ESPN courting Peyton Manning for ‘Monday Night Football’

ESPN has reached out to Peyton Mannig to see if he has any interest in calling NFL games.

Before signing Tony Romo to a contract extension worth more than $17 million per season, CBS Sports tried to convince Peyton Manning to join their broadcast team. Manning wasn’t quick to make a decision so CBS opted to bring back Romo instead.

Now that Romo is unavailable and CBS won’t be courting Manning anymore, ESPN appears set to make another push for the two-time Super Bowl champion.

ESPN has reached out to Manning to gauge his interest in potentially joining Monday Night Football, according to a report from John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal (subscription required for link).

Manning has turned down ESPN in the past but he does have a good working relationship with the network. Manning has hosted two different shows — Detail and Peyton’s Places — on ESPN Plus, a streaming service.

Manning’s experience working with ESPN and Romo resetting the commentator market might convince the former Colts and Broncos quarterback that it’s finally time to join a broadcast booth.

Manning, 43, probably won’t be in any rush to give ESPN a decision.

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