NFL Network hires Papa to replace Gumbel

Tag : Voice Announcer

Bob Papa will replace Bryant Gumbel as the play-by-play announcerfor NFL Network's Thursday night games this season, the networkformally announced Wednesday. News of Papa's hiring was firstreported late last month.

NFL Network's new team of Papa and analyst Cris Collinsworth willdebut on Thursday, Nov. 6, when the Cleveland Browns play host tothe Denver Broncos. Collinsworth called games with Gumbel that pasttwo season's on the network. Papa has been calling New York Giants games for WFAN-AM and the Giants' radio network since 1995. Healso was the lead play-by-play voice for NFL Europa games on NFLNetwork, including the 2007 World Bowl.

In addition to calling Thursday night games, Papa also willcontribute pregame and postgame reports for NFL Network from Giantsgames, which he will continue to call on radio. He also will writecolumns for NFL.com and contribute to the internet site with chatsand reports. Papa also hosts a show Sirius' NFL Radio channel, has announced NFLgames for Westwood One Radio, will be working his seventh Olympicgames for NBC this summer and calls boxing on HBO.