JJ Watt Named CBS Sports’ New Lead NFL Analyst in Multi-Year Deal
posted by u/mike2k24 · 2026-10-22 13:13 UTC
(Link/image post, original: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/jj-watt-cbs-sports-lead-nfl-analyst-multi-year-deal-1236919639/）
## Top comments
1. u/Paulbegalia · 2026-10-22 13:14 UTC
Troy Aikman seething rn
2. u/Ok-Soil-5133 · 2026-10-22 13:30 UTC
Thursday night with Al is going to be the only #1 opening for him 💀
3. u/StuffonBookshelfs · 2026-10-22 13:34 UTC
Definitely read this as Thursday Night with AI (artificial intelligence). My bad.
4. u/maurosmane · 2026-10-22 13:43 UTC
I did a weekend trip on an island near us in Washington State over Labor Day weekend and I was so mad that they were promoting this AI art festival all over the place. Like who wants to go to a freaking AI art festival.
It was about the second day I realized that it was the Anderson Island art festival...
5. u/koalamurderbear · 2026-10-22 14:03 UTC
Here I was thinking it was a big art festival dedicated to Allen Iverson. Nothing but Allen Iverson themed pottery, paintings, and more.
6. u/maurosmane · 2026-10-22 14:07 UTC
Isn't all art an AI3 homage already
7. u/Yodude86 · 2026-10-22 14:06 UTC
Give me frustrated Troy Aikman with no filter calling TNF alongside a shitty, hopelessly optimistic chatgpt trying to keep up with the game. Subscribe.
"I- I just don't know what you're seeing out there chat. You're telling me Bo is trying his best but he is underthrowing his receivers and his head's not in the game"
"I see how you might feel that way Troy -- and you know what? That's a great analysis"
"You just disagreed with me"
8. u/Alistair_Burke · 2026-10-22 14:35 UTC
A drunken Troy shattering the tablet every week would be delightful
9. u/SportsDuck_ · 2026-10-22 13:38 UTC
We probably will get an AI-broadcast someday soon. Frankly, I've never watched a game because who is commentating or turned it off because of who is commentating. I don't get why they have these mega deals for them.
10. u/IKillerBee · 2026-10-22 14:08 UTC
There's a couple reasons for fat commentator deals. Bad commentary is noticeably bad. You don't see it much in professional sports because they (usually) get guys that are good at broadcast commentary. But if you watch lower quality broadcasts (think local high school sports or lower tier esports), you'll quickly notice how bad commentary can be.
For the broadcast networks it's also nice to have a guy you can lock to your network for an extended period. Plus, a lot of the color commentary guys are ex pros or former coaches, who are used to making huge money. If you want to attract these guys, you gotta pay them well. I think most networks would want Tom Brady as their color commentator, but financially speaking he's gonna sign with whoever gives him the best deal.
Basically, if you don't pay these ex-players or coaches well they're not gonna be interested because they could make a 7-8 figure payday shooting a commercial in an afternoon, which is a lot less work.
11. u/YueAsal · 2026-10-22 14:12 UTC
You can see it on some low teir college games. Like when Wyoming plays Air Force at 9 pm EDT
12. u/BigD994 · 2026-10-22 14:22 UTC
Not that it's the main part of the gig, but these guys also play a decent-sized role in annual upfront meetings with major advertisers and media partners. So when Fox has these huge meetings in the spring, some big-time execs will get all googly eyed when they see Tom Brady come out on stage.
13. u/illegal_deagle · 2026-10-22 14:28 UTC
You are not the audience. You are the product. The audience is the sponsoring companies’ VPs and their social circles. When a network signs a big name like Brady, the SVP of Marketing for Budweiser or whatever gets to go to cocktail hours with Brady and take photos and post to socials. And that guy is the decision maker for 8- and 9-figure contracts with the network.
14. u/Mark_is_on_his_droid · 2026-10-22 13:45 UTC
I don’t get it either. They could broadcast the stadium announcer and ratings wouldn’t change meaningfully. We are watching for the game on the field.
15. u/MXC_ImpactReplay · 2026-10-22 13:54 UTC
Back in the day when fewer people had soundbars and a lot of homes had multi-speaker surround sound systems, you could unplug a single audio channel and it would drop the announcers while keeping the rest of the sound. It was an interesting way to watch.
That period briefly overlapped with the advent of digital TV and radio, and a friend who often hosted used to drop the TV announcer channel, play our local radio call digitally through a separate speaker, and fiddle with the timing of both to get them in sync. I have great memories of watching the Pats on TV while listening to Gino Cappelletti's brilliant radio calls.
16. u/bobj33 · 2026-10-22 14:03 UTC
I've never watched a game because of the commentator but there are a few that I can't stand and will watch the game on mute. jonathan vilma sucks
17. u/ThisGuyFrags · 2026-10-22 14:08 UTC
Iverson in shambles
18. u/DuBakElite · 2026-10-22 13:40 UTC
I could actually see him doing well with Al. People hate on Al cause of the monotone, but he has a classic commentating voice—not every commentator needs to be excitement all the time. Both guys call it like it is, wouldn’t be a bad pair
19. u/Sperenc · 2026-10-22 14:03 UTC
Agreed. I think this would actually be his best landing spot lol.
20. u/DoctorWaluigiTime · 2026-10-22 14:39 UTC
not every commentator needs to be excitement all the time.
I hate whenever people say this regarding Al.
The statement on its own is correct.
But it's a strawman -- Al's issue is not that he isn't Gus Johnsoning every single play.
Al's issue is that he is never excited. He'll call a game-altering turnover or TD like a runner gaining 3 yards on 1st and 10.
That being said Troy being paired with Al could be neat. If Troy took over primary playcalling so that some energy existed when things legitimately get exciting.