Tag: commentator

ESPN announces commentators for Broncos’ game vs. Jaguars in London

The Broncos’ game against the Jaguars will stream exclusively on ESPN+ in Week 8.

ESPN announced earlier this week that Steve Levy (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), Dan Orlovsky (analyst) and Laura Rutledge (sideline reporter) will call the game between the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars in London this season.

The game will be exclusively streamed on ESPN+ on Sunday, Oct. 30 in Week 8. The Broncos-Jags showdown is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. MT to accommodate a European audience at Wembley Stadium.

It will mark the first time an NFL game has ever been broadcast exclusively on ESPN+, but Levy will be a familiar commentator for fans in Denver. Levy previously called Broncos preseason games with Brian Griese, who left ESPN in March to become the Miami Dolphins’ new quarterbacks coach.

In addition to Denver-Jacksonsille game, Levy, Riddick, Orlovsky and Rutledge will also serve as commentators when ESPN has Monday Night Football doubleheaders in Weeks 2 and 18 this season.

The Broncos will open the season on MNF against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. Troy Aikman and Joe Buck will call that game for ESPN.

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WATCH: Peyton Manning serves as a commentator at Broncos training camp

Peyton Manning served as a guest commentator at Broncos training camp on Friday. Watch his full conversation with Steve Atwater here.

With fans not allowed to attend training camp practices this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Denver Broncos have been providing live look-ins at practice each day with Hall of Fame safety Steve Atwater serving as a commentator.

Atwater was joined by former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning for Friday’s “Inside Training Camp Live” show that aired on the team’s social media channels. Manning’s complete conversation with Atwater can be viewed in the above video or on the Broncos’ YouTube page.

Manning had great things to say about second-year quarterback Drew Lock and he provided several interesting nuggets during the broadcast.

One piece of advice that Manning gave about avoiding pressure could come in handy for aspiring young quarterbacks.

“Quarterbacks should never look at the defensive line,” Manning explained. “You should never have your eyes at the defensive line. You should have your eyes downfield the whole time and feel the defensive line. Kind of a sixth sense if you will. That’s a good thing for a quarterback to work on.”

Manning said Lock does a good job keeping his eyes downfield, which helps him avoid pressure and keep plays alive to try to find open receivers.

Manning will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. He will likely join Atwater for next year’s Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.

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ESPN announces commentary crew for Broncos-Titans game

Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick will call the Broncos-Titans game in Week 1.

ESPN announced Monday that Steve Levy (play-by-play), Brian Griese (analyst) and Louis Riddick (analyst) will serve as the network’s top commentary crew for Monday Night Football this season. Lisa Salters will return as a sideline reporter and John Parry will continue serving as an officiating analyst.

Levy, Griese and Riddick will call the Denver Broncos’ season opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 14 (8:10 p.m. MT). Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN’s top college football commentators, will serve as the network’s secondary crew for MNF this fall.

Fowler and Herbstreit will call the Pittsburgh Steelers-New York Giants game (5:15 p.m. MT) before the Denver-Tennessee clash in Week 1.

Levy, Griese and Riddick also covered the Broncos’ season opener last year when Denver faced the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders on ESPN. The Broncos lost that contest 24-16 on the road.

Denver will be looking to start the season on a better note this year. The Broncos are considered 1.5-point betting favorites against the Titans.

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Calling NFL games ‘not in the cards’ for Peyton Manning right now

Peyton Manning says calling NFL games isn’t in the cards ‘right now.’

Former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning called into The Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday and spoke about the possibility of becoming an NFL commentator.

Manning has turned down offers from ESPN and Fox in recent years but hasn’t ruled out joining a broadcast booth when he feels the time is right.

“I haven’t said no forever,” Manning explained. “I said no to this year. This doesn’t feel like the right time. I hate having this sort of ‘check with me next year’ type of deal but that’s really how I’ve approached this chapter.”

“I believe in kind of taking it a year at a time, that’s kind of what Eli’s doing. You know, he’s taking this year off . . . . That’s what I’ve tried to do. I don’t really have a five-year plan or a ten-year plan.”

Manning said he loves watching the games and going to the games but he’s not ready to jump into broadcasting just yet. That could change down the road. He still lives in the Denver area and goes to all of the Broncos’ home games.

“It’s just not in the cards for me right now but can’t really say never forever,” Manning said.

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Report: Peyton Manning turns down ESPN’s offer to join ‘Monday Night Football’

ESPN wanted Peyton Manning to join its ‘Monday Night Football’ broadcast crew but the ex-quarterback turned the network down.

