Gumbel decides to leave NFL Network

Bryant Gumbel has decided to give up his duties as the play-by-play voice for the NFL Network’s eight-game package of NFL games, NFL Network announced Firday. Gumbel served as the play-by-play announcer for NFL Network’s Thursday and Saturday Night Football games for the past two seasons.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to call NFL Network games the past two years, which was a new experience for me," said Gumbel. "But we've agreed that we'd all be better served going in different directions. There are a lot of talented people at NFL Network. I thank them, I wish them well, and I have no doubt that they will be very successful going forward."

Gumbel, who has won multiple Emmy awards throughout his distinguished career, teamed with Cris Collinsworth the past two seasons on the NFL Network games. NFL Network will begin a search for a new play-by-play announcer to work alongside Collinsworth immediately.

"We appreciate everything Bryant did in helping us launch our NFL Network game telecasts," said NFL Network President and CEO Steve Bornstein. "Bryant helped create interest in our first foray into televising NFL regular-season games. He is one of the great broadcasters of our time and we are honored to have worked with him."


http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsess...d807b681a&template=without-video&confirm=true

 

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/12/its-gumbel-not-mumble-or-bumble/

 

update
The NFL Network on Friday announced the two-year experiment to find out whether Bryant Gumbel could become an NFL play-by-play announcer is over. Bryant, who made plenty of on-air glitches, said, "We've agreed that we'd all be better served going in different directions." A worthy candidate to replace Bryant: Marv Albert, now working NFL Monday night radio games.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2008-04-13-masters-coverage_N.htm