The NFL Network is admitting their mistake in hiring Joe Theismann last year. And Matt Millen the year before.
The network’s choice to replace them is going to make a lot of fans, including this one, very happy.
SI.com’s Richard Deitsch reports Mike Mayock will indeed replace Theismann and Millen on NFLN’s Thursday Night Football telecasts next year. Peter King first raised the possibility on Monday. In a terrible bit of self-scouting, NFL Network passed on Mayock last year in favor of Theismann.
The league isn’t commenting on the report yet, and probably won’t make an official announcement for weeks.
Deitsch notes the league could also replace play-by-play man Bob Papa. Gus Johnson is reportedly under consideration for the role.
Papa was never the problem. He does a great job and brings a higher level of familiarity with the NFL than almost any play-by-play guys working presently. He’d work well with such a hardcore football personality like Mayock.
With all that said, we’d enjoy listening to Gus Johnson announce, well, basically anything.
Either way, NFL fans will win with this change in personnel to Mayock. Thanks.