In a move that can't be justified on any level except for the sheer sake of making change, Theismann was bounced from his gig on Monday Night Football in favor of serial film watcher Ron Jaworski.

Sorry but I just don't get it. If the higher-ups at ESPN think that Jaworski is going to bring an audience with him, they're even more out of touch than I thought.

The ex-Philadelphia Eagle quarterback does a decent enough job when contributing to ESPN's wide array of pro football driven shows but in that spot he's merely a contributor, a role player if you will.

But place him in a featured position on MNF and he'll excite no one. Potentially, he could bomb. Jaworski is workmanlike but he's got no pizzazz. His personality isn't exactly 100-watt. He can run towards being bland. Moreover, the guy is way too vanilla. It's not in his nature to be critical enough on a consistent basis.

And having listened to Jaworski countless times, I can honestly say that on plenty of occasions, he began boring me when he started getting into the minutia of the game. He doesn't seem to fully understand what the casual to interested viewer truly wants to hear.

On the surface, "Jaws" as Jaworski is called, looks to be biting off much more than he can chew. I believe this forum will gobble him up just like the Great White did Robert Shaw in that hair-raising movie.

What makes bringing aboard a somewhat colorless Jaworski even more stupefying is that there was absolutely no reason for it.

MNF's ratings were solid in its' first year on ESPN. If it ain't broke, why try to fix it?

There's no refuting that people were watching so giving Theismann the pink slip smacks of some three-piece suits shaking things up simply to justify their salary. Besides fantasizing about their supposed self-importance and twiddling their thumbs, too often these ego driven media types make moves to generate a splash with the press whether said moves makes sense or not.

And by any objective measure, this one doesn't.

Look, no one is contending that Theismann doesn't have any shortcomings but on balance, Joe is engaging, informed, enthusiastic and most important of all, not afraid to take a stand and be controversial when needed.

You may not have liked Theismann's style or opinions but you couldn't be indifferent to him. Generally, people have strong feelings about him one way or the other. He provoked passion and reaction whether pro or con and that's exactly what you want from someone who's front and center on a sports broadcast.

To my way of thinking, if ESPN felt compelled to tinker with personnel, Theismann would have been my last option.

Though lead announcer Mike Tirico is solid, he does nothing particularly noteworthy or memorable. Competent but hardly special, Tirico is well down the list of topnotch, play-by-play football voices. ESPN could have done much better had they gone in another direction.

As for sportswriter/ Pardon the Interruption host Tony Kornheiser, he didn't exactly wow fans with his debut on MNF last year. Though splendid as a writer and boffo on PTI, Kornheiser was sometimes ill at ease doing games and often his patter seemed forced. Only toward the end of the season, did Tony seem to be finding some type of comfort level.

So if we're really talking about the need for someone to go, a case can be made just as easily to have cashiered either Tirico or Kornheiser before axing Theismann. None of them is without flaws or blemishes.

Truth be told, the ESPN brain trust botched the makeup of the MNF booth from the get-go. They already had a terrific team in place with Mike Patrick, Paul MacGuire and Theismann doing their Sunday Night package. That trio had rapport, interesting interaction and byplay and gave off a genuine sense of having fun. They were entertaining and extremely watchable.

Anyone with a semblance of logic, common sense and a feel for marketing, simply would have transitioned those three over to Monday Nights.

But apparently upper-management couldn't leave well enough alone and felt the ridiculous need to make what they thought would be a major splash. By doing so, they got themselves all wet. In this case, maintaining the status quo would have been the more preferable option.

That was the smart play but the ESPN execs played it dumb.

As for Theismann, I have no doubt that he'll land on his feet. Sure, being booted off MNF has to be a blow to his pride, how could it not be, but one thing's for sure, he's no quitter. He's always been a go-getter and to him, you confront challenges, not shrink from them.

He'll find a way to turn this to his favor just like he was able to make things happen on a football field. He possesses an inherent energy, determination and will that won't allow him to stay down for long.

Obviously still considering him an asset and not wanting to lose him, ESPN/ABC has already asked him to be part of their college football package. Theismann is mulling over the offer but regardless of his decision, believe me when I contend that we haven't heard the last of Joe T.

Yet, all of this was so unnecessary. No change was required, nor was any subtraction needed. Theismann was doing just fine on MNF and his removal smells of someone throwing his weight around for no good reason

Joe was made to be the fall guy, the perceived anchor that was somehow weighing down the MNF broadcasts. There's only one problem with that perspective. It's totally bogus! Nothing was the matter. There was no compelling reason to change the mix. There was no need to go looking for a contrived scapegoat.