It was Bob Trumpy who first ventured from Bengals stripes to the broadcast booth after his career concluded. What a parade he started. Dave Lapham, was soon followed by Boomer Esiason, then Anthony Munoz, Sam Wyche and Solomon Wilcots.
But no former Bengal has take his post football broadcasting career, as far as Cris Collinsworth. The Ft. Thomas resident will team with former Reds play by play announcer Al Michael's on NBC's showcase Sunday night game, where he'll succeed the retiring John Madden.
Cris didn't want to comment Thursday, saying that he and his wife Holly had decided to issue a statement through NBC. Because, "I want this week to be all about John."
That is one of the qualities that make Cris such a valued member of the networks front line teams, Olympics included.
Cris always had a 'Plan B' if 'A' didn't pan out. For instance, he wasn't sure he'd make it in the NFL, so he took the LSAT, a law school preparatory exam. How many other NFL receivers, can say they had law school as a fall back position?
As for ironies related to his elevation to Sunday Night Football? Well there is the fact that Al Michaels’ big career break came when he became the Reds play by play man.
Not to mention the fact that Cris’ best friend Boomer Esiason had an ill-fated two year pairing with Michaels on ABC's Monday Night Football. Here's hoping Al's gotten a little easier to work with. Cris deserves nothing less.