Peyton Manning has turned down ESPN’s offer to serve as a commentator on Monday Night Football, according to a report from The New York Post‘s Andrew Marchand. It’s uncertain how much the network would be willing to offer Manning but it would probably be similar to the deal Tony Romo received from CBS ($18 million per season).

Manning, four years into his retirement, is not yet ready to “commit to the weekly schedule” of calling NFL games, according to Marchand.

Manning already has a working relationship with ESPN, hosting two shows — Detail and Peyton’s Places — on ESPN Plus, a streaming service. The former NFL quarterback apparently isn’t ready to take on a larger role.

ESPN has now failed to land Romo, Manning and current quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, who opted to continue playing instead of retiring. As of now, Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland are still under contract with ESPN to call MNF games this fall.

ESPN clearly wants to make changes to the MNF crew so the network will likely continue searching for a big-name candidate.

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Peyton Manning could make more per year with ESPN than he averaged in the NFL

ESPN is willing to give Peyton Manning about $6 million more per season as a commentator than he averaged as an NFL quarterback.

ESPN desperately wants Peyton Manning and the network is willing to pay a premium for his services.

CBS Sports recently reached an agreement with commentator Tony Romo on a contract extension that will pay him around $17 million per year. Manning is now able to use Romo’s contract as leverage and ESPN is willing to top it.

Disney, ESPN’s parent company, is willing to pay Manning $18 million to $20 million per season to call “Monday Night Football” games, according to a report from Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.

Manning has met with ESPN executives in recent days, according to McCarthy. The former NFL quarterback already has a working relationship with ESPN — he has hosted two different shows — Detail and Peyton’s Places — on ESPN Plus, a streaming service.

In addition to trying to land Manning, ESPN is also trying to trade for NBC’s Al Michaels. ESPN seems to believe Manning and Michaels could team up to form a dream team that would rival the CBS duo of Romo and Jim Nantz.

If Manning signs with ESPN for $20 million a year, he would be making more per season than he did in all but three of his 18 years in the NFL. In 2015, his final season, Manning made $19 million, according to Spotrac.com. He retired after helping the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 that year.

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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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Will Tony Romo’s massive contract lure Peyton Manning into broadcast booth?

Tony Romo will earn about $17 million a year for calling NFL games on CBS. Should ESPN offer a similar contract to Peyton Manning?

Former NFL quarterback and current commentator Tony Romo has agreed to a contract extension with CBS Sports that will pay him around $17 million per season, according to multiple media reports (via Touchdown Wire).

Romo earned an average of just over $9 million per year during his 14 seasons with the Cowboys, according to Spotrac.com. Only 16 quarterbacks in the NFL currently earn an average of more than $17 million per year.

Romo would be the 17th-highest-paid QB in the NFL on that contract, just below Panthers QB Cam Newton ($20.76 million) and slightly above Bengals QB Andy Dalton ($16 million).

Romo just reset the market for former quarterbacks who now serve as commentators. Peyton Manning, who has been courted by ESPN in recent years, might be able to earn even more now that Romo has received an extension from CBS.

Manning has been hesitant to become a commentator, which gives him leverage. A network would have to convince him that calling NFL games is worth his time. Romo’s contract will now give Manning even more leverage — why would he call games for less than Romo?

There’s no guarantee that Manning will become a commentator. But if Manning is interested in calling games, Romo just did him a favor.

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Peyton Manning comments on possibly calling NFL games with brother Eli

There has been speculation that Peyton Manning and his brother Eli could be a good commentator duo for ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Football.’

Tennessee alum Peyton Manning was at the Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday to watch the Volunteers take on Kansas (the Jayhawks won 74-68). During the game, Manning did an interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe and his brother Eli’s retirement was brought up.

There has been some speculation that Peyton and Eli could be a good commentator duo and Rowe asked Peyton about those rumors.

“Golly, it’d be so hard to get a word in,” Manning said with a big smile. “Eli, we’re always arguing over who’s going to say what. So I’m not sure the two of us would fit in that booth together. But I look forward to doing some fun things with him — in the fall especially — that we haven’t had a chance to do in a long time. He’s at peace so I’m happy about that.”

Peyton and Eli might not end up in a broadcast booth together but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the older brother end up as a commentator at some point. Peyton already has a working relationship with ESPN from his “Peyton’s Places” series, a show that looked back on 100 years of NFL history.

“Peyton’s Places has been a lot of fun to do,” Manning told Rowe. “You get to talk football and nobody hits you in the back, nobody cusses you. It’s a lot more enjoyable, a lot more relaxing. I love the history of the game, it won’t get any bigger than next week’s Super Bowl. It’s been fun to kind of try to tell the history of the NFL the past 100 years.”

Manning, 43, will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

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