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Compass Media Networks will be carrying and distributing the national radio broadcast of the Philadelphia Eagles at the New York Giants game on Oct. 20 with the kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. However, it is the broadcast crew Compass Media Networks has put together for the game that got talked about on WFAN and the Boomer & Gio show. The reason being that hosts Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti along with show anchor Jerry Recco and weekly guest Phil Simms will all be taking part in the broadcast.
Recco will do play-by-play with both Esiason and Simms working as analysts while Giannotti is down on the sidelines. Boomer, ‘Gio’ and Recco discussed the upcoming assignment on the air and told the story of how it came about.
‘Gio’ explained, “Jerry Recco, not doing a Cowboys game for Compass Media Networks, actually asked to do a Giants-Eagles game for Compass Media Networks on October 20th. And Jerry asked Boomer yesterday if he would be the color analyst, and Boomer said yes.
“They made a very nice donation to my foundation,” Esiason said when asked about the pay he was getting. He then took a shot at his employer when he added, “Already, by the way. I mean, they did it faster than Audacy does it. That’s my guy, [Compass Media Networks General Manager/Vice President, Sports} Rob Blum…It’s taken Audacy like 10 years to catch up, but they’re still lagging behind. But Compass Media Networks, boom, done.”
Esiason then explained he was supposed to go to Simms’ house that day but later found out Simms planned to be at the Giants game. When the agent they both used realized both had been asked to do the game, it worked out that both of them were able to work on the broadcast.
Recco said, “I was presented several possibilities for a game that was not even locked in.” And Esiason said the agent called to let him know they had also asked Simms, who had not given an answer yet.
“I said, well, tell him to accept and then we’ll all do the game,” Esiason said. “And we’re all going to do the game.”
They then explained they were trying to set it up so Giannotti could be involved as well and work the sidelines for the game. Recco said it is not something Compass Media Networks would normally do and that there would be several hurdles to clear.
“So, where does that stand?” Giannotti asked. Recco replied, “I would say up in the air…I would say not likely, but not impossible. That’s where I would leave it.”
As it turns out, it later would become official that Giannotti will be on the sidelines and that all four will have the chance to work the game together.
About the broadcast itself, Esiason said, “I’m going to have to balance it out because, you know, [Phil is] going to be rooting for the Giants…I’m not rooting for anybody, but I will definitely balance it out.”
Giannotti then added, “You’re not even going to have to say anything, Jerry. Jerry’s going to see the fewest words in the history of play-by-play with those two guys in there. Phil’s going to be talking to himself, asking himself questions, answering questions. Boomer’s going to be reading stat packs. And all Jerry’s going to be able to say is, ‘touchdown.’
