Schadenfreude alert: In an effort to make NFL Countdown watchable again, ESPN has booted the Bristol Butcher, Emmitt Smith, from the show in favor of newbie Cris Carter. The leading rusher in NFL history/quote machine has also been “reassigned” to provide NFL banter on Sunday morning Sportscenter, where he’ll share the spotlight with seasoned TV vets Bob Ley and Hannah Storm, and he won’t be as prominently featured on MNF as he was last season. Less speaking is most likely going to result in fewer criticisms. Maybe.

(Unrelated: E-Nice wants change, so he’s backing Obama.)

ESPN shuffles NFL lineup, reassigns Smith (USA Today)