Matt Ryan joins 'The NFL Today.' And these long-timers are out at the CBS pregame show
Sounds like CBS Sports is doing some spring cleaning.
The network announced Monday, April 29 that it had hired recently retired quarterback Matt Ryan to appear on "The NFL Today," CBS' NFL pregame show.
Fine, but that's burying the bigger story: CBS also announced that longtime analysts Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms (both former quarterbacks, as well) would not be returning to the show. (Esiason will remain with the network in other capacities, according to a CBS Sports release.)
It's an interesting move, and a forward-looking one — but also one that leaves the show without a lot of old-school NFL firepower, at least in terms of name recognition.
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How long were Esiason and Simms at CBS?
The moves are not a shock — there was some question as to who would return next season — but it is a big change. Simms was with the network for 26 years, first as the lead analyst for NFL games before moving to "The NFL Today" in 2017. His replacement as lead analyst? Tony Romo.
Esiason, who played for the Arizona Cardinals in 1996, has been with CBS for 22 years.
“Phil and Boomer set the standard of excellence for NFL analysts,” David Berson, the president and CEO of CBS Sports, said in a statement. “We are so grateful for their immeasurable contributions to CBS Sports. We genuinely thank them for being incredible teammates and for their passion, dedication and commitment to elevating CBS Sports’ NFL coverage every season.”
Former Arizona Cardinal J.J. Watt is part of 'The NFL Today'
Simms and, especially, Esiason brought a certain crankiness to the show, not quite old-man-yelling-at-clouds energy, but that's the idea. Your mileage may vary on how much you enjoy that kind of thing, but there was a familiarity to it.
Ryan joins host James Brown on "The NFL Today," as well as analysts Nate Burleson, Bill Cowher and, intermittently, former Cardinal J.J. Watt.
Does anyone in that lineup stand out as must-watch? Not immediately, but time will tell.
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Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. X: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: CBS pregame show 'The NFL Today' shakes up. Who's in and who's out
