Chris Berman and Trent Dilfer to Handle ESPN MNF Opening Nightcap

http://sportsmediajournal.com/ ESPN announced today that Chrie Berman and Trent Dilfer will be in the booth for the second half of its season-opening NFL double header on September 10th. The pair will work the telecast featuring the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders with a kick-off set for 10:15p.m. ET. The new ESPN two-man booth featuring Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden will have the opener which will pit the Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens. Prior to the regular season debut, Berman and Dilfer will also call the Arizona Cardinals-Tennessee Titans MNF preseason game on Aug. 23rd. “I have worked with Boom for four years now and I’ve never been around someone who loves the NFL more than him,” said Dilfer. “I firmly believe that his passion and mine for the game of football will translate to the audience.” ESPN has had a number of broadcaster combinations through the years for the second half of these opening NFL double headers. Here are all the combinations since 2006: Year Game ESPN Commentators 2006 San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders Brad Nessler, Ron Jaworski and Dick Vermeil 2007 Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic and Mike Ditka 2008 Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders Greenberg, Golic and Ditka 2009 San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders Greenberg, Golic and Steve Young 2010 San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs Nessler and Trent Dilfer 2011 Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos Nessler and Dilfer 2012 San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders Chris Berman and Dilfer There will be a lot of debate over ESPN’s decision as we get closer to opening night. And as much as I would rather see someone other than Berman for this game, it is only one game and most viewers watch for the action on the field, not the announcers in the booth. We who analyze sports media sometimes forget that.