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Easy Listening
LAST WEEK, CBS and Fox announced their NFL broadcast teams for the upcoming season. There are significant changes for each network, the biggest coming at CBS, where Phil Simms moves from the No. 1 crew to NFL Today. Tony Romo takes over Simms's top spot next to Jim Nantz, but that crew didn't make our ranking of most listenable broadcast teams—because Nantz treats every football game with the seriousness of open heart surgery. Check out our top five below and the full list at SI.com/extra-mustard.
1
AL MICHAELS, CRIS COLLINSWORTH, NBC: Al Michaels is the G.O.A.T. Plain and simple. He keeps viewers up to date on the two most important stats in an NFL game: the point spread and the over/under.
2
JOE BUCK, TROY AIKMAN, FOX: Put aside the irrational Joe Buck hate. The guy has become a great NFL play-by-play man. The passion, voice and humor are there each and every week.
3
IAN EAGLE, DAN FOUTS, CBS: Ian Eagle is the most underrated broadcaster in sports. He could easily be the No. 1 voice of the NFL and the NBA.
4
KEVIN BURKHARDT, CHARLES DAVIS, FOX: Burkhardt was great with John Lynch, who left to become the 49ers' GM. Charles Davis is a solid analyst who will never annoy you. That's a big plus.
5
KEVIN HARLAN, RICH GANNON, CBS: Kevin Harlan = best pipes in all of sports broadcasting. With Gus Johnson no longer calling NFL games, Harlan calls an exciting play better than anyone else.
THEY SAID IT
"WE'LL HAVE OUR FANS AND CLEAN UNDERWEAR."
Terry Francona
Indians manager, on the benefits of his team's return to Cleveland after an 11-game, four-city road trip.
SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE
The Falcons' new stadium houses a Chick-fil-A, a restaurant chain that is closed on Sundays.
