CBS management might be responsible for the best move of the Patriots’ offseason so far. While the network recently re-signed Greg Gumbel to a new contract, the 76-year-old broadcaster is stepping down from his NFL duties.
That’s good news for Patriots fans, who suffered through multiple error-prone Gumbel broadcasts over the last couple of years.
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Gumbel, in addition to regularly misidentifying players, was often behind the action last season. Meanwhile, his partner, ex-safety Adam Archuleta, was wrong about pretty much everything.
Fittingly, Gumbel and Archuleta were on the call for Patriots-Colts, which was one of the more lackluster games of New England’s subpar season.
The low point for Gumbel in the booth came when he called Steelers-Panthers in late December, and kept misidentifying Mitch Trubisky as Carolina QB Sam Darnold.
Gumbel will continue as CBS’ lead college basketball studio host, a role he’s held since 1998. The eldest Gumbel has enjoyed a remarkable career, serving as CBS’ lead NFL announcer for a stretch, and working two Super Bowls. He’s also called MLB, the NBA and Winter Olympics.
But it’s apparent CBS’ fourth team needed an injection of youth. Play-by-play man Andrew Catalon, who works on CBS No. 5 team, is expected to receive the promotion.
That would leave room for CBS to bring in and elevate another young voice. Though networks (and Amazon) spend billions of dollars annually for NFL rights, there is a lack of broadcasting depth. NBC showed us that when it put Tony Dungy on the call for a playoff game.
It’s a good move for CBS, and Gumbel as well.