babbling on and it would not make sense. I guess if I had to try to find a worse announcer I could bring up Dennis Miller. When I first heard he had been hired by MNF, it was on a Cowboys board like this and I thought it was a practical joke and said, "Yeah, right, nice try." Then when I heard his announcing, I really gagged. That was a failed experiment simply because they hired a guy who wasn't qualified to comment on the game.

So far Jon Gruden hasn't really bugged me. I neither like nor dislike him. I do like former Cowboy Troy Aikman. When I first heard him announcing, I had turned a game on late and didn't know who was in the booth, but I was thinking, "This announcer's pretty good." I think he's made an effort not to be biased in favor of the Cowboys. In fact, sometimes I've felt he overcompensates by going on and on about an opponent.

I'm not sure people dislike Joe Buck so much. I think he's pretty good.

I found Paul McGuire annoying he sounded like a cranky old man. The worst NFL broadcasting team ever in my opinion was McGuire, Theismann and Mike Patrick. They had awful chemistry together and all McGuire and Theismann ever did was argue with each other. Every minute McGuire would go "Oh Joe" this and "Oh Joe" that. While they were bickering Patrick would be jumping out of his seat yelling "Holy Cow" to the most routine NFL plays. A receiver would make a nice catch on the sidelines and Patrick would act like he just witnessed the immaculate reception.