McFarland is considered a rising star among those who worked with him in college footballESPN IMAGES
ESPN's Booger McFarland this season will serve as the "first-ever field analyst" for "MNF," according to Richard Deitsch of THE ATHLETIC. ESPN execs have "contemplated this position for some time and viewers saw a glimpse of it for the Pro Bowl with Louis Riddick serving as an on-field analyst." With McFarland's addition, the official "MNF" team, which is "expected to be announced later this week or early next, will be: play-by-play announcer Joe Tessitore, analyst Jason Witten, McFarland and sideline reporter Lisa Salters." McFarland is "considered a rising star among those who worked with him in college football," including ESPN VP/College Sports Lee Fitting, who has added "MNF" as part of his responsibilities. ESPN execs saw "great potential with Witten’s intellect, storytelling ability, play-call analysis and his ability to blend humor into a broadcast." Deitsch: "Clearly, Witten was not as polished as some of the others who tried out such as Kurt Warner, Matt Hasselbeck and Riddick, but ESPN brass believes that putting Witten in a summer boot camp with Tessitore and executive producer Jay Rothman will help" (THEATHLETIC.com, 5/6). Tampa Bay Times Sports tweeted, "It's a meteoric climb for Booger McFarland, who went from a co-host on a now defunct sports radio station in Tampa to ESPN's signature football broadcast in less than four years" (TWITTER.com, 5/7). USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell wondered if Witten "can catch fire" like CBS' Tony Romo did. As if replacing Jon Gruden in the "MNF" booth "isn’t enough, the manner in which Romo made it look so easy adds context to expectations for Witten." His success on the big stage will "undoubtedly hinge on whether he can develop a TV persona that wins with the consumers." Rothman: “We aren’t chasing a star. We’re not trying to ride the Tony Romo wave. ... I’m not worried about how he’ll handle the bright lights. The Cowboys thing gives you bright lights" (USATODAY.com, 5/5).
UNDER THE RADAR: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote the "sleeper, and more interesting," football broadcast move was "made by CBS Sports bringing in former Cardinals coach Bruce Arians to team with Greg Gumbel and Trent Green." There is "no doubt" CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus and his team "will let Arians, a character who has loose lips and a Kangol lid, be Arians." Arians is the "perfect complement to Green, who is mostly an X's and O's guy." And Gumbel will have "no trouble getting these mouths to play off each other." This new trio "could be something special" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/6). THE MMQB's Peter King noted for the first couple of weeks of the '18 season, he will "be sure to find the third-team CBS game." Arians is "witty and smart and not afraid to criticize -- at least that’s the way he’s been with me since the day I met him." King: "I truly hope the homogenization of TV analysts doesn’t get to Arians." If he "stays real, he can be really good" (SI.com, 5/6).
