Posted in Media
4 comments
11/12 2010

Call of the Day: Does Bob Papa Get Hazard Pay For Working Thursday Nights With Theismann & Millen?

Posted by Dan Levy.

I was thinking about skipping the Call of the Day today — or going with something from a different sport — so I didn’t feel obligated to force Joe Theismann and Matt Millen upon us any more than the NFL Network has inexplicably decided to do. But then I listened to two calls from Thursday night’s game and it just made this Photoshop way too obvious.

Here’s part of the transcription from the key third-down fingertip grab by Michael Jenkins during Atlanta’s last drive (WATCH THE PLAY HERE):

Papa: “Did he get the feet in, at the 44? Officials say yes.”

Millen: “He controlled it. He controlled the ball all the way through. Nice catch.”

…

Theismann: “This is one that could go either way. Truly.”

Let’s stop right there for one second. Millen saw a catch at realtime, but upon review, Theismann adds that it could go either way. That’s NOT analysis. The play is already under review at this point, so obviously it could go either way. That’s just Theismann’s way of getting in on the conversation when he actually has nothing to add. It’s a device to buy time, but it’s a three-man booth, so he doesn’t need to buy time. How has he never figured that out? Back to it…

Papa: “Ball hits the fingertips. Does he re-grip right there?”

Millen: “Well, he’s gotta try to pull the thing in.”

Theismann: “But he never does.”

Millen: “No, no, watch his fingers. He’s gonna hold it with his fingers. He’s caught it with his fingers.” (note: wild rewind and play visual recap to accompany this explanation.)

Theismann: “But…but…”

Millen: “And he controls it with his fingers and he’s going to try to bring it into his body.”

Thesimann: “But see if the ball was moving. I would say that is not a catch. Once they look at it, they’re going to see the ball moving in his hands and they’re going to determine it is not a catch.”

Papa: “Let’s see right here…he has it in his fingertips…”

Millen: “Go ahead, and he keeps control with his fingertips.”

Papa: “He drags the right foot…yeah, you know he controls it with his fingertips and –”

Millen: “In his fingertips.”

Papa: “– and look, he keeps it in his fingertips — “

Millen: “Exactly.”

Papa: “– through the end of the catch.”

Theismann: “I KNOW. I’m looking at this. I’m just telling you, ah, it looks like it’s moving.”

This goes on for a few more seconds and at one point Papa ends the conversation with “the left hand never comes off the ball, Joe,” which could have been code for, “you’re wrong Joe, why not just admit it?” But that’s always been Theismann’s biggest issue: he’d rather talk us into the ground convincing himself that he’s right than actually watch the play and realize that there’s no way the referee is going to find indisputable evidence to overturn the call.

Millen? Well he just loves using that clicker.

That, by the way, may not have been the worst late-game interaction between the three. How about the game-winning touchdown that featured a serious push off by Roddy White. (WATCH THAT PLAY HERE)

First, Millen lauded Matt Ryan for having the presence of mind to elude the pressure. Then, after Theismann pointed out that the play was actually designed that way, Millen agrees with how good a call it was. It was Papa who noted that the defender was upset about getting pushed, which (in the clip), Theismann completely dismisses.

To be fair, maybe they showed more replays and Millen or Theismann made a bigger issue out of the push, but it’s never good when your play-by-play man is the one pointing out a potential blown call that decided a game.

Next week, can Papa just do the game himself?

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Posted on November 12, 2010 at 6:52AM

 

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  1. colehaus
    11/12 2010

    THANK YOU!!!
    Matt Millen has never been a good commentator — waay back before he was a LOUSY GM and drove the Lions into the abyss, I would turn off the sound when he was calling games I felt the need to watch.

    I was kind of relieved to have him off the air once he went to the Lions….but felt sorry for them since I was fairly certain he wasn’t going to succeed as a GM any more than he had IMHO as a broadcaster.

    Anytime I see him on a broadcast now – I change the station. I’ve seen where ESPN is testing him on college games as well as making him a staple on Monday nights….but I simply cannot listen to anything he says. So much drivel pops out of his mouth, it’s ridiculous.

    Seriously — listen to him for 5 minutes and see if he says anything worthwhile.

    I’m thankful to see someone else finally recognizes him for what he is….an airbag taking all the money he can.

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  3. WhoDAT9
    11/12 2010

    Matt Millen was absolutely horrible last night, not to mention every Monday on MNF. I literally muted the game last night, and every Monday when Steve Young makes good points all he does is argue like a retard. He has no sense at anything, complete moron. NFL NETWORK, ESPN PLEASE FIRE HIM!!!!!

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