FOX Sports suspended former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb indefinitely after his recent arrest on DUI charges, his second in Arizona, and urged McNabb to use his time “as best he can to resolve his personal situation.”
McNabb’s departure opened up a spot on the network’s broadcasting roster for the coming NFL season and they’ve dipped into their college ranks for a replacement. Charles Davis, who was the network’s top college color commentator, has gotten the call to work with Thom Brennaman on games this fall. Davis has worked with the NFL Network on draft coverage and called NFL games for FOX in the past, which are a couple of the ways the transition will be made easier.
“There’s no difference in preparation,” Davis said, via SI.com. “I will of course have to brush up on the rules differences between the college and NFL game, but having done so much draft coverage over the years for NFL Network, there is a good familiarity with the NFL team rosters already. The good thing? NFL rosters are a bit easier to study for than college rosters that can number over 100 for non-league games, and 60-65 for conference games. There are also no duplicate numbers in the NFL. It’s not fun calling the wrong player’s name and then realizing that the other player wearing the same number is who made the play. You know it’s a possibility going into the game, and you prepare for it, but it can still jump up and bite you. I did a bowl game once where a college team put every kicker on the roster in the same number. Ugh.”
Joel Klatt will replace Davis in the booth for FOX college games this year with former Cardinals first-round pick and 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart moving into the studio role vacated by Klatt.
[Photo via Charles Davis on Twitter]
