Tag: Bram Weinstein

Washington Commanders reached out to Frank Herzog after 18 years

The final installment of our interview with the legendary voice of Washington’s franchise, Frank Herzog. Frank discusses coming back for Sonny’s jersey retirement and how good everyone in the organization was to him.

Frank Herzog was in this 26th season broadcasting all of the WMAL Washington Redskins football games from 1979-2004.

But all good things must come to an end.

This is the fifth and final installment in our Commanders Wire feature on Washington broadcast legend Frank Herzog.

Part one.     Part two.     Part Three    Part Four

December 2004, Frank Herzog remembers a broadcast producer expressed, “Hey, our Christmas party is this weekend, and I think you should go.”

“Ok, I can go, I guess,” replied Frank. “No, I think you ought to be there. You need to show your face.”

Herzog initially found that odd but went and was introduced to a man from the CBS parent offices in Philadelphia. Then the man showed up in the broadcast booth that Sunday. “Sure enough, following the season, there was a meeting at a coffee shop in Montgomery Mall, and I was informed they were not bringing me back the next (2005) season.”

“I was puzzled, of course, but I had to learn to accept it. What else can you do? Those are the facts of life.”

18 years later, the Friday before the season finale, Herzog found Julie Donaldson and Bram Weinstein reaching out to him on the phone, apologizing Herzog had not been officially invited to Sonny Jurgensen’s jersey retirement on Jan. 8.

Donaldson and Weinstein wanted Herzog at FedEx Field. Even more, they wanted him in the booth during some of the broadcast as well. The Commanders made all the travel arrangements. Sunday, Frank was on a flight from Wilmington (NC), arriving at noon.

“They had a chauffeur (Pierre) in a big black SUV meet me and drive me to FedEx. They escorted me to my suite, then to the broadcast booth for the pre-game segment with Julie Donaldson. Employees and fans were so nice to me, greeting me and welcoming me. I was treated as first class.”

Donaldson had asked Herzog during the pregame show to do his legendary call (“Touchdown, Washington Redskins”), but he kindly declined, stating he had only done the call during actual game broadcasts (1979-2004) and would prefer to keep it that way.

That is Herzog, the professional, the man who was skilled in his craft. He doesn’t want the call to ever become corny or silly. He wants it to be remembered as it actually was, in the heat of NFL competition.

Donaldson was also professional, apologizing to Herzog during the on-air segment for his not having been officially invited. She even stated she was partly responsible and expressed her love and respect for the work Herzog had accomplished. She demonstrated class and humility.

Invited back for the third quarter Herzog sat and interacted with Weinstein, Donaldson and London Fletcher on the broadcast.

Weinstein (49) grew up listening to Herzog and was the sideline reporter during the 2006-2008 seasons.

Upon landing the job, Weinstein had even reached out to Herzog for professional advice. “I am certainly aware I am only the third play-by-play announcer for this team since 1979 (Herzog, then Larry Michael (2005-2019). I respect the legacy of this team, and Frank is a big part of it.”

“When the third quarter began, I was so happy Frank was there with us,” Weinstein expressed with gratitude.

While the Commanders were driving down the field on the Cowboys in the third quarter, Weinstein mentioned to Herzog that Washington might score a touchdown.

A few plays later, Washington had the ball at the Dallas 9-yard line. Here was the call from Bram Weinstein: “Howell, play-action, Howell keeps. Runs back to the center of the field. At the 5, into the end zone! (pause).

When Howell crossed the goal line, Weinstein had laid out (paused), and looked to Herzog, who instantly finished the call with, “Touchdown, Washington Commanders!”

“Frank was right on cue with his famous call, ‘Touchdown Washington Commanders!‘ “said Weinstein. “For me, it is an incredibly cool moment. To have that moment with him is something I will never forget.”

When I spoke with Herzog two days later, Frank said it was such a moving moment for him as well. He was grateful to both Donaldson and Weinstein. Their thoughtfulness had given him a very special day, something he, too, will never forget.

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Julie Donaldson: Leading an NFL Radio Broadcast Team

Part two of our interview with Commanders senior VP of content and media Julie Donaldson.

Part two of Commanders Wire interview with Julie Donaldson, the Commanders senior VP of media and content. Part one was published Tuesday morning.

Having hired DeAngelo Hall to be the analyst for the Washington broadcast team, who was Julie going to hire for the play-by-play announcer?

The franchise possesses a storied history of talented PBP announcers including Frank Herzog (1979-2004), Larry Michael (2005-2019), and Steve Gilmartin (1964-1973).

Donaldson was immediately flooded with hundreds of applicants. She explained it is such a rare opportunity, a very coveted, esteemed job. “It was very hard for me. I did not have much time to make these decisions and the preseason games were quickly going to be upon us.”

