Jay Barker will not be a good color commentator, IMHO. He has neither the personality nor the skill. By all accounts he is a great guy and I appreciate his play on the field back in the day.
I liked Savage, for the most part. Strange departure.
I'm leaning against GMac right now but it wouldn't completely surprise me if he was offered. I don't think he has the magic sauce for radio color guy.
Just FWIW, and not that my opinion means naught - I live in LA so I don't hear Jay that much, but I've never been that taken with Jay's radio "presence". However, I know he's been doing it for some time now.
Seems like I've heard JPW on the radio a few times and thought he did well. Certainly wouldn't mind if he got the job.
IMO GMac would be a GREAT color announcer for us!!, but seriously - I doubt he'd leave a very good gig at ESPiN for the job, and I sorta doubt ESPiN would be very keen on him missing every weekend to work on our game broadcasts.
And I'm not the first to say it, but as an old guy, I'd LOVE to have
Joe Namath in the booth!!! I've heard him a few times when they've had him in the booth, and I thought his on-air demeanor was EXCELLENT, as was his ability to communicate the guts and essence of what was happening on the field. HONESTLY, I was SO hoping that Joe could have replaced Kenny - though I did think Phil did a great job.
Joe's not a kid anymore - gotta be in his mid-70s? - and this might be a physical challenge for a man his age. But "IF I WAS KING" - I'd be calling "Joe Willie" and begging him to do it.