By now it's all over the Internet that ESPN punted Joe Theisman from the Monday Night Football booth in favor of Ron Jaworski.  The question I have:  why now?

This is a move that would have been better off made when ESPN assumed ownership of television's top sports franchise.  After all, ESPN moved Theisman's broadcast partners Mike Patrick and Paul Maguire out when they essentially switched nights and TV contracts a couple of years back.

Hiring Mike Tirico for MNF was a no-brainer.  He's intelligent, well-versed in an endless number of sports and generally classy.  It was bold hiring Pardon the Interruption and the Washington Post's Tony Kornheiser.  They missed an opportunity to brand MNF as their own initially.

Was Theisman knowledgeable?  He certainly was.  And Lord knows he didn't lack for opinions.  But what was once attractive isn't any longer. Part of the dilemma with Theisman is that you know you're going to get those opinions and they were often in your face, completely lacking subtlety.  It didn't hurt that it often seemed that you risked his consternation in the booth if you disagreed with what he had to say.

Norby Williamson, a suit at ESPN, said that they want to find a prominent place in ESPN football coverage for Theisman.  He'd fit in perfectly on Sunday NFL Countdown, a show that welcomes bold, brash opinions.  Goodness knows Chris Berman put up with Michael Irvin long enough.

Will Jaworski work out?  Who knows for sure.  What I do know from watching him on NFL Matchup is that he has an uncanny ability to breakdown plays so that Joe or Jane Average football fan could understand them and he does so in a way that isn't condescending.

I shall have thoughts on this later, but here it is from ESPN's own computer. Their news release about Theisman being replaced:

Sports television’s signature series, ESPN’s Monday Night Football, will kick off its 38^th season with a new line-up when longtime ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski joins Mike Tirico and Tony Kornheiser in the booth, and sideline reporters Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya.

   Jaworski will occupy the analyst role previously held by Joe Theismann, who has been offered a prominent football analyst role with ESPN. 

“This new lineup will enhance our presentation of Monday Night Football, our most important property,” said Norby Williamson, executive vice president, studio and remote production, ESPN.  “Ron has covered the NFL from many different perspectives, and he is totally tied into the issues and trends from around the league. “We appreciate the work Joe has done for 19 years and continue to talk with him about another high-profile football role with ESPN.” 

Jaworski’s passion for football and his knowledge of all things NFL have made him a fan favorite on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown and other studio shows.  Following a 17-year NFL career (1973-89), most notably as quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jaworski joined ESPN in 1990.  He has worked in various capacities – sideline reporter, game-site reporter, host and as both a studio and game analyst. 

 He was a fixture on ESPN’s NFL studio programs last season, including Sunday NFL Countdown, NFL PrimeTime and NFL Match-Up, a show he will continue to do.  Jaworski has also appeared as a weekly ‘Five Good Minutes’ guest on Monday editions of Pardon the Interruption with Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon and worked as an analyst during the San Diego Chargers-Oakland Raiders game as part of ESPN’s 2006 season-opening NFL doubleheader.  He continues to be a major contributor to ESPN’s annual NFL Draft coverage.