Kirk Herbstreit defends Al Michaels amid criticisms

Amazon Prime Video NFL analyst Kirk Herbstreit believes that broadcasting partner Al Michaels is receiving criticism this fall in part because Michaels allegedly lacked enthusiasm during this past January's wild-card playoff game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars. 

"I think everyone is holding the Jacksonville playoff game last year against him," Herbstreit said about Michaels during an appearance on the "Pardon My Take" podcast, as shared by Ricky Keeler of the Barrett Sports Media website. "I didn’t work with him in that game and it got a lot of criticism after that game."

Michaels previously likened having to call dreadful "Thursday Night Football" contests such as last season's overtime snoozefest involving the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos to selling "a 20-year-old Mazda." Complaints about Michaels' style have continued throughout the ongoing campaign, but Herbstreit defended the legend who turned 79 years old earlier this month. 

"Social media is using [the Jaguars-Chargers game] as a narrative and they are just using that and the one time in Indy/Denver he talked about how what a s---- game it was we were doing," Herbstreit explained. "It is almost like they are using those two examples to say, 'Al Michaels hates Thursday night, Al Michaels has lost it.'"

For better or for worse, Michaels intends to continue calling matchups for Amazon through at least the end of the 2024 season. Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported for a piece published on Nov. 8 that Michaels earns "an estimated $500,000 to $1M per game."

Michaels sometimes seems to enjoy responding to detractors who think he should ride off into the sunset. Herbstreit suggested those expecting Michaels to change at this stage of his career shouldn't hold their breaths. 

"He hears the noise," Herbstreit added about Michaels. "He has more of an 'F you' attitude about it than 'I am going to show them.' He thinks it’s a bunch of b-------, I think it’s a bunch of b-------. I think it’s a narrative that social media is running with."

Michaels and Herbstreit are scheduled to work this Thursday's prime-time game between the 6-5 Seattle Seahawks and 8-3 Dallas Cowboys at Dallas' AT&T Stadium.