Donaldson admitted that with Covid and the time restraints upon her for such major decisions, immediately upon taking the job, there were nights she did not sleep well.

“The PBP announcer had to be open to working with me, the first female in a full-time radio booth for an NFL team. He had to want to work with me. Donaldson conveyed this not in a proud, pushy tone. Rather it was one of admission of the reality of the situation. She had been named head of the department. Would a good announcer be willing to take the job and right away?

Bram Weinstein had worked at ESPN and WTEM in Washington. A lifelong Redskins fan born and raised in the DMV, he earned his bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism at American University.

Yet, Weinstein had never called an NFL game previously, and the preseason would begin in one month! Weinstein, badly wanting the job, quickly watched games, practiced calling games and sent recordings to the organization.

There were other more experienced announcers wanting the job, but Julie knew Weinstein. She knew his passion for this football team. In her mind, he would be the right choice for this job, to broadcast for this team. She wanted him on her team.

The first 2020 regular season game, a home 27-17 win over the Eagles was a thrill and also intimidating, conveyed Donaldson. She discussed how for a decade she had reported on the team on camera and done many pregame and post-game shows, but this was her first live-game broadcast. And she was now the boss.

Donaldson understandably questioned herself, “Do I belong here?” She was also feeling the self-inflicted pressure of needing to do a good job, which can sometimes morph into wanting to do a perfect job. But of course, we all learn, that is not going to happen, and we need not put that unrealistic pressure on ourselves.

She expressed she had to remind herself of her extensive experience and trust that she could adapt to adding this new role for her in the booth. Donaldson and Weinstein were huge fans of the team and Hall was a former Washington player. “We all wanted them to do well. That first game was emotional for each of us.”

“Looking back, I was a little giddy as well. The quickest thing I had to learn after that first game was when it was not my turn to be talking, to shut up so listeners could hear Bram on the play-by-play. We needed to give Bram his time to call the play and wait our turn.”

“I heard the criticism, and that is okay. To ensure we are going to be a better product, I am always in favor of constructive criticism, and I hope I always am (in the future).”

To be continued: Growing the department, growing as a person

 

 

 

When the Washington Commanders were on the clock in 1st Round…

Logan Paulsen and London Fletcher provided live commentary during Washington’s first-round pick Thursday. It was outstanding.

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In case you were not watching the local coverage hosted by Julie Donaldson, Washington commentators had much to say during the Commanders live broadcast coverage Thursday night of the first round.

When time for the No. 11 pick came,

Bram Weinstein, “I think they trade back.”

London Fletcher: “They went into this draft thinking, ‘add a playmaker to the wide receiver position.’ Once both those guys were gone (Drake London, Garrett Wilson) maybe they still add Chris Olave or Jameson Williams.”

When announced Washington had traded back to No. 16:

Weinstein then asked Fletcher what Washington would try to obtain trading back, “Obviously they get a defensive tackle. They have to replace Matt Ioannidis and Tim Settle. That will be a position of need. Maybe add a running back, a bigger back… a safety and a quarterback.”

When it was announced the Commanders received picks No 16, 98 and 120

Logan Paulsen responded, “I am ecstatic! This is fantastic for the team. It puts them in a position to get a receiver they like. Chris Olave is probably their number one receiver at this point in the draft. He will be there at No 16 most likely. This trade allows you to address the meat and potatoes of this draft, the 3rd and 4th rounds… with both London and Wilson gone, let’s move back, put ourselves in the best position as an organization to get the best receiver in our view that is going to be available at 16.”

On the clock at No. 16,

Fletcher: “I think they still go with a wide receiver maybe a Dotson out of Penn State or the Burks kid out of Arkansas. Though they traded back, I still think they will take a wide receiver.”

Paulsen: “I love the way Dotson catches the football outside of his frame. He is fearless, not afraid to go over the middle, blocks faced a lot of man-to-man coverage, so you know he can beat that kind of coverage. Love that skill set, he is a complete receiver to me. If they could trade back again I think those guys I mentioned (Dotson, Trevor Penning, Devin Lloyd, Trent McDuffie) will be there for them from say 19 to the end of the round.”

When the Dotson pick was announced,

Fletcher: “I love the pick. I watched Dotson destroy defensive backs in the Big 10 this year. By trading back, they still get a guy that is very productive. I like this pick.”

Paulsen: Yes, he has tremendous ability, his hands are well documented. The thing I love most about him is the physical courage with which he plays the position. He is going to run after the catch, he is going to block. He is going to do the nasty stuff. You can tell football is very important to him. And that is why he bumped up in my evaluation process.”