It makes perfect sense, really. Cris Collinsworth replaced John Madden in the NBC Sunday Night Football booth, and Madden is responsible for changing the face of gaming. So naturally, Collinsworth should have his own video game too.
It doesn't have the bells and whistles of the latest Madden offering, but if you're partial to old-school, hard-nosed football, it'll be right up your alley. It also helps if you still have an Atari 2600 laying around.
The former Lions general manager and team president, who had cornered the market on Detroit's hatred until Sidney Crosby sauntered along, will be the new analyst on the NFL Network's Thursday Night Football broadcasts.
Millen will replace Cris Collinsworth -- John Madden's successor on Monday Night Football -- and will team with Bob Papa in the NFL Network booth.
Mr. Tony the columnist and Pardon the Interruption co-host was nothing like Mr. Tony the third wheel in the Monday Night Football booth, and his departure -- whether on his own terms or otherwise -- is a welcome change. Before ESPN named Gruden to replace Kornheiser, NFL Network had similar plans: they wanted Chucky to move into Cris Collinsworth's seat (Cris graduated to Sunday Night Football after John Madden retired) and work alongside Bob Papa on the eight Thursday night games.
Tony Kornheiser gets very mad when I sit in his chair, pick up his personalized bobblehead from the studio set and shake the doll. In fact, even when I don't have the privilege of sometimes subbing for him on ESPN's Pardon The Interruption, he seems to dislike me -- maybe because I have a full head of hair or, more likely, because I'm intellectually beneath him.
That's OK. I am grateful anyway.
I thank him because he did the sportswriting profession proud in his three years on Monday Night Football. Kornheiser technically isn't a sportswriter anymore, having escaped the dying newspaper business like many of us, but when he was hired for one of the most high-profile assignments in sports television, he was dismissed by many viewers and critics as a columnist painfully out of his league.
John Madden's retirement became a little less tear-filled today when NBC announced that Cris Collinsworth will be his official replacement on Sunday Night Football, joining Al Michaels in the booth.
Two years ago, Todd Haley was the Cowboys' wide receivers coach. In addition to his traditional job responsibilities (breaking down film, helping craft the game plan), he also had to make sure Terrell Owens was happy in his new home.
Haley was pretty good at the former but failed miserably at the latter. In fact, owner Jerry Jonescontemplated disciplinary action against him. Welcome to Dallas, Todd! Where the inmates have been running the asylum since 1989. (Actually, Haley had berated T.O. for being tardy, and the news somehow made its way to the media, which is what bothered Jones. That's the story, anyway.)
FanHouse's resident referee will chime in weekly with thoughts on major topics relating to officiating. We call it The Zebra Report. Matt Snyder is a high school official with eight years experience. While this is like a third-year resident critiquing the work of a world-renowned surgeon, it's still better than someone who has never worn the stripes.
Wow, this was a long weekend to those who support the boys in stripes. That group may only consist of myself at this point, but I still do. Those people who like to call the officials "blind" -- which, by the way, is incredibly uncreative and lame -- or believe they are out to screw a team out of a game, really don't have any idea what it takes to officiate at that level. Hell, I don't. I do know what it's like to be on the field and be a constant scapegoat for people who aren't accountable for themselves and/or their favorite team.
Inside the NFL is the longest-running show on cable TV, but as it moves from its 30-year home on HBO to Showtime this season, it will be hard to recognize.
Michael Hiestand of USA Today reports that the only studio panelist from last year who will come back this year is Cris Collinsworth. Dan Marino, who had a long tenure on the show with HBO, will not be invited to migrate over to Showtime. CBS Sports head Sean McManus, who is overseeing the show's transition to Showtime, explains:
"We didn't want to just have CBS people. And we wanted a link to the HBO show. It was a tough one, in respect to Dan, to go with Cris."
Phil Simms will join Collinsworth in the analyst role. James Brown will get the job of studio host, which Bob Costas has filled in recent years. McManus undoubtedly would have loved to keep Costas around, but Costas's contract with HBO would prevent that.
Madden NFL 09 will also feature a network-inspired broadcast presentation. Players will benefit from the authentic football knowledge of an in-booth play-by-play and color commentary team featuring Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond. In addition, numerous graphical enhancements have been made, including realistic weather and grass, sleeker player models and exterior stadium views.
That's kind of big news. First off, it pretty much confirms the Hammond/Collinsworth team on NFL Network (imagine Bryant Gumbel on the game). Second, it takes us away from having John Madden and Pat Summerall/Al Michaels in our ears.
Apparently John Madden will be in the game in some form (I mean, it is the 20th anniversary edition and Brett Favre is on the cover) but it hasn't been revealed.
And now something for the discerning fan: Collinsworth NFL 10. 
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FanHouse's resident referee will chime in weekly with thoughts on major topics relating to officiating. We call it The 
Inside the NFL is the longest-running show on cable TV, but as it moves from its 30-year home on HBO to Showtime this season, it will be hard to recognize. 
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