As with all national broadcasters, Cris Collinsworth has had to deal with his fair share of critics in Philadelphia who believe that he has a bias against the Eagles.
Quite the contrary is the case, Collinsworth says.
In an appearance Tuesday on The Dan Patrick Show, Collinsworth was asked how he would describe the atmosphere in Philadelphia, having experienced it both as a player and broadcaster.
"I would say electric," Collinsworth said.
"...I think it's the hardest [place to play at]," Collinsworth continued. "There's an intensity that goes with Philadelphia that I think is kind of unlike anything else. And even though they can be very hard on their team, you damn well better not be. They're very familial in how in how they treat their teams ... they're gonna beat them up on talk radio and they're gonna do all that stuff ... but there's a real passion for it.
"I actually, it's one of my favorite places to call a game. Because it's a big city, but it also still loves sports, and loves football. And that's not true everywhere. There are some cities that you go there and it's part of the fabric and it's an important part, but you don't feel like it's all in. Philadelphia, I always felt like they were all in from the time I was a player to a broadcaster."
Collinsworth has broadcast the last two Super Bowl appearances for the Eagles. For Super Bowl XXXIX in February of 2005, Collinsworth was in the FOX booth with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman as the New England Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21. For Super Bowl LII in February of 2018, Collinsworth and Al Michaels had the call for NBC as the Eagles defeated the Patriots 41-33.
This time around, FOX's new No. 1 crew of Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen -- at least until Tom Brady is ready to begin his broadcast career -- will call the Super Bowl matchup between the Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
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