Browns-Giants game won’t have Al Michaels in the pit

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Broadcaster Al Michaels will not be on the stand for Sunday’s game between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants, in accordance with NBCUniversal’s Covid security protocols, the network said.

Mike Tirico will take over the play-by-play tasks in place of the venerable broadcaster. The game is played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Associated Press reported that the network did not say whether Michaels, 76, had tested positive or had been in contact with someone who had.

“My temperature this morning was 97.5. I can’t wait to get back to the booth as soon as possible, ”Michaels said in a statement, according to the cable service.

Tirico will be joined along with longtime analyst Cris Collinsworth and field reporter Michelle Tafoya. Tirico was scheduled to call the Carolina-Green Bay NFL Network game on Saturday night. Fox’s Joe Davis will intervene.

The Cleveland-New York game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. The Browns are 9-4, the Giants are 5-8 and both teams have just lost.

I am on cleveland.comthe life and culture team of the company and cover topics related to gastronomy, beer, wine and sport. If you want to see my stories here is a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills from WTAM-1100 and I talk about food and drink usually at 8:20 am Thursday morning. And tune in at 8:05 am on Fridays for “Beer with Bona and Much, Much More” with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler.

Get a great start on the weekend and sign up for the Cleveland.com Weekly “In the CLE” email newsletter, your essential guide to the top things to do in Greater Cleveland. It’ll arrive in your inbox on Friday morning – an exclusive to-do list, focused on the best of weekend fun. Restaurants, music, movies, the performing arts, family entertainment and more. Click here to subscribe. All cleveland.com newsletters are free.