Former NFLer Pat McAfee in his latest podcast took listeners "behind the scenes of his first big-time football broadcast opportunity," which saw him join the Fox booth to call Lions-Packers on Sunday, according to Matthew VanTryon of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. McAfee said the Lions' fake field goal in the second quarter, which resulted in K Matt Prater throwing a TD pass, was a "gift to me." McAfee: "As soon as I see it happening, you hear me go, 'Ooh!' ... You hear the 'Ooh!' and then you hear me go, 'Touchdown! Let's go!' They had to turn my microphone down so the guy could call it." Despite the experience, McAfee said he would "not guarantee that I will be in a booth next year" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/2). McAfee shortly after Sunday's game tweeted, "That was so much fun.. Thank you @NFLonFOX for the opportunity. I hope I made the game just a little bit more enjoyable for the folks at home. I’ll never ever forget this. Grateful is an understatement." The Athletic's Richard Deitsch wrote, "I really appreciate McAfee being himself here on-air and good on his producers for letting him be him in-broadcast" (TWITTER.com, 12/30).
SHOWING OFF: NBCSPORTS.com's Peter King wrote CBS' Tony Romo had "really good analysis" of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and his TD run against the Browns on Sunday. Romo pointed out how the Jackson spy on the play, Browns CB Damarious Randall, got "faked out by Jackson's play-fake in the backfield, enabling Jackson to run cleanly through the middle for a 25-yard touchdown." King: "So smart" (NBCSPORTS.com, 12/31). THE ATHLETIC's Deitsch named CBS' on air crew of Romo, Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson, along with producer Jim Rikhoff and director Mike Arnold, as his "Broadcast Team of the Year." The emergence of Romo has helped this group "become the NFL's top listen." Romo in '18 was "unafraid to show more of himself on the air, and that's led to some welcome moments of levity for a sport that can be far too serious at times" (THEATHLETIC.com, 12/27).
CAUSE FOR CONFUSION: In Chicago, Phil Thompson wrote Fox' Joe Buck and Troy Aikman calling Bears-Vikings in Week 17 was a "nod to the acclaim the Bears have earned" after going 12-4 and winning the NFC North for the first time since '10. But the broadcast had its "share of hiccups and missed opportunities." Things got off to a "weird start when Buck gave his opening remarks solo." The camera "cut away to the field as Buck talked about playoff seeding, and when it returned, Aikman was sitting beside Buck." Thompson: "Was Aikman late for some reason or was this an homage to the Cris Collinsworth slide-in?" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/1).
FOUTS FUMBLES: WEEI.com's Alex Reimer wrote CBS' Dan Fouts' "charmingly clueless performance was the most entertaining part" of Jets-Patriots in Week 17. Fouts has been "on network television for 30 years and called Super Bowls," but color analyst slots are "not Supreme Court seats." Reimer: "They shouldn't be held indefinitely." CBS' decision to replace Phil Simms with Romo last year "should've been a wakeup call to all networks and NFL producers: don't be afraid to try something new" (WEEI.com, 12/30).
