Sports
Matt Millen returns tonight on the NFL Network
11/12/09 10:20 AM EST
NFL NETWORK
NFL Network Pregame
5pm
Thursday Night Football
Chicago at San Francisco
8pm
Radio
Westwood One
Sirius/XM
Matt Millen will join Bob Papa as the new broadcast team for NFL Network telecasts starting tonight when they telecast the game between Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers.
In the 1990's Millen was thought by many -- myself included -- to be one of the best football analysts in the business and the heir apparent to John Madden. The former Detroit Lions President and CEO has been doing college games for ESPN and serving in the studio on a number of NFL shows. When Cris Collinsworth moved into the NBC Sunday Night Football booth to replace Madden, it seemed fitting that the NFL Network would turn to Millen.
JW » I know you love doing the college games on ESPN But how good is to be doing the NFL games for “The Network.”
Millen » "It is great to be back involved in doing NFL broadcasting again. To be working with a great partner like Bob Papa is a real treat. As for working for the NFL Network that is really wonderful. They are very open, the people are all very professional and they love the game. So to be part of the Thursday Night package is a real honor for me and to be working for the NFL Network just makes a super job even better. "
JW » The first time around you called the games from the perspective of a player. What has being an NFL executive done to help make you a better analyst?
Millen » "Now I am able to look at what went into the game plans, how the rosters were chosen, what the salary cap did to affect what players are on the rosters. In short, I have a far better picture on how each team was assembled. So now I know when the coaches implement a game plan I can better explain to the fans how each player figures into the plan. I am sure that I will still say what were they thinking when they called that play -- but at least my understanding of the entire process will be more complete."
The team of Papa and Millen should quickly become a fan favorite and one of the best duos in the NFL.
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