But we couldn't let the season go without commenting on the top 25 football broadcasters list posted in mid-November by the editors of The Sporting News and Sports Business Journal/Sports Business Daily.

The good folks at those publications and I aren't exactly on the same page.

So here is their list, which covers college and football broadcasters ---- play-by-play men as well as analysts ---- in order. My ranking for that broadcaster appears in parenthesis along with a comment.

1. Gary Danielson (9): He should be in the top 10, but not No. 1. He has a great knowledge of the game, but doesn't go over the listeners' head. It's obvious he does his homework.

2. Cris Collinsworth (2): Thrust into the spotlight this season as the lead analyst on NBC's "Sunday Night Football," Collinsworth has brought energy and knowledge to the telecasts.

3. Al Michaels (1): If Collinsworth is No. 2, then his partner has to be No. 1. Michaels is a true pro. I worked with Michaels on San Diego State telecasts in the '70s when he was paired with Lee Grosscup on college games for ABC. Michaels even announced the birth of my daughter, Stacy, to a national TV audience.

4. Phil Simms (4): He has made a seamless transition from the playing field to the booth.

5. Kirk Herbstreit (11): Called "passionate" by The Sporting News, and I'd have to agree. He throws himself into assignments and isn't afraid to give an opinion. And I like that. Too bad he has to work with Brent Musburger. If not for that, he'd be in the top 10.

6. Troy Aikman (8): Like Simms, he has made the transition from player to broadcaster. He doesn't use player-speak, and brings great insight.

7. Ron Franklin (12): I put him in the same class with Verne Lundquist, Brad Nessler and Mike Patrick. A good, solid pro.

8. Verne Lundquist (10): A true veteran. The Sporting News calls him "folksy." I agree. He has a nice, easy style and really seems to enjoy whatever game he's assigned.

9. Joe Buck (20): Sorry, but I'm not a big Buck fan. He's fine, but he's not in the top 10. I just don't think he's in the same class as some of the veterans.

10. Jim Nantz (3): Maybe because he does several Chargers game a year we feel comfortable with him. He's a true professional, prepared and smooth and makes a great team with Simms. Nantz and Simms are your Super Bowl broadcast team on CBS.

11. Mike Tirico (16): Does a nice job working with Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski in ESPN's "Monday Night Football." In a three-man booth, he doesn't let his ego get in the way of a good broadcast.

12. Brad Nessler (13): He's right there with Lundquist and Patrick. Nice delivery and great pipes.

13. Brent Musburger (25): It's well documented that I don't care for Musburger's style. It doesn't matter what game he works or who he works with, his style rubs me the wrong way. I'll actually switch to another game if Musburger is working. The best part of covering the Rose Bowl and BCS Championship game this year was that I was at the game and didn't have to listen to Musburger.

14. Jon Gruden (14): In his first year on ESPN's "Monday Night Football" telecasts, he showed great fire and passion. If we do this again next year, I suspect Gruden will jump into the top 10.

15. Daryl Johnston (18): A fullback in his playing days, Johnston attacks broadcasts with the same straight-ahead enthusiasm with which he played. He works with Kenny Albert on game broadcasts. Albert is a little too East Coast for my taste.

16. Ron Jaworski (15): A great complement to Gruden and Tirico on ESPN's "Monday Night Football." He seems to enjoy his work, and it comes across on the air.

17. Greg Gumbel (21): Absolutely nothing wrong with his broadcasts. A solid, professional guy who works well with underrated partner Dan Dierdorf.

18. Sean McDonough (19): Seems to always deliver a nice, professional broadcast.

19. Todd Blackledge (24): A former quarterback, he's solid but not spectacular.

20. Dan Fouts (6): Of course, I'm prejudiced here. I liked working with Fouts when he was a player. And I like him as a broadcaster. He has a nice, relaxed style and brings great insight to his broadcasts.

21. Bob Papa (17): Because he calls Thursday night games on the NFL Network, a lot of people have never heard him. The Sporting News calls him "understated," and I'd agree. Put him on CBS, NBC or ESPN and he jumps up five or six places.

22. Mike Patrick (7): There is something about his voice, style and delivery that click with me. I enjoy listening to games he calls.

23. Chris Fowler (22): He started his career doing a high school show on ESPN and has grown into a true professional. Not spectacular, but a good, solid pro.

24. Gus Johnson (23): We don't seem to get many games Johnson works, so it's a little harder to get a handle on him. What I've heard, I like.

25. Dick Enberg (5): How can anyone list Enberg this low? Has he lost something off his fastball? Sure. But he had and still has a great fastball. One of the true pros in the business, his style is free and easy. I grew up listening to Enberg call UCLA basketball and later Angels baseball. He and Fouts form a great team. It should be a treat listening to Enberg call Padres games this summer.

As far as broadcast teams go, here are my Top 10: 1. Nantz-Simms (CBS); 2. Michaels-Collinsworth (NBC); 3. Enberg-Fouts (CBS); 4. Patrick-Craig James (ESPN); 5. Tirico-Jaworski-Gruden (ESPN); 6. Lundquist-Danielson (CBS); 7. Gumbel-Dierdorf (CBS); 8. Fowler-James (ESPN); 9. Buck-Aikman (Fox); 10. Nessler-Blackledge (ESPN)