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Yes! Marv Albert 'Thrilled' To Cover NFL For CBS Sports

NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — Marv Albert is returning to the NFL, whenever the lockout ends.

The longtime play-by-play announcer is joining the NFL on CBS team, CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus announced Monday.

"I'm very excited about it," Albert told CBSSports.com. "I've always enjoyed doing football on TV. It kind of came out of nowhere when CBS and TNT partnered up to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. ... You know, I wasn't expecting it, but we put the deal together and I'm just thrilled about it."

Albert worked for NBC Sports from 1977-97 and announced the NFL on NBC for 19 years. He was the play-by-play voice for Westwood One Radio's coverage of Monday Night Football from 2002-09 alongside WFAN morning show co-host Boomer Esiason.

Albert said he's not sure who will be in the CBS booth with him. CBS NFL and college basketball play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson left for Fox last month.

"That is still up for discussion," said Albert, who plans to travel with his wife this week on the Orient Express.

Albert will keep his lead role as basketball play-by-play announcer for TNT's Thursday night NBA regular-season and playoff coverage. He also serves as a play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports' and Turner Sports' coverage of the NCAA Division I men's basketball championship.

Albert doesn't know when this NFL job will start, given the lockout, or if the NBA season will start on time because of labor negotiations.

"That's the big question, in my case for both the NBA and NFL, which would be a shame because both have had great success in terms of ratings," he said.

He goes long... and... YES! Are you happy about Marv's return to televised NFL? Sound off below...

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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