If you were hoping for ESPN to make a big splash with their new Monday Night Football broadcast crew, you're going to be disappointed.
When Jason Witten announced he was un-retiring and returning to the Cowboys, many fans got excited. Not just because they didn't like Witten, but because rumors started swirling about ESPN getting a big name to replace him. Peyton Manning was considered an early favorite, and it was widely assumed they would land a big fish.
But rather than overhaul the broadcast crew, the sports media giant is opting to keep things mostly the same, as it won't replace Witten on the broadcast, per Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com. Instead, ESPN is switching to a two-man booth, with Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland calling the game. Lisa Salters will continue to work as the sideline reporter. There were also rumors that ESPN might shake things up and replace the whole team, but those turned out not to be true.
Last year's arrangement was widely panned, as things were awkward from the start. It became a weekly tradition for fans to roast Witten's performances on social media, and the three-man call with McFarland providing commentary while roving the sideline just never worked out.
Hopefully with a more traditional setup they'll be able to better figure things out. Tessitore will handle the play by play while McFarland will provide the color commentary. Witten's flop was especially disappointing since he was being compared to Tony Romo, who has drawn rave reviews for his work with CBS. Witten will now look to get the last word on the field if he can have a successful season with Dallas.
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