Ron Jaworski (1 Viewer)

[Jeff Pasquino]

Jaws

Jaworski confirms he’s headed to Monday Night

By Marc Narducci

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski confirmed today that he has been hired as an analyst on Monday Night Football, replacing Joe Theismann.The rest of the crew will remain the same with Mike Tirico calling the game and Tony Kornheiser serving as a second analyst. Michele Tafoya and Suzy Kolber will remain sideline reporters.

According to ESPN, Theismann has been offered a "prominent" analyst role with the all-sports network. An ESPN official wouldn't say whether that consisted of college or pro football.

Jaworski has been with ESPN since 1990.

"It's a job we all aspire to have," Jaworski said in a phone interview. "I am absolutely ecstatic to be given this opportunity."

Last season Jaworski worked on ESPN's studio shows, Sunday NFL Countdown and NFL Primetime.

He also is on NFL Matchup, a show that is taped at NFL Films in Mount Laurel and is arguably the best show for anybody wanting to learn the Xs and Os of the game. Jaworski will continue to work on Matchup.

This season Jaworski got to work one Monday Night broadcast as an analyst when ESPN opened the season with a doubleheader.

Jaworski and **** Vermeil were the analysts while Brad Nessler called the opening Oakland-San Diego game.

"That was probably an audition for me to see if I could handle the spotlight and handle the game," Jaworski said. "I'm sure it had a positive affect."

Jaworski's new assignment won't affect his other job as president of the Philadelphia Soul.

It was at Thursday's Soul home opener against the Colorado Crush that Jaworski was offered the job by Norby Williamson, ESPN's executive vice president for studio and remote production.

"It was halftime of the Soul-Crush game and when he mentioned it, I think my heart was pounding out my chest," Jaworski said. "He offered it to me that night, and I said, of course I'll do it, this is a great opportunity."

 

[LHUCKS]

Big Jaws fan here...has always been one of my favorite analysts.

Huge improvement over Theisman.

What will Kornheiser do now that he can't pick on Joe any longer?

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Great news. Now I can actually watch MNF,

with the volume turned up.

Jaws is a student of the game who should

bring some valuable insight to the booth,

as opposed to Theezman who is a condescending

know-it-all, who never seems to let anyone else

finish a sentence.

Let's just end this "three in the booth" farce.

Tony Korn should be the next to go.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

I sure hope he still does NFL Matchup - one of the best football shows around.

 

[LHUCKS]

I sure hope he still does NFL Matchup - one of the best football shows around.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

EXCELLENT choice.

 

[renesauz]

JAWS

 

[Dreamer]

I sure hope he still does NFL Matchup - one of the best football shows around.

One of?Jaws is great.

 

[Steelnation]

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Brilliant move to put him in the booth...HOWEVER...till they replace the other 2 stooges this will continue to be one of the worst botths on the air. I love Jaws but Mike Tirico is bar none the worst play by play guy to call an NFL game I have ever listened to.

Tirico for those that do not know, had a run in similar to that of Hal Reynolds for ESPN about a decade ago...as you may recall he used to do the nightly ESPN show...he had a sexual harrassment suit that went away quietly but ESPN went ahead and sent him out on the road. I might be giving an abbreviated version of the story but that is pretty much the jist of it. And he's boring to boot.

 

[phthalatemagic]

Big Jaws fan here...has always been one of my favorite analysts.Huge improvement over Theisman.What will Kornheiser do now that he can't pick on Joe any longer?

Hopefully he will shut up, listen and enjoy the insights like the rest of us.

 

[phthalatemagic]

I love Jaws but Mike Tirico is bar none the worst play by play guy to call an NFL game I have ever listened to.

Worse than Gumbel doing the NFL games? Gumble couldn't even get the names right half the time.Tirico isn't the gold standard, but at least he doens't inspire disinterest like Gumbel.

 

[stevegamer]

I could see Kornheiser asking "everyman" questions, while injecting some humor. If he does that, it could work.

 

[identikit]

I sure hope he still does NFL Matchup - one of the best football shows around.

ESPN reported (on NFL Live) that Jaws would continue doing NFL Matchup.Id

 

[BustedKnuckles]

My only problem with Jaws is he talks like he`s reading a cue card...very mechanical...but he does know what he`s talking about.

 

[ImTheScientist]

 

[Shrek]

Great news :(

What will be interesting from an analyst perspective will be to see whether Jaws can bring the same level of expertise when he is asked to do it on the spot, or if he is a "studio" guy who can only bring it when he's had time to polish it up beforehand.

 

[Mystery Achiever]

Talk about an upgrade at the position! I'm a little surprised Kornheiser is coming back - he seemed to be setting the stage to make it a one season deal; maybe he got better with the criticism as season progressed. He never looked comfortable in the booth to me.

 

[cobalt_27]

Brilliant move to put him in the booth...HOWEVER...till they replace the other 2 stooges this will continue to be one of the worst botths on the air. I love Jaws but Mike Tirico is bar none the worst play by play guy to call an NFL game I have ever listened to.Tirico for those that do not know, had a run in similar to that of Hal Reynolds for ESPN about a decade ago...as you may recall he used to do the nightly ESPN show...he had a sexual harrassment suit that went away quietly but ESPN went ahead and sent him out on the road. I might be giving an abbreviated version of the story but that is pretty much the jist of it. And he's boring to boot.

What does one have to do with the other?Anyhow, I think Tirico's solid. I like(d) Mike Patrick better, but I have no real issue with Tirico doing PBP.I :wuv: TK. That being said, I can take it or leave it with him in the booth on Monday nights. I think Tirico and Jaws would do an excellent job on their own, but I'm still open to having Kornheiser in front of a microphone under any format and on any day of the week.

 

[cstu]

Talk about an upgrade at the position! I'm a little surprised Kornheiser is coming back - he seemed to be setting the stage to make it a one season deal; maybe he got better with the criticism as season progressed. He never looked comfortable in the booth to me.

Kornheiser and Jaws should be great,

 

[fatness]

This is the definition of "upgrading the position".

 

[nygiants56]

Great news. Now I can actually watch MNF,

with the volume turned up.

Jaws is a student of the game who should

bring some valuable insight to the booth,

as opposed to Theezman who is a condescending

know-it-all, who never seems to let anyone else

finish a sentence.

Let's just end this "three in the booth" farce.

Tony Korn should be the next to go.

Jaws is fantastic! Now, if we could just replace Kornheiser with **** Vermeil..Imaging that booth.wow, that would be impressive.

 

[Tackling Dummies]

I love Jaws but Mike Tirico is bar none the worst play by play guy to call an NFL game I have ever listened to.

Worse than Gumbel doing the NFL games? Gumble couldn't even get the names right half the time.Tirico isn't the gold standard, but at least he doens't inspire disinterest like Gumbel.

I normally don't get too upset about any announcing team, but Gumbel is without peer the worst announcer e-v-a-h.You might as well mute it if he's on.

 

[stugnut]

This season Jaworski got to work one Monday Night broadcast as an analyst when ESPN opened the season with a doubleheader.

Jaworski and **** Vermeil were the analysts while Brad Nessler called the opening Oakland-San Diego game.

And that was one of the best called games of the season. This is really good news.

 

[BDubs]