ESPN rolls out its new Monday Night Football crew on Thursday for the New York Jets’ preseason game against the Washington Redskins. As has been extensively reported, Joe Tessitore will be in the booth with the recently-retired Jason Witten. Booger McFarland will be a field analyst. The will make up a very non-traditional three man booth.
More details have emerged about Booger’s exact situation. He will be both on the sideline and above the action according to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times.
He’ll be riding in an elevated chair that will be positioned over the line of scrimmage for each snap, giving him a God’s-eye view of the action. He’ll be transported up and down the sideline by a cart equipped with two outreached arms, one for McFarland’s seat and the other for a camera operator.
Booger told the paper that it gives him an advantage over anyone else in the stadium watching the game. “I’ll be able to see and hear up close the footwork, motion, things that are being said, the audibles, things you can’t see from the booth.” He did mention though that he isn’t exactly a fan of the concept.
“I do have a fear of heights,” he said. “That’s why it’s going to be a good thing that I’m watching and analyzing football. Because if I was just sitting there and had the opportunity to look down, I’d probably be freaking out. My family can tell you I’m not really a guy that likes roller coasters. I don’t like going on Ferris wheels. I’ve got a six-feet rule; I like my feet no more than five, six feet from the ground at all times.”
The booth and the sideline will have a connection that Farmer described as “FaceTime-like” to create the allusion of a three-man booth. Lisa Salters will continue in her role as sideline reporter.
