Should the NFL play football this fall, viewers tuning into NFL Network's "Thursday Night Football" will notice a change or two in its broadcasts. SI.com's Richard Deutsch reports that Mike Mayock will replace the duo of Matt Millen & Joe Theismann for the network's 8-game prime time package from November until the end of the regular season.

Mayock is considered one of the rising stars in all of sports media. In addition to becoming a fan favorite in analyzing the NFLN's Draft Day coverage, Mayock raised many eyebrows when he replaced Pat Haden last fall as analyst on NBC Sports' coverage of Notre Dame football with PBP voice Tom Hammond. The two also called the Saints/Seahawks' NFC Wildcard Playoff last January for the "Peacock".

As for Millen, he joined NFLN in 2009 replacing Cris Collinsworth in the booth for the "THNF" package. While Collinsworth succeeded the retired John Madden on NBC's "Sunday Night Football" with Al Michaels & sideline reporter Andrea Kremer, Millen joined Bob Papa on the NFLN broadcasts. Papa, also the radio voice of the New York Giants, replaced Bryant Gumbel as PBP on those NFLN games after 2 miserable seasons in 2007 & 2008. Theismann joined Millen & Papa to create a three-man booth last year, which didn't exactly sit well with many fans & critics.

As for play-by-play, that could be the next shoe to drop in this story. Although Papa is also considered a well-respected PBP voice, SI.com sources say NFLN might be leaning towards a different voice to call the games with Mayock this fall. One name being considered is Gus Johnson. Gus has become a fan favorite with his hyper-intense call of NFL football & NCAA basketball with CBS Sports, as well as Big Ten Men's Basketball on the FOX-owned Big Ten Network. Should the NFL play, fans might be hearing a different sound when NFLN gets in the game.

I really don't mind Mayock. He's not as full of himself as most football announcers. Just last summer and fall I was watching this guy break down high school football prospects for ESPNU. He's definitely knowledgeable. A younger, more contemporary version of Millen. Fans should celebrate the old guard stepping away from announcing booths. Now people 20-35 years old can turn the volume away from mute.

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theisman and millen were awful, how papa considered respected is mind boggling.

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Theismann is horrendous all on his own. I don't mind Millen, but his football vernacular is a little too mid 80's/early 90's for me. Plus the unavoidable connotation of completely mismanaging a franchise into the ground is a huge issue for him no matter what he does.

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yeah i can't get past his incompetence as a gm to give him much of a chance, it seems like he gets irritated easy by steve young

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Soundind more and more, that the new Thursday lineup will be Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock.

It is confirmed, Reents. The two won't have any Bears' games on their schedule, but it should be a lot more professional & listenable this November. That is if the NFL's collective bargaining agreement is squared away.

Angelo should have a hell of a career as a broadcaster.

thats exactly why i like him

i hate the overanalyzing smarty-pants analyzing of today

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Brad Nessler is one of my top 3 favorite football announcers along with Verne Lundquist & Gus Johnson.
Mike Mayock is knowledgeable, but his speech impediment, AKA Pennsylvania accent, is a tough listen.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

it's vury vury distracting.

i like nessler too. maybe the thursday night games will finally be listenable.