While it's easy to think that NFL players are the main targets of criticism on game day, just about everyone is under the microscope. Coaches have their play-calling questioned. Referees are lambasted for bad calls. Even the folks calling the game find themselves in the crosshairs on occasion. Al Michaels has experienced that reality firsthand.
Despite being a living legend, the play-by-play announcer has been facing online accusations that he's not at his invested best calling Thursday Night Football. He's insisted that isn't the case, and ahead of Week 13's TNF trip to Dallas, his broadcast partner Kirk Herbstreit weighed in.
Although the color commentator suggested that a broadcaster's voice will always reflect the occasion and Thursday Night Football doesn't always pack the same punch as other occasions. Ultimately, though, he explained that Michaels isn't too concerned about the online sentiments.
"He hears the noise. I don't think he's like 'I'll show them. I'm gonna really bring it this week.' He definitely isn't doing that," Herbstreit said, according to a USA Today write-up. "He has more of an eff you attitude about it, than 'I'm going to show them.' He thinks it's a bunch of (expletive). I think it's a bunch of (expletive). And I think it's just a narrative that social media's kind of running with."
And whether that's 100 percent true or not, Michaels still managed to regain his fastball and throw a bit of on-air shade last night.
Michaels Found Irony in DaRon Bland's Play
If you've watched enough sports games, you're probably familiar with the "Curse of the Commentator," in which a player who was just praised for something (let's say his passing accuracy) immediately falters (and, in this hypothetical, throws an interception).
On Thursday Night Football, though, the NFL jinxed Dallas defensive back DaRon Bland.
During the first quarter of the contest, DK Metcalf burnt Bland for a 73-yard touchdown. During the subsequent extra point, Michaels noted that the second-year player had just been crowned the NFC Defensive Player of the Month.
The only issue, however, was that November hadn't concluded. And now Bland's month included surrendering a big-time touchdown.
"Bland just won Defensive Player of the Month for November, but obviously the voters didn't count November 30th," Michaels quipped during the extra point.
In fairness to the defensive back, though, he did pull in an interception later in the evening. He also finished the night with six total tackles.
And while Bland might not have appreciated the one-liner (if he could have heard it), social media largely enjoyed it.
Dov Kleinman, for example, shared Michaels' words on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, before adding a couple of skull emojis. Those usually signify some combination of "dying laughing" and "I can't believe he really said that."
Elsewhere, other users chimed in, noting that the veteran broadcaster hadn't completely lost his touch. "He's still got it folks," one said, while another wrote: "Al Michaels still has his fastball."
HES STILL GOT IT FOLKS
— 🏟️ Lord Of Props • Contests, Live Takes, & More (@LordOfProps) December 1, 2023And while one game doesn't necessarily prove a point (correlation doesn't equal causation and all that), it probably helped that the Cowboys and Seahawks played a rather compelling game of football. As Herbstreit said, a broadcaster's energy is going to largely mirror the environment they're in. And if you want action, a 70-plus-yard touchdown at the start of a game between two playoff teams is pretty close to perfect.
But, in that same vein, the rest of the season will probably be a bit more challenging. The upcoming Thursday Night Football slate features the Patriots at the Steelers, the Chargers at the Raiders, the Saints at the Rams and the Jets at the Browns. That final contest could theoretically be saved by Aaron Rodgers, but it's unlikely that the Jets will be in the playoff hunt by then, even if he's back under center.
And while TNF contests between Week 13 and Week 17 can theoretically be flexed, the 28-day notice required suggests that there will be minimal changes, if any.
Will Michaels be able to keep his online critics happy during those contests? The on-field action might not help, but, if November 30 is any indication, dry wit is also welcome.
And who knows, maybe some less-than-ideal games will give the veteran broadcaster the chance to uncork a few more zingers.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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