1. Davis' heavy workload began to take its toll. He worked his weekly 49ers radio gig on Sunday but when he joined the NFL Network weekday morning show at an ungodly early hour, it affected his work on radio broadcasts. More to the point, the 49ers were OK with the set-up at the start but began to waver when Davis did.
2. The 49ers were sensitive to complains both in-house and out regarding Davis' frequent whoops and hollers on-air. Most notably, the New Orleans contest in 2011. That alone wasn't the reason why Davis is gone but it's not something you put on the resume.
3. Davis, an ex-player with more than enough football knowledge acumen has improved as a broadcaster markedly; that's why this move, although an obvious setback may end up being a blessing in disguise. I wouldn't be surprised if Davis were to land a color analyst gig on either Fox or CBS. He knows the game and actually is better on TV anyway.
4. The 49ers are moving into a new stadium and looking for every technological wonder there is off the field. It's as if they have all the new gadgets but want to get new furniture and christen their football palace. Again, it wasn't let's get rid of Eric Davis--more, let's get a new identity in the radio division. That department won't be the only new recipients of some changes. Others are coming.
5. Tim Ryan has all the elements both on and off the field that the 49ers liked: he's local, (from the San Jose area where he played high-school football); he had stints with KPIX doing the Niners pre-season games and Fox, where he gave up the remaining two years of his analyst gig to accept the 49ers position.
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Accurate reasons except for #4.
ReplyDelete#1 was 95% the reason. His home, wife, children are in SoCal too, where NFL Network is based.
Short turnaround time from one job to another is indeed ungodly.... Davis is very insightful but can be sloppy at times. I think a reduced schedule will help him immensely.
DeleteIn the words of the great Jackie Chiles, "That's totally inappropriate. It's lewd, lascivious, salacious, outrageous!"
ReplyDeleteRich you hit it correctly with point #3. He is by far better in front of the camera. He comes across very well and is knowledgeable about the subject without the constant use of clichés. Like the character who will fill his position.
ReplyDeleteI wish him the best but I never liked Davis as the color commentator.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest pet peeve are analyst "whooping and hollering" over the play-by-play's call of an exciting play. The one you mentioned about ED was really egregious. Take heed Tom Flores!
ReplyDeleteNever heard Eric Davis use "we" when calling a game. With Flores and Plunkett it is common, caught Greg Papa doing it at least once too.
DeleteGood move. Davis was way better than Gary Plummer and Ryan isn't as busy with morning drive issues.
Delete* His home, wife, children are in SoCal too, where NFL Network is based.
ReplyDeleteWasn't ED living in Santa Cruz?
He was terrible.
ReplyDeleteHe was a 49er rooter and never analyzed the previous play or potential plays.
Just rooted for the 49ers like a cheerleader.
And he knows it too!
Like both as color commentators, but really don't know why it had to be announced right away.
ReplyDeleteWorked with Davis for a short time. He's not a radio guy. He can't pain pictures, and his voice isn't that exciting. He's a guy who wants to be down on the sideline, or on a set. Not sure if the NFL or anyone else is ever using men on the sidelines anymore because it seems to be pam oliver, tracy wolfson, erin andrews, and those types, but ideally, he could be a poor man's lynne swann.
ReplyDeletegood for eric. bad for 49ers. Ryan sucks!!!
ReplyDeleteTed Robinson already talks too much - you don't need anyone else - let the audience breathe a little and soak in the drama instead of being inundated with constant chatter.
ReplyDeleteA no-brainer to be Eric's replacement. Tim hosts an NFL show on Sirius XM radio and serves as Dennis O'Donnell's analyst on KPIX preseason telecasts
ReplyDeleteEric has a face for radio,
ReplyDeleteI prefer Eric Davis to Michael Strahan
ReplyDeleteI prefer just about anyone to Strahan
DeleteBeing out of the area (up in Portland) I don't get the radio broadcasts for the Niners. There are a lot of Niner fans up here. Maybe someone in the Niners' org could find a game affiliate up here.
ReplyDeleteConsidering how many TV analysts are garbage, Tim Ryan is very good. It's an upgrade, and I think that Davis will do better on TV. It's a potentially a kind of switch where everyone comes out better.
Love Eric Davis. Sadly, I don't listen to the radio unless I'm away from the TV. Have done that ever since the simulcasts stopped. Perhaps his NFL channel took its toll. I agree with your position that Davis should be on national TV. He is better than Ryan from that perspective. Ryan would be better suited to radio. He is good on TV, but I think his skills are more radio-oriented, while Davis is a magnetic personality and would do well on Sunday or Monday Night Football, sans his NFL Channel gig, which I stopped watching once they dumbed it down (no fault of Davis'). Good column, again, Rich. Keep 'em coming.
ReplyDeleteThose people posting here that actually think Eric is ______ fill in the blanks with negative stuff and that Tim Ryan is _______ fill in the blanks with negative stuff and that Ted Robinson _____ already talks to much - is proof positive that THEY WALK AMONG US.
ReplyDeleteJoe Starkey use to abuse Niner Radio Nation by cutting it close and flying in to away games from his CAL bears broadcasts and on one particular game on the road Starkey flew in with NO VOICE. Head of Niner Broadcasting flew in Joe Fonzi to work the game. As usual Fonzi did a great job. All the nonsense and negative comments about Eric, Tim and Ted are preposterous. Starkey and Doctor York were close thus his position in the booth lasted TOO long. Those that are in place now are those that should be in place.
Give credit to those in charge. They know what they are doing.
I liked Eric's whooping on the Vernon Post radio touchdown call. "Goottt him! Whooo-hoooo!!!!"
ReplyDeleteEven in the minor role of "color commentator," Eric Davis was far too partisan. I'm surprised he didn't don a cheerleader's uniform on game day.
ReplyDelete