Posted on 08/21/2006 2:01:05 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
NFL to discuss Gumbel remarks
Future with network up in air after harsh criticism
Posted: Monday August 21, 2006 1:59PM; Updated: Monday August 21, 2006 2:30PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- The job status of Bryant Gumbel, scheduled to be the play-by-play broadcaster on the eight late-season games on the NFL's in-house network, could be the subject of a discussion by NFL officials after Gumbel's suggestion that Paul Tagliabue show his successor "where he keeps Gene Upshaw's leash."
Tagliabue said Monday that incoming commissioner Roger Goodell and Steve Bornstein, who runs the NFL Network, will discuss the remarks after Goodell takes office Sept. 1.
Gumbel addressed his closing remarks on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel last Tuesday to Goodell.
"Before he cleans out his office," Gumbel said. "Have Paul Tagliabue show you where he keeps Gene Upshaw's leash. By making the docile head of the players union his personal pet, your predecessor has kept the peace without giving players the kind of guarantees other pros take for granted. Try to make sure no one competent ever replaces Upshaw on your watch."
Tagliabue's response: "What Gumbel said about Gene Upshaw and our owners is about as irresponsible as anything I've heard in a long time."
Upshaw did not immediately return a call placed by The Associated Press.
However, a number of owners have said that they thought they had given away too much to the union in a last-minute six-year contract extension that added almost a billion dollars in the league's contribution to the players.
And Upshaw told the AP several weeks ago that he was able to get more from the owners than he had agreed to just a few days before the owners finally agreed on the new deal.
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
Goodbye, Gumbel! We barely knew ye. Thankfully.
I suspect he's probably on his way out. Thank God.
It was bad enough that they had hired Chris Collinsworth but when they picked Gumbel I swore I'd listen to the games on the radio.
Gumbel has always been a self-important preening sleaze.
I hope he gets booted. I would hate my Sunday afternoon football get tainted with images of this leftwing nutzoid.
Always smart to rip the outgoing boss when he hand picks his successor. /s
This leads me to the inescapable conclusion that the NFL has its' collective head up its' a$$.
We already have to listen Maddan and the rest of the assorted nuts!!!!!!!!!!
Ditto.
He is insufferable. His brother, however, is quite good.
"...Few people can succeed so well at being a serial a--hole...."
Or race baiter.
He is. I can't believe they're brothers.
I actually like him as a play by play guy. He's going back to that because CBS got James Brown back. He's teaming up with Dierdorf.
Gumbel knows that the NFL won't do anything. As soon as they attempt to give him even a slap on the wrist he'll throw out the race card. He's done it in the past and I don't see him passing up the opportunity to save this gig.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.