Best Active Commentator Group

[LCL]

In honor of John Madden, who do you believe are the best commentator duos? Feel free to rank them.

 

[clarkgriswold]

I really wish I could mix and match. I really tend to like play by play guys that announce and know when to shut up and let the game happen. I like insightful color guys. Of those pairs, I like Nessler and Danielson, but I really miss Vern Lundquist. I don't mind Kevin Burkhart but Brady still needs work. Greg Olsen was one of my favorites but got moved for Brady. Romo started strong but has dropped off.

 

[LCL]

I really wish I could mix and match. I really tend to like play by play guys that announce and know when to shut up and let the game happen. I like insightful color guys. Of those pairs, I like Nessler and Danielson, but I really miss Vern Lundquist. I don't mind Kevin Burkhart but Brady still needs work. Greg Olsen was one of my favorites but got moved for Brady. Romo started strong but has dropped off.

After yesterday, I can safely say that I find Gus Johnson the most annoying commentator. I can't get used to listening to Danielson since he was/is a Bama homer. Keith Jackson is probably always going to be my favorite college. The Madden/Summerall duo is hard to top.

 

[cjb5656]

Out of your choices, the Al Michaels/Kirk Herbstreit combo. Unlike when he does college games, Kirk doesn’t have to worry about showing bias and can just offer analysis. Michaels isn’t as smooth as he was in his younger years, but he’s still a total pro.

 

[AEW Champion]

1. Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy
2. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
3. Jason Benetti and Brock Huard
4. Ian Eagle and Charles Davis
5. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit
6. Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson
7. Joe Davis and Greg Olsen
8. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth
9. Joe Tessitore and Jesse Palmer
10. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo
11. Kevin Harlan and Trent Green
12. Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit
13. Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady
14. Bob Wischusen and Louis Riddick
15. Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek

Unranked: Gus Johnson — awful; stick to basketball

 

[AEW Champion]

By the way, I feel awful about ranking Tirico and Harlan as low as I did, but their partners don’t do enough to keep their ranking at the top of the heap.

 

[wolves82]

As the best duo, I went with Fowler/Herby. The play-by-play guys that I like best (Nessler, Burkhardt, Tirico) are dragged down by their partners.

Favorite NFL duo for me is actually Ian Eagle and his partner (Charles Davis?).

 

[underthelights]

Tom Brady makes the games almost unwatchable. Add Payton and Eli to the list for Monday Night Football. The Manningcast is my go to for MNF. It's fun to listen to them break down drives as they happen paired with their brand of humor. I like that Belichick has become a regular as well.

 

[14Red]

Best Pro - Buck/ Aikman
Best college - Johnson/ Klatt
Underrated, - Benetti/ Huard

Johnson/ Klatt, while good, sometimes get way over the top with the teams they promote. When Fox had the SEC, Klatt was a SEC homer, as soon as they went Big Ten, he's all Big ten now. A little fake that way. Johnson has alot of energy, but very much a Buckeye homer. I love it when the bill Ohio State/ Northwester as an "epic matchup".

 

[AEW Champion]

Best Pro - Buck/ Aikman
Best college - Johnson/ Klatt
Underrated, - Benetti/ Huard

Johnson/ Klatt, while good, sometimes get way over the top with the teams they promote. When Fox had the SEC, Klatt was a SEC homer, as soon as they went Big Ten, he's all Big ten now. A little fake that way. Johnson has alot of energy, but very much a Buckeye homer. I love it when the bill Ohio State/ Northwester as an "epic matchup".

FOX to my knowledge has never had SEC games except for when they had the BCS bowl rights from 2006 through 2009’s seasons, which obviously included the SEC winning all those titles in that span.

Gus Johnson is not a good football announcer.

 

[14Red]

FOX to my knowledge has never had SEC games except for when they had the BCS bowl rights from 2006 through 2009’s seasons, which obviously included the SEC winning all those titles in that span.

Gus Johnson is not a good football announcer.

Maybe Klatt was at another network before, but I just remember he was a big SEC guy before he started doing big ten games, then turned on a dime. Still like him, but too many times today in sports, it seems like the networks and announcers feel like they have to "sell" us. We're fans, we can just watch the game and make our own judgements. Klatt's a Colorado alum but all the banter for Coach Prime and QB Sanders is over the top. They've not won a thing.

 

[WJ-OSU-STEELERS]

Maybe Klatt was at another network before, but I just remember he was a big SEC guy before he started doing big ten games, then turned on a dime. Still like him, but too many times today in sports, it seems like the networks and announcers feel like they have to "sell" us. We're fans, we can just watch the game and make our own judgements. Klatt's a Colorado alum but all the banter for Coach Prime and QB Sanders is over the top. They've not won a thing.

But Colorado already has won. Before Sanders (who I completely dislike), Colorado had not won anything since their Hail Mary TD victory vs Michigan which was 25+ years ago. Since Sanders Colorado has become relevant, tied for the B12 conference championship this year, will possibly have the Heisman Trophy winner and two Top 5 NFL draft picks in the 2025 Draft and most importantly…..applications for admission to school at Colorado has increased by 50% since Sanders was hired as Head Coach.

Colorado knocked it out of the park.

 

[14Red]

But Colorado already has won. Before Sanders (who I completely dislike), Colorado had not won anything since their Hail Mary TD victory vs Michigan which was 25+ years ago. Since Sanders Colorado has become relevant, tied for the B12 conference championship this year, will possibly have the Heisman Trophy winner and two Top 5 NFL draft picks in the 2025 Draft and most importantly…..applications for admission to school at Colorado has increased by 50% since Sanders was hired as Head Coach.

Colorado knocked it out of the park.

Ok, lets dive into that. Colorado's "new" conference is a joke. Even in a conference like the big ten, Colorado would be .500 and in the SEC probably a 3-4 win team. I'll wait and see how good Sanders and Hunter actually are as pros. Hunter is the best athlete on the field in the games he plays in, won't be that way at the next level.

 

[WJ-OSU-STEELERS]

Ok, lets dive into that. Colorado's "new" conference is a joke. Even in a conference like the big ten, Colorado would be .500 and in the SEC probably a 3-4 win team. I'll wait and see how good Sanders and Hunter actually are as pros. Hunter is the best athlete on the field in the games he plays in, won't be that way at the next level.

And one could easily say that Indiana would not be 11-1 if they had played in the SEC.

The Sanders QB, I too am skeptical of him having success at the NFL level but Hunter was a 5 star originally headed to Alabama but then signed with Deon at Jacksonville St. Hunter is the #1 rated CB in the 2025 NFL Draft and the #1 or #2 rated WR. Hunter’s talent & skill set is obvious and he will most likely be the 1st non qb off the draft board.

 

[14Red]

And one could easily say that Indiana would not be 11-1 if they had played in the SEC.

The Sanders QB, I too am skeptical of him having success at the NFL level but Hunter was a 5 star originally headed to Alabama but then signed with Deon at Jacksonville St. Hunter is the #1 rated CB in the 2025 NFL Draft and the #1 or #2 rated WR. Hunter’s talent & skill set is obvious and he will most likely be the 1st non qb off the draft board.

Absolutely, and I'm an Indiana fan.

Oh and everyone rated #1 in the draft has long great careers. It's just an opinion and sorry to be cynical, for some reason everyone goes ga ga over Deion Sanders and his deal with Colorado. And for some reason NFL execs fall right in line with it. Sanders has a great arm and is an athlete, but that's not the elixir of NFL quarterbacking.

Back to Indiana, and this will continue to be the major issue with college football and these huge conferences. At the start of the season, you could had said that IU had a difficult schedule, with last year's championship opponents Washington and Michigan, along with Ohio State on the slate. Well, Washington and Michigan turned out to be mediocre this year (although we somehow never seem to ding Ohio State for losses?). Anyway, IU also fortunatley missed Oregon and Penn State, although I think the Hoosiers could play with the Nittany Lions. But I see this happening every year as some school will get a favorable schedule as the conferences are too big. Indiana hit the lottery this year, along with being better than normal.
I think the theme is the 12 teams who've had the best seasons, not the 12 best teams. It's all for TV anyway.

 

[Crusaders]

Kevin Harlan is the best announcer in the world and it's crazy he's always relegated to like the C game on CBS. Harlan and Romo would be a great team.

 

[wolves82]

just pointing out that the poll should have put Chris Fowler with Herbstriet, not Rece Davis. I do like Fowler. Kind of growing tired of Herby, but he does know his stuff. Just stop telling fans how they should behave in the Shoe - we will boo if it is called for.