It’s so easy for NFL broadcasters to fall into the habit of using hyperbole in place of analysis, and when that happens, fans almost always notice.
After all, it comes off as silly. And you’re probably not going to hear a more farfetched take this season than what CBS NFL analyst Ross Tucker said about Taysom Hill on Sunday.
During the third quarter of the Saints’ game against the Titans, Hill lined up as a quarterback and picked up four yards on a designed run. The play was nothing spectacular, but Tucker wanted viewers to know just how much he loves Hill’s game. He called Hill “one of the greatest football players ever.”
Ross Tucker calls Taysom Hill one of the greatest football players ever. For real life!
"This guy is like Jim Thorpe… he's like the perfect football player." pic.twitter.com/wyICHTUU5o
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 10, 2023
He even went as far as to compare Hill to Jim Thorpe.
Now, Hill is a versatile player. He can play some quarterback and can line up at any skill position. Tucker was likely trying to convey that versatility. But to call Hill “one of the greatest football players ever” is objectively nonsense. He’s –at best — average at several positions on the field, which is unique. No team is going to build around Taysom Hill, though.
You can’t blame NFL fans for mocking that take.
This was how Twitter reacted
What an absolutely ridiculous statement and I love Taysom Hill https://t.co/oelkr3y08E
— Chris Gros (@ChrisNews8) September 10, 2023
Tell me you don’t know ball without saying it https://t.co/DyqSKWFoV6
— Sweet Tea Grizzley (@sweet_tea_guy) September 10, 2023
In case anybody was wondering if being a broadcaster means you know what you’re talking about https://t.co/OZNq4NRuwx
— Ra’s al Ghul (@chvsxp) September 10, 2023
Outside of the Giants rn this was the most disappointed I’ve been in someone all day. https://t.co/PYstRIzka3
— Coleman (@JukemColeman) September 11, 2023
I'm just saying, put me in a booth and I will at least not say anything as dumb as this https://t.co/2uJVju9K5n
— Kevin Dawson (@DawsonforReal) September 10, 2023
Did he mean Tyreek Hill? 😂😂😂 https://t.co/FmApnbWIjf
— 𝟜𝟘° (@a40degreeday) September 11, 2023
These people get paid to be on TV https://t.co/JnOpjek2JF
— Chan (@C_Sweat32) September 10, 2023
Just leave it alone now. I understand what you said. The guy is versatile. Leave it at that. Hes very versatile. https://t.co/exBjDyPH9Q pic.twitter.com/T22H3r16qE
— Mikewichter (@mikewichter) September 10, 2023
Look, I love Taysom Hill. One of the VERY few BYU players that has earned that from me. But this is just a weird thing to say. He’s not great at any skill but he’s good enough at a lot of different things and was blessed with the size and athletic ability to do them in the NFL https://t.co/ovtxMG6bMp
— Matt Christensen (801Matt) (@Aggiesalltheway) September 11, 2023
Lol this statement is a fireable offense https://t.co/fn4hBEqium
— Thomas Mooney (@thomas_mooney1) September 10, 2023
Ross Tucker been hanging out with Packers Twitter From Three Years Ago. https://t.co/9ieRK5qW9a
— JR Radcliffe (@JRRadcliffe) September 10, 2023
Man, he might not even be one of the greatest players out of BYU. https://t.co/FV0UH0XcWu
— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) September 10, 2023
