Following Jack Buck as voice of the St. Louis Cardinals was tough. The next in line behind Harry Caray as voice of the Cubs was next to impossible.

And you feel sorry for the man who takes over when Vin Scully retires as voice of the Dodgers.

Cris Collinsworth had some of the biggest shoes to fill in the broadcast industry when he took over for John Madden as the color analyst on NBC's "Sunday Night Football."

"John Madden was absolutely the best sports broadcaster who ever lived," said Dick Ebersol, president of NBC Sports, after Madden retired earlier this year, ending a 30-year broadcasting career. "And he did it in one sport ---- football.

"The draw was the game, the event, and John knew that."

Still, Madden grew into a bigger-than-life figure.

To replace him, NBC reassigned a skinny wide receiver, moving Collinsworth from the pregame show to the booth to team with Al Michaels.

And through the season's first three telecasts, NBC appears to have scored a touchdown.

Collinsworth didn't fall into the trap of trying to be Madden. No wham, bang, pows and wows from Collinsworth.

What he has delivered is solid, insightful commentary.

He's glib and well prepared. He's enthusiastic without being over the top. He gives strong opinions, but isn't afraid to laugh at himself.

Collinsworth and Michaels have meshed like they have been together for a decade.

And if Chargers fans missed him in the season's first three weeks, they can catch him Sunday at 5:30 p.m. when Michaels and Collinsworth call the Chargers-Steelers game from Pittsburgh.

"I think we have a treasure trove of talent," Ebersol said, referring to Michaels, Collinsworth and pregame host Bob Costas. "It may be unsurpassed in the history of television."

That's a little strong, but there is no question NBC has scored big with the pairing of Michaels and Collinsworth.

"I hope someday somebody will compare me to John Madden as a broadcaster," Collinsworth said. "That would be something to treasure."