Al Michaels comments on NFL's virtual measurement system.
Credit: Prime Video / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Al Michaels was back in the booth on Thursday night for Amazon Prime Video, and while it was preseason on the field between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, Michaels’s attitude was in midseason form.
One of the highlights of the night came from Michaels’s extremely clear frustration with the NFL’s virtual measurement system. After a Patriots receiver was pushed out of bounds clearly short of the first-down marker, Michaels was quick to update the audience that New England would be facing fourth-and-1.
But while the call was obvious to Michaels, it garnered a second look from the officials.
“Here’s the virtual measurement. It works great in baseball. I love it in baseball. Baseball takes about two seconds. And we’re still waiting. Come on now,” Michaels said. “It’s okay that you want a virtual measurement, but let’s make it happen, folks.”
As the broadcast showed replays of the end of the play, Michaels continued his quips.
“Looks like he was pretty well shy to the naked eye, but who knows,” Michaels said. “I’m trying to find anyone who has any clue what’s going on here.”
By the time the call was made official, Michaels was in disbelief.
“We saw it. We could’ve done three commercials,” Michaels said when the call was finally made. “Short by what? By two feet, three inches, and that calls for a virtual measurement?! Okeeeee.”
Al Michaels: “It works great in baseball. I love it in baseball. Baseball takes about two seconds. And we’re still waiting. Come on now… We could’ve done three commercials. Short by what? By two feet, three inches, and that called for a virtual measurement?!” pic.twitter.com/qDr9SS1LCw
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 28, 2026
It’s the preseason, so the stakes are low, and if NFL officials are going to take too long to make a decision, it’s best they do it now rather than once the games start to really matter. That said, when Michaels is on the call, referees dilly-dally at their own risk.
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit calling a preseason game.
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit calling a preseason game.