Today, New England's senior duo of those four major teams had some big news as Patriots radio color commentator Gino Cappelletti has retired. What's more, his longtime partner Gil Santos said this upcoming season will be his last after he nearly died following last season.
Cappelletti is 78 and he's worked at Pats games for 32 years after a legendary playing career with the Boston Patriots. Santos is 72, they've been together for 28 total years including the last 21 in a row. During that time in the booth, New England has gone from a complete afterthought and laughingstock in the NFL to one of the top franchises in professional sports. They've been able to cover six Super Bowls, including five in the past decade (three won by the Patriots).
It will be weird not to hear those familiar voices once the fall rolls around. No doubt, they had both slipped in recent years (especially Gino) so we knew this day would eventually come sooner rather than later. Sports Hub midday host and former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak was introduced last season as a sort of third set of eyes and ears (he was on the sideline). It hasn't been officially announced yet, but expect him to go upstairs with Santos beginning in the 2012 preseason next month-August 9 vs. New Orleans is the opener.
It's hard to imagine who will fill Santos' chair since he's one of the top play-by-play NFL broadcasters in the business. He has an outstanding voice and he's a true pro that always strikes the perfect balance between the fast-paced action and enjoying the scene. His calls from all the important playoff wins of the past decade are classic. "It's good, it's good!"-after Adam Vinatieri's field goal beat the Rams in Super Bowl 36 being perhaps his most famous line.
Similar to the Red Sox finding a new PA announcer for the recently deceased Carl Beane, the Pats will need to take their time to make the right decision. Unfortunately, Gil Santos don't just grow on trees.
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