In an effort to replace Bryant Gumbel as the play-by-play announcer for its package of late-season games, NFL Network is attempting the broadcasting equivalent of the Hail Mary pass.

A media source tells us that NFLN is actively recruiting Al Michaels for the job.

Michaels is the diamond-covered platinum standard, in our assessment, when it comes to sports broadcasting, and his involvement in NFLN’s broadcasts would instantly give the productions multiple added layers and levels of credibility.

Neil Best of Newsday recently reported that Michaels is on the league-owned network’s wish list.  As we understand it, NFLN must have found a monkey paw or a stray eyelash or a genie-infested lamp, because the wish is in the process of becoming reality.

Whether Michaels takes the job remains to be seen.  He’d be doubling his NFL workload in the last two months of the season, adding a Thursday night game to his usual Sunday night contest on NBC, where he partners with John Madden.