Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts named CBS’ No. 2 team

Ian Eagle [left] and Dan Fouts will make-up the No. 2 announcing team at CBS. (CBS)

When the NFL seasons kicks off in September, it will mark the 55th year that CBS has broadcasted the league. When the network broadcasts its first regular season game on Sept. 7, you'll see some familiar faces and some new faces.

Here are the official announcer pairings for the 2014 season.

(Play-by-play/analyst/sideline reporter)

Jim Nantz/Phil Simms//Tracy Wolfson

Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts

Greg Gumbel/Trent Green

Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon

Spero Dedes/Solomon Wilcots

Andrew Catalon/Steve Beuerlein/Steve Tasker

Wolfson and Tasker won't be the only sideline reporters in 2014. CBS will also be utilizing network newcomers Jenny Dell and Evan Washburn. Wolfson is moving over to the NFL full-time after spending the past 10 seasons as the lead sideline reporter for the SEC on CBS.

Nantz and Simms will be on the call for 14 Thursday night games this year as part of the NFL's new deal with CBS. Eight of those 14 games will air on CBS and simulcast on NFL Network. The other six games will be shown on NFL Network only, but Nantz and Simms will still be on the call.

Nantz and Simms will still be on the call for many Sunday games, but they won't be pulling Thursday/Sunday double-duty every week this fall. When Nantz and Simms have a week off, the No. 1 CBS game will go to the new No. 2 pairing of Fouts and Eagle.

Fouts and Eagle have been working together as a tandem at CBS since 2010.

Newcomer Trent Green, who was hired by CBS in April, will be paired with long-time network play-by-play man Greg Gumbel. Gumbel had been paired with Dan Dierdorf since 2006, however, Dierford retired from CBS following the 2013 season setting the stage for Gumbel's new partnership with Green.

Game coverage also will include play-by-play announcers Brian Anderson and Tom McCarthy, as well as analysts Adam Archuleta and Chris Simms.

James Brown once again will anchor The NFL Today from New York. Brown will be joined by veteran analysts Boomer Esiason, Bill Cowher, along with newcomers Tony Gonzalez and Bart Scott. Jason La Canfora will continue to serve as the network's NFL Insider.

NFL Hot News

Bills OC says he needs to get ball to WR Sammy Watkins 'a whole bunch'



Bills offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is saying all the right things about maximizing the value of the No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft, wide receiver Sammy Watkins."He's a guy we've got to get the ball to a whole bunch," Hackett said last week of Watkins to the Buffalo News. "Good players just naturally start getting the ball, whether you call a play for them or not. I think it just shows here in practice. It might not necessarily be his number, but [quarterback E.J. Manuel] just naturally finds him, throws it to him earlier, he goes up and catches it."Hackett said that route-running will be something Watkins works very hard on this summer, but to this point, Hackett said Watkins has "been amazing, just the way he's attacked the whole thing...."



As Rotoworld astutely points out, this sounds like the 2014 edition of "Give him the ball until he throws up". Hopefully it's not.Buffalo certainly needs a go-to wideout, and everyone seems to believe Watkins can be that guy. He's an obvious first-round pick for those in dynasty rookie drafts, and I think he can be a top-25 WR when all is said and done this season. Manuel's progression will largely determine that, but I think Watkins will work a WR3 from the start in 12-team leagues. It's nice to hear that he and Manuel are already building a solid rapport in practice.It also wouldn't surprise me if Hackett's words fall hollow again. C.J. Spiller owners from last year understandably hate him.