<P> Beginning in 1999, Monday Night Football telecasts used a computer - generated yellow line to mark where a team needs to get a first down, a method first used by ABC sister cable channel ESPN . 1999 also saw the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game being moved from Saturday afternoon to Monday night . It would remain on Monday night through 2005 . </P> <P> Boomer Esiason replaced Gifford in 1998, and Dierdorf left for a return to CBS in 1999 . Esiason's relationship with Michaels was questioned leading to his firing . Esiason and Michaels reportedly never got along, and it led to ABC firing Esiason shortly after calling Super Bowl XXXIV together . </P> <P> Unexpectedly, comedian Dennis Miller joined the cast in 2000, along with Dan Fouts . The move was ultimately regarded as a bust by many viewers and commentators . ABC briefly considered adding radio personality Rush Limbaugh before Miller was added to the broadcast team, despite having no prior sports broadcast experience (Limbaugh would instead be assigned as a commentator to Sunday NFL Countdown on ABC sister ESPN). Miller demonstrated a knowledge of the game and its personalities, although at times he tended to lapse into sometimes obscure analogy - riddled streams of consciousness similar to the "rants" of his standup comedy act . ABC even set up a webpage dedicated to explaining Miller's sometimes obscure pop culture references . Soon, it would become apparent that Miller's comedy did not mix with football . </P> <P> In June 2000, Lesley Visser's career suffered a highly publicized setback when she was famously bounced as the Monday Night Football sideline reporter for a less experienced, much younger woman and a man, who did not have as extensive journalistic credentials as Visser . "It was staggering to me", Visser later recalled . However, she wound up returning to CBS Sports, philosophical as ever . "You can have a short career if it's based on looks and youth", she said, "but legitimacy is what lasts ." Which ABC replaced her with both Melissa Stark and Eric Dickerson . This was part of the overhaul when ABC brought back Don Ohlmeyer to serve as producer, who installed Dennis Miller as an analyst (for ultimately two unsuccessful seasons). She sued ABC Sports for age discrimination, with Howard Katz and Ohlmeyer being named as co-defendants . </P>

Who plays the first monday night football